The Monte Carlo particle simulator TOPAS, the multiphysics solver COMSOL., and
several analytical radiation transport methods were employed to perform an in-depth proof-ofconcept
for a high dose rate, high precision converging beam small animal irradiation platform.
In the first aim of this work, a novel carbon nanotube-based compact X-ray tube optimized for
high output and high directionality was designed and characterized. In the second aim, an
optimization algorithm was developed to customize a collimator geometry for this unique Xray
source to simultaneously maximize the irradiator’s intensity and precision. Then, a full
converging beam irradiator apparatus was fit with a multitude of these X-ray tubes in a
spherical array and designed to deliver converged dose spots to any location within a small
animal model. This aim also included dose leakage calculations for estimation of appropriate
external shielding. The result of this research will be the blueprints for a full preclinical
radiation platform that pushes the boundaries of dose localization in small animal trials.
","abstract_html":"<p>The Monte Carlo particle simulator TOPAS, the multiphysics solver COMSOL., and</p> <p>several analytical radiation transport methods were employed to perform an in-depth proof-ofconcept</p> <p>for a high dose rate, high precision converging beam small animal irradiation platform.</p> <p>In the first aim of this work, a novel carbon nanotube-based compact X-ray tube optimized for</p> <p>high output and high directionality was designed and characterized. In the second aim, an</p> <p>optimization algorithm was developed to customize a collimator geometry for this unique Xray</p> <p>source to simultaneously maximize the irradiator’s intensity and precision. Then, a full</p> <p>converging beam irradiator apparatus was fit with a multitude of these X-ray tubes in a</p> <p>spherical array and designed to deliver converged dose spots to any location within a small</p> <p>animal model. This aim also included dose leakage calculations for estimation of appropriate</p> <p>external shielding. The result of this research will be the blueprints for a full preclinical</p> <p>radiation platform that pushes the boundaries of dose localization in small animal trials.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Insley, Benjamin","0000-0002-8113-0493
"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation (PhD)","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Mohammad Salehpour","David Jaffray","Dirk Bartkoski"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-05-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2024-05-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:48:59Z","subjects":["Small animal radiotherapy","Preclinical research","FLASH therapy","Microradiotherapy","Simulation","Monte Carlo particle transport","Mathematical modelling","Finite element analysis","X-ray tube","Orthovoltage","Numerical Analysis and Computation","Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computing","Oncology","Ordinary Differential Equations and Applied Dynamics","Other Physics","Partial Differential Equations","Radiation Medicine"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1341","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Mohammad Salehpour","David Jaffray","Dirk Bartkoski"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Insley, Benjamin","0000-0002-8113-0493
"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-04-13T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation (PhD)"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Small animal radiotherapy","Preclinical research","FLASH therapy","Microradiotherapy","Simulation","Monte Carlo particle transport","Mathematical modelling","Finite element analysis","X-ray tube","Orthovoltage","Numerical Analysis and Computation","Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computing","Oncology","Ordinary Differential Equations and Applied Dynamics","Other Physics","Partial Differential Equations","Radiation Medicine"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1341"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The Monte Carlo particle simulator TOPAS, the multiphysics solver COMSOL., and
several analytical radiation transport methods were employed to perform an in-depth proof-ofconcept
for a high dose rate, high precision converging beam small animal irradiation platform.
In the first aim of this work, a novel carbon nanotube-based compact X-ray tube optimized for
high output and high directionality was designed and characterized. In the second aim, an
optimization algorithm was developed to customize a collimator geometry for this unique Xray
source to simultaneously maximize the irradiator’s intensity and precision. Then, a full
converging beam irradiator apparatus was fit with a multitude of these X-ray tubes in a
spherical array and designed to deliver converged dose spots to any location within a small
animal model. This aim also included dose leakage calculations for estimation of appropriate
external shielding. The result of this research will be the blueprints for a full preclinical
radiation platform that pushes the boundaries of dose localization in small animal trials.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Proof-of-Concept For Converging Beam Small Animal Irradiator"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Mohammad Salehpour","David Jaffray","Dirk Bartkoski"],"dc:creator":["Insley, Benjamin","0000-0002-8113-0493
"],"dc:date.available":["2024-04-13T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The Monte Carlo particle simulator TOPAS, the multiphysics solver COMSOL., and
several analytical radiation transport methods were employed to perform an in-depth proof-ofconcept
for a high dose rate, high precision converging beam small animal irradiation platform.
In the first aim of this work, a novel carbon nanotube-based compact X-ray tube optimized for
high output and high directionality was designed and characterized. In the second aim, an
optimization algorithm was developed to customize a collimator geometry for this unique Xray
source to simultaneously maximize the irradiator’s intensity and precision. Then, a full
converging beam irradiator apparatus was fit with a multitude of these X-ray tubes in a
spherical array and designed to deliver converged dose spots to any location within a small
animal model. This aim also included dose leakage calculations for estimation of appropriate
external shielding. The result of this research will be the blueprints for a full preclinical
radiation platform that pushes the boundaries of dose localization in small animal trials.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1341"],"dc:subject":["Small animal radiotherapy","Preclinical research","FLASH therapy","Microradiotherapy","Simulation","Monte Carlo particle transport","Mathematical modelling","Finite element analysis","X-ray tube","Orthovoltage","Numerical Analysis and Computation","Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computing","Oncology","Ordinary Differential Equations and Applied Dynamics","Other Physics","Partial Differential Equations","Radiation Medicine"],"dc:title":["Proof-of-Concept For Converging Beam Small Animal Irradiator"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation (PhD)"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:48:59Z"}