TY - JOUR
T1 - 3D-printed applicators for high dose rate brachytherapy
T2 - Dosimetric assessment at different infill percentage
AU - Ricotti, Rosalinda
AU - Vavassori, Andrea
AU - Bazani, Alessia
AU - Ciardo, Delia
AU - Pansini, Floriana
AU - Spoto, Ruggero
AU - Sammarco, Vittorio
AU - Cattani, Federica
AU - Baroni, Guido
AU - Orecchia, Roberto
AU - Jereczek, Barbara Alicja
PY - 2016/5/28
Y1 - 2016/5/28
N2 - Purpose: Dosimetric assessment of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy applicators, printed in 3D with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) at different infill percentage. Materials and methods: A low-cost, desktop, 3D printer (Hamlet 3DX100, Hamlet, Dublin, IE) was used for manufacturing simple HDR applicators, reproducing typical geometries in brachytherapy: cylindrical (common in vaginal treatment) and flat configurations (generally used to treat superficial lesions). Printer accuracy was investigated through physical measurements. The dosimetric consequences of varying the applicator's density by tuning the printing infill percentage were analysed experimentally by measuring depth dose profiles and superficial dose distribution with Gafchromic EBT3 films (International Specialty Products, Wayne, NJ). Dose distributions were compared to those obtained with a commercial superficial applicator. Results: Measured printing accuracy was within 0.5. mm. Dose attenuation was not sensitive to the density of the material. Surface dose distribution comparison of the 3D printed flat applicators with respect to the commercial superficial applicator showed an overall passing rate greater than 94% for gamma analysis with 3% dose difference criteria, 3. mm distance-to-agreement criteria and 10% dose threshold. Conclusion: Low-cost 3D printers are a promising solution for the customization of the HDR brachytherapy applicators. However, further assessment of 3D printing techniques and regulatory materials approval are required for clinical application.
AB - Purpose: Dosimetric assessment of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy applicators, printed in 3D with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) at different infill percentage. Materials and methods: A low-cost, desktop, 3D printer (Hamlet 3DX100, Hamlet, Dublin, IE) was used for manufacturing simple HDR applicators, reproducing typical geometries in brachytherapy: cylindrical (common in vaginal treatment) and flat configurations (generally used to treat superficial lesions). Printer accuracy was investigated through physical measurements. The dosimetric consequences of varying the applicator's density by tuning the printing infill percentage were analysed experimentally by measuring depth dose profiles and superficial dose distribution with Gafchromic EBT3 films (International Specialty Products, Wayne, NJ). Dose distributions were compared to those obtained with a commercial superficial applicator. Results: Measured printing accuracy was within 0.5. mm. Dose attenuation was not sensitive to the density of the material. Surface dose distribution comparison of the 3D printed flat applicators with respect to the commercial superficial applicator showed an overall passing rate greater than 94% for gamma analysis with 3% dose difference criteria, 3. mm distance-to-agreement criteria and 10% dose threshold. Conclusion: Low-cost 3D printers are a promising solution for the customization of the HDR brachytherapy applicators. However, further assessment of 3D printing techniques and regulatory materials approval are required for clinical application.
KW - 3D printing
KW - Applicator
KW - Brachytherapy
KW - Dosimetry
KW - Infill percentage
KW - Low-cost 3D printer
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ejmp.2016.08.016
DO - 10.1016/j.ejmp.2016.08.016
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84994176319
SN - 1120-1797
JO - Physica Medica
JF - Physica Medica
ER -