title: Lung counting: comparison of detector performance with a four detector array that has either metal or carbon fibre end caps, and the effect on mda calculation.
abstract: This study described the performance of an array of high-purity Germanium detectors, designed with two different end cap materials-steel and carbon fibre. The advantages and disadvantages of using this detector type in the estimation of the minimum detectable activity (MDA) for different energy peaks of isotope (152)Eu were illustrated. A Monte Carlo model was developed to study the detection efficiency for the detector array. A voxelised Lawrence Livermore torso phantom, equipped with lung, chest plates and overlay plates, was used to mimic a typical lung counting protocol with the array of detectors. The lung of the phantom simulated the volumetric source organ. A significantly low MDA was estimated for energy peaks at 40 keV and at a chest wall thickness of 6.64 cm.
authors.affiliation: Human Monitoring Laboratory, Health Canada, 775 Brookfield Road, AL 6302D, Ottawa, ON K1A 1C1, Canada. sabbir.ahmed@hc-sc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Asm Sabbir
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hauck
authors.forename: Gary H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005857:Germanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011874:Radiometry; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D008670:Metals; D005857:Germanium; D002244:Carbon