Ryan T Flynn1, Quentin E Adams1, Karolyn M Hopfensperger2, Xiaodong Wu1,3, Weiyu Xu3, Yusung Kim1. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA. 2. Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, 5601 Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA. 3. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Iowa, 4016 Seamans Center, for the Engineering Arts and Sciences, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To present and quantify the effectiveness of a method for the efficient production of 169 Yb high-dose-rate brachytherapy sources with 27 Ci activity upon clinical delivery, which have about the same dose rate in water at 1 cm from the source center as 10 Ci 192 Ir sources. MATERIALS: A theoretical framework for 169 Yb source activation and reactivation using thermal neutrons in a research reactor and 168 Yb-Yb2 O3 precursor is derived and benchmarked against published data. The model is dependent primarily on precursor 168 Yb enrichment percentage, active source volume of the active element, and average thermal neutron flux within the active source. RESULTS: Efficiency gains in 169 Yb source production are achievable through reactivation, and the gains increase with active source volume. For an average thermal neutron flux within the active source of 1 × 1014 n cm-2 s-1 , increasing the active source volume from 1 to 3 mm3 decreased reactor-days needed to generate one clinic-year of 169 Yb from 256 days yr-1 to 59 days yr-1 , and 82%-enriched precursor dropped from 80 mg yr-1 to 21 mg yr-1 . A resource reduction of 74%-77% is predicted for an active source volume increase from 1 to 3 mm3 . CONCLUSIONS: Dramatic cost savings are achievable in 169 Yb source production costs through reactivation if active sources larger than 1 mm3 are used.
PURPOSE: To present and quantify the effectiveness of a method for the efficient production of 169 Yb high-dose-rate brachytherapy sources with 27 Ci activity upon clinical delivery, which have about the same dose rate in water at 1 cm from the source center as 10 Ci 192 Ir sources. MATERIALS: A theoretical framework for 169 Yb source activation and reactivation using thermal neutrons in a research reactor and 168 Yb-Yb2 O3 precursor is derived and benchmarked against published data. The model is dependent primarily on precursor 168 Yb enrichment percentage, active source volume of the active element, and average thermal neutron flux within the active source. RESULTS:Efficiency gains in 169 Yb source production are achievable through reactivation, and the gains increase with active source volume. For an average thermal neutron flux within the active source of 1 × 1014 n cm-2 s-1 , increasing the active source volume from 1 to 3 mm3 decreased reactor-days needed to generate one clinic-year of 169 Yb from 256 days yr-1 to 59 days yr-1 , and 82%-enriched precursor dropped from 80 mg yr-1 to 21 mg yr-1 . A resource reduction of 74%-77% is predicted for an active source volume increase from 1 to 3 mm3 . CONCLUSIONS: Dramatic cost savings are achievable in 169 Yb source production costs through reactivation if active sources larger than 1 mm3 are used.
Authors: Quentin E Adams; Jinghzu Xu; Elizabeth K Breitbach; Xing Li; Shirin A Enger; William R Rockey; Yusung Kim; Xiaodong Wu; Ryan T Flynn Journal: Med Phys Date: 2014-05 Impact factor: 4.071
Authors: Habib Safigholi; Dae Yup Han; Shahram Mashouf; Abraam Soliman; Ali S Meigooni; Amir Owrangi; William Y Song Journal: Med Phys Date: 2017-10-23 Impact factor: 4.071
Authors: Yunlong Liu; Ryan T Flynn; Yusung Kim; Hossein Dadkhah; Sudershan K Bhatia; John M Buatti; Weiyu Xu; Xiaodong Wu Journal: Med Phys Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 4.071