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WE‐F‐16A‐02: Design, Fabrication, and Validation of a 3D‐Printed Proton Filter for Range Spreading
Author(s) -
Remmes N,
Courneyea L,
Corner S,
Beltran C,
Stoker J,
Kemp B,
Kruse J,
Herman M
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.4889469
Subject(s) - bragg peak , materials science , proton therapy , optics , filter (signal processing) , monte carlo method , beam (structure) , range (aeronautics) , computer science , physics , statistics , mathematics , composite material , computer vision
Purpose: To design, fabricate and test a 3D‐printed filter for proton range spreading in scanned proton beams. The narrow Bragg peak in lower‐energy synchrotron‐based scanned proton beams can result in longer treatment times for shallow targets due to energy switching time and plan quality degradation due to minimum monitor unit limitations. A filter with variable thicknesses patterned on the same scale as the beam's lateral spot size will widen the Bragg peak. Methods: The filter consists of pyramids dimensioned to have a Gaussian distribution in thickness. The pyramids are 2.5mm wide at the base, 0.6 mm wide at the peak, 5mm tall, and are repeated in a 2.5mm pseudo‐hexagonal lattice. Monte Carlo simulations of the filter in a proton beam were run using TOPAS to assess the change in depth profiles and lateral beam profiles. The prototypes were constrained to a 2.5cm diameter disk to allow for micro‐CT imaging of promising prototypes. Three different 3D printers were tested. Depth‐doses with and without the prototype filter were then measured in a ~70MeV proton beam using a multilayer ion chamber. Results: The simulation results were consistent with design expectations. Prototypes printed on one printer were clearly unacceptable on visual inspection. Prototypes on a second printer looked acceptable, but the micro‐CT image showed unacceptable voids within the pyramids. Prototypes from the third printer appeared acceptable visually and on micro‐CT imaging. Depth dose scans using the prototype from the third printer were consistent with simulation results. Bragg peak width increased by about 3x. Conclusions: A prototype 3D printer pyramid filter for range spreading was successfully designed, fabricated and tested. The filter has greater design flexibility and lower prototyping and production costs compared to traditional ridge filters. Printer and material selection played a large role in the successful development of the filter.