First Tests of an Opto-Electro-Mechanical System for 2D Dose Analysis in Low Energy Proton Irradiated Films

Abstract

This work presents a 2D dosimetry analysis with a new micro-opto-electro-mechanical system of radiochromic films irradiated with a low energy proton beam. The new system is based on a 5 X 10 matrix of photodetectors controlled by both an in-house electronic circuit and a graphical user interface, which allows direct optical density measurements. We have investigated the performance of this 2D readout system using Gafchromic EBT3 films. The results were compared with those obtained using a standard analysis method based on a flat-bed scanner, and the results showed the feasibility of this system for 2D dose map evaluation. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that a two-dimensional micro-opto-electro-mechanical system has been used to analyze radiochromic films irradiated with low-energy protons. We intend to develop a portable 2D dosimetry tool that provides dose maps to speed up the reading of radiochromic films in radiotherapy.