[Gate-users] Dose ditribution map when a point source moves along a human GI tract

[Tony]

Hi GATE users,

I am trying to figure out if it would be possible to obtain
a 3D dose distribution map in a GATE simulation, in which a point source (geometric
source:  1mm-diameter sphere) moves along
a human gastro-intestinal tract. 


I have read the GATE user guide carefully, especially the
section about voxelized phantom and dose collection. However, since I am quite
new to the field of medical physics, there were many parts I could not
understand clearly.

As far as I know, I would need to use a voxelized phantom,
such as the “Extended 4D NCAT Phantom” in which the gastro-intestinal tract is
also included. Then, a 1mm-diameter sphere source needs to be defined and it should
be able to move along the intestine.  


I have successfully run several GATE simulations in which a
geometric source moves in a basic trajectory inside a geometric phantom, but I
have never worked with a voxelized phantom and a complex movement of the source
before. 


My questions are:
1) Would it be possible to produce such a 3D dose
distribution map in GATE when a 1mm-diameter spherical source moves along the
intestinal tract (assuming the source has a constant speed, approximately 8 hours
to complete its journey, similar to food excretion)?

2) Assume that I already got the Extended 4D NCAT Phantom,
how can I define the source movement so that the source can move along the
intestine of the phantom?

3) Does the 3D dose distribution map show the total absorbed
dose deposited in every voxel of the NCAT phantom throughout 8 hour moving of
the source?

Your help would be greatly appreciated. 
Thank you,
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