Challenges in FLASH field are multiple but research never stops and today we are glad to present a step forward in FLASH clinical applications!
In our previous post:https://www.soiort.com/our-blog/design-realization-and-characterization-of-a-novel-diamond-detector-prototype-for-flash-radiotherapy-dosimetry/ we introduced a new detector called “flashDiamond” (fD) able to work with FLASH dose rates.
Such detector can solve the time-related issue of passive dosimeters as alanine and radiochromic films (their response can be obtained in hours or even days) and saturation effects typically observed in ionization chambers and solid-state detectors.
Today we are excited to present a new paper in which a comprehensive dosimetric and metrological characterization of fD detectors is reported in terms of absolute dose, response linearity, PDDs, beam profiles and OF determination.
All the irradiation experiment were performed by using ElectronFlash (S.I.T. – Sordina IORT Technologies) platform for pre-clinical FLASH research capable to work both in FLASH and CONV modality. The response of fD detector obtained in CONV and FLASH modality was compared for validation with the ones of several well-assessed detectors (Advanced Markus, silicon diode, alanine and GAFchromic films).
A linear detector response was observed in the whole investigated dose-per-pulse range up to at least 20 Gy, average DRs of the order of 1 kGy/s, and instantaneous DRs of about 5 MGy/s and a very good agreement was observed among PDDs, beam profiles, and OFs measured by fD and reference detectors both in conventional and HD-DPP irradiation modalities.
It is possible to find the full text of the paper here: https://aapm.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/mp.15782
As a result, it is possible to state that fD detectors represent an optimal solution to perform dosimetric characterization of UH-DPP or UH-DR devices and consequentially a step forward for clinical applications in FLASH field.
Research on FLASH radiotherapy will bring many other innovations, stay tuned to be always updated!