Program Information
Physical and Dosimetric Aspects of Various 3D Printing Filaments for Bolus in Radiation Therapy
J Jung1,2*, F Li1 , N Potter1 , S Samant1 , D Yoon2 , T Suh2 , B Lu1 , (1) University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, (2) The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, SEOUL
Presentations
SU-I-GPD-T-73 (Sunday, July 30, 2017) 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Room: Exhibit Hall
Purpose: To compare the physical and dosimetric properties of four types of popular 3D printing filaments for electron radiation therapy: Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and high-impact polystyrene (HIPS).
Methods: We extracted the structural information of a phantom using a 3D scanner (Structure Sensor, and Occipital) and created the model of bolus using Cinema 4D R17, Maxon 3D modeling software. The corresponding model is conformed to the skin surface, and automatically generated by the software with the proper attenuation thickness. The bolus was printed by a 3D printer (Ultimaker 2+, Geldermalsen) with fused deposition manufacturing (FDM). Printing preferences such as infill density, speed, and supporting material are set to the same for different materials to allow equitable comparison. We also printed flat cubes for each material and measured their attenuation coefficients.
Results: The TPU filament is best suited for electron therapy bolus due to its tissue-equivalencand elasticity. The various filament materials were analyzed in terms of radiation dosimetric effects, time, and cost. Comparing the measurement and planning results using the fabricated bolus we found good agreement.
Conclusion: We have summarized the physical and dosimetric properties of 3D printed materials for bolus production. We believe TPU is the best candidate for 3D printed electron bolus.
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