Calibration of ophthalmic applicators at NIST: a revised approach.

A revised approach to the problem of measuring a surface-absorbed dose from beta-particle-emitting ophthalmic applicators is presented. The technique chosen employs an extrapolation chamber equipped with a 4-mm-diam collecting electrode to make current measurements at air gaps from 0.08 to 0.20 mm at 0.02-mm intervals. These data yield a linear relationship between current and air gap, the slope of which is used to determine average surface-absorbed-dose rate over the central area of the source. For additional information about the distribution of the activity over the source surface, autoradiographs using calibrated radiochromic dye films are analyzed to map the dose-rate profile across the surface of the applicator. Experiments varying several parameters of the extrapolation chamber measurement, including collecting electrode area, voltage gradient, range of air gaps used, and entrance foil material, are described. Also treated are calibrations of, and a description of the use of, radiochromic dye films for source profiling. Experiments for determining correction factors for the extrapolation chamber measurements are described, and an assessment of the uncertainties associated with these measurements is given.