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BACKGROUND: Ultrasonic coupling agent is indispensable in ultrasonic imaging. The service life and change frequency of the ultrasonic probe is determined by the internal coupling agent of the chosen hydrogel material. Due to defects in the existing gel-formula, after a period of time in use it can cause the surface depression of probes and thus influence the ultrasonic imaging quality. OBJECTIVE: To optimize the gel formula of the coupling agent. METHODS: The amplified synthesis process of polyacrylamide hydrogel was optimized by changing the ratio of monomer concentration to N, N-methylenebisacrylamide crosslinker in the synthesis conditions, and the factors influencing its acoustic properties were explored to meet the technical requirements in the clinical use process. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: When the monomer concentration was set to 70 g/L and the mass ratio of monomer to crosslinker was 7:1, the polyacrylamide hydrogel was in the best state. The obtained polyacrylamide hydrogel had a stable swelling rate, had a strong ability to keep water and make the volume reduce under the influence of the operating temperature of ultrasound, and its relative amplitude changed less with the change of ultrasonic frequency. The sound attenuation coefficient of polyacrylamide hydrogel would be higher when the frequency of ultrasonic sound source was higher. The changes of monomer concentration would have significant impacts on the acoustic properties of polyacrylamide hydrogel. Therefore, by controlling the monomer concentration ratio, we can prepare the coupling agent that exhibits relatively stable acoustic properties at an optimum concentration and achieves an optimal imaging effect.
RESUMO
Objective To examine the application of On-Board Imaging (OBI) system-based image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) in the improvement of the precision of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods Ten patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with IMRT using the OBI system. The IGRT images after positioning, position adjustment, and treatment were observed and recorded to investigate the image difference between CT simulation and IGRT. Results The deviations in the x (lateral), y (cranial-caudal), and z (ventral-dorsal) directions between CT simulation and IGRT images were 0.22±1.00 mm,-0.37±1.28 mm, and 0.04±1.36 mm, respectively, after positioning, 0.29±0.76 mm,-0.04±0.78 mm, and -0.01±0.92 mm, respectively, after position adjustment, and 0.20±0.78 mm, 0.16±0.80 mm, and 0.05±0.92 mm, respectively, after treatment. The probabilities of a ≤1 mm deviation in the x, y, and z directions were 81.0%, 77.6%, and 88.2%, respectively, after positioning, 92.5%, 96.4%, and 96.4%, respectively, after position adjustment, and 91.7%, 94.9%, and 96.8%, respectively, after treatment. Conclusions The application of OBI system-based IGRT is very important in the improvement of the precision of fractionated IMRT for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The position of the patient should be adjusted based on the IGRT image after positioning in order to correct set-up error and effectively increase the precision of fractionated IMRT.