Bubble technique for evaluating effective dose of diagnostic X-rays: a feasibility study.
This study examined the feasibility of applying the bubble technique to evaluate effective dose for diagnostic X-rays. A BTI-GAMMA bubble detector from Bubble Technology Industries was used for gamma detection. A multi-slab acrylic (PMMA) phantom was fabricated to quantify the effective dose E based on an ICRP-60 report. Accordingly, the bubble detectors were evaluated through preliminary tests to ascertain both the reproducibility of specific X-ray doses and the linearity of multiple X-ray doses. Qualified bubble detectors were then inserted into a multi-slab acrylic phantom. The positions of the inserted bubbles closely corresponded with the position of represented organs or tissues. The effective dose E of X-ray was determined in 12 organ and tissue samples. The bubble detector was maintained at either 21.5 degrees C (for abdomen AP) or 22 degrees C (for chest PA) to optimize counting, and the assessed effective doses for males and females were 66.75 +/- 10.23 microSv and 66.47 +/- 9.89 microSv, respectively, for each chest PA X-ray exposure. The abdominal AP X-ray exposure doses were 1183.73 +/- 124.29 microSv and 976.70 +/- 120.13 microSv for males and females, respectively. Controlling and holding the bubble detector at an optimal ambient temperature during X-ray exposure was the most important issue in practical application, and the optimal temperature had to be adjusted slightly with incident X-ray to effectively suppress the largest bubbles to enable easy reading.
Chen
Chien Yi
CY
School of Medical Imaging and Radiological Science, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Yang
Kai Chun
KC
Pan
Lung Kwang
LK
D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011859:Radiography; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014965:X-Rays