BrachyBarrier : a MATLAB-based software for calculating shielding thickness and cost of a brachytherapy treatment room
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Date
2025-04-03
Authors
Πουκέτ Αναστασίου, Αλέξανδρος
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Abstract
Background: This study aimed to develop a software for calculating the shielding thickness and cost required for radiation protection of a brachytherapy treatment room.
Materials and Methods: The MATLAB programming language, version 2023b, was used to create the software, which was named BrachyBarrier (Brachytherapy + Barrier). It has an intuitive Graphic User Interface (GUI) and can be downloaded as a stand-alone application. It includes several commonly used isotopes, such as Ir-192, Co-60, Cs-137, Au-198, and Ra-226, as well as basic shielding materials like lead, steel, and ordinary concrete. Additionally, the software supports both Time-Averaged Dose Rate (TADR) and Instantaneous Dose Rate (IDR) calculation methods. The results are shown in tables that can be exported to an Excel file for additional usage. The computations, which determine the cost and shielding thickness for various materials, are based on formulas from the IAEA Safety Report Series No. 47. In order to strike the best possible balance between cost and protection, the software also suggests an ideal material combination. Examples from Safety Report Series No. 47 and shielding information from the German Oncology Centre’s brachytherapy department in Limassol, Cyprus, were used for validation. To ensure accessibility for all users, the software package comes with a User's Manual and a Terminology file. BrachyBarrier is appropriate for both real-world applications and instructional settings due to its accuracy, effectiveness, and ease of use. A dosage distribution visualisation panel, more material and source options, an automatic safety report generator, and algorithms that are optimised for speed and accuracy will all be included in future releases.
Results: Validation with examples from the IAEA Safety Report Series No. 47 and shielding reports from the German Oncology Center demonstrated that BrachyBarrier provides accurate and reliable calculations, accommodating a wide range of scenarios.
Conclusions: BrachyBarrier is a valuable tool for radiation protection surveys conducted prior to the installation of brachytherapy rooms. Its precision and ease of use make it suitable for shielding calculations in both professional and educational contexts.
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Keywords
Radiation protection, Medical physics, Radiation therapy, MATLAB