Surface applicator of a miniature X-ray tube for superficial electronic brachytherapy of skin cancer.

Purpose: We designed and fabricated a surface applicator of a novel carbon nanotube (CNT)-based miniature X-ray tube for the use in superficial electronic brachytherapy of skin cancer. To investigate the effectiveness of the surface applicator, the performance of the applicator was numerically and experimentally analyzed.

Methods: The surface applicator consists of a graphite flattening filter and an X-ray shield.