Home >> Science & Nature >> Science

How to Calculate Absorbed Fractions

Radiation dosimetry involves the calculation of the amounts of radiation to which a person, body or organ has been exposed. When a source region is irradiated, energy is transferred from the source to another region, known as the target. The absorbed fraction is the fraction of energy emitted within the source that is transferred to the target. To calculate absorbed fractions, you need to irradiate an organ and measure the energy transferred to the target. This is usually done using a computer simulation of an organ, known as a phantom. The results of the simulated irradiation are then subjected to Monte Carlo Simulation to produce the absorbed fractions.

Things You'll Need

Digital phantom
Image processing application
Monte Carlo Simulation program

Instructions

- 1
  Create a digital phantom of the animal or person to be irradiated using digital phantom creation software. You will need to perform micro-CT scans and obtain cryogenic images of the subject in order to create an accurate digital phantom, including accurate organs for testing. You may find it easier to use a commercially available digital phantom that closely corresponds in age and size to your subject, or access one from a university.
- 2
  Convert the digital phantom into the required input form for your Monte Carlo Simulation application and upload the data into the system.
- 3
  Perform the irradiation simulations on the organs of the digital phantom. You will need to calculate the mass and density of each organ separately and perform individual simulations for each source and target organ. Use a range of energies when performing your irradiation simulations.
- 4
  Perform any required analyses using the absorbed fractions produced as a result of the simulations.

Science