Estimation of radiation shielding ability in electron therapy and brachytherapy with real time variable shape tungsten rubber.

Purpose: To clarify the physical characteristics of a newly developed real time variable shape rubber containing tungsten (STR) with changes in heat and estimate its shielding abilities against electron beams and γ-rays from Ir.

Methods: Dynamic mechanical analysis for the STR (density = 7.3 g/cm) was conducted at a frequency of 1.0 Hz in the temperature range of -60 °C to 60 °C. We evaluated tanδ, defined as the ratio (E″/E') between the storage modulus (E') and loss modulus (E″). The transmission rates were measured against 6- and 12-MeV electron beams and the percentage depth dose and lateral dose profile were compared with low-melting alloy (LMA). For the shielding rate of Ir against γ-rays, measurement data and Monte Carlo simulation data were obtained with STR thickness ranging from 1.0 mm to 16.0 mm.

Results: At 36 °C, the tanδ value was 0.520, while at 60 °C, this value was 1.016. For 6- and 12-MeV electron beams, the transmission rates decreased with increasing STR thickness and reached plateaus at approximately 1.0% and 4.0% with STR thickness of >7.0 and >12.0 mm, respectively. The dose distributions were almost equal to those for LMA. Against γ-rays, the thickness of STR that obtained a 50% attenuation rate for Ir was 5.804 mm. The Monte Carlo calculation results were 2.6% higher on average than the measurement results.

Conclusion: The STR can be changed shape in real time at 60 °C and maintains its shape at body temperatures. It has adequate shielding abilities against megavoltage electron beams and γ-rays from Ir.