Esther Ciarrocchi
A5072987919- Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies
- Radiation Therapy and Dosimetry
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications
- Radiation Effects in Electronics
- Advanced Radiotherapy Techniques
- Particle Detector Development and Performance
- Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques
- Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
- Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Imaging
- Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
- Radiomics and Machine Learning in Medical Imaging
- Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
- Advanced X-ray and CT Imaging
- Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy Techniques
- AI in cancer detection
- Boron Compounds in Chemistry
- Biomedical Text Mining and Ontologies
- Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
- Environmental Monitoring and Data Management
- CCD and CMOS Imaging Sensors
- Age of Information Optimization
- Advances in Oncology and Radiotherapy
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
- Space Technology and Applications
University of Pisa
2015-2024
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
2016-2024
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa
2013-2022
Motion Control (United States)
2013
Abstract Objective . Monolithic scintillator crystals coupled to silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays are promising detectors for PET applications, offering spatial resolution around 1 mm and depth-of-interaction information. However, their timing has always been inferior that of pixellated crystals, while the best results on have obtained with algorithms cannot operate in real-time a detector. In this study, we explore capabilities monolithic respect resolution, presenting new overcome...
This paper reports the development of dosimeters based on plastic scintillating fibers imaged by a charge-coupled device camera, and their performance evaluation through irradiations with electron Flash research accelerator located at Centro Pisano Radiotherapy. The dosimeter prototypes were composed piece fiber optically coupled to clear optical which transported scintillation signal readout systems (an imaging system photodiode). following properties tested: linearity, capability...
Abstract FOOT (FragmentatiOn Of Target) is a nuclear physics experiment currently under construction that will measure differential cross sections for the production of secondary fragments induced by interactions proton and ion beams, up to 400 MeV/u, with human tissues. By extending energy range about 800 also provide data useful radio-protection in space, as understanding fragmentation processes take place spacecraft shieldings crucial their optimisation. The collaboration building...
Abstract Ion beam therapy effectively treats radiation-resistant and deeply located tumors but requires meticulous planning wide safety margins imposed by current technology. Proton transmission imaging, using protons instead of x-rays for image acquisition, is pivotal precise treatment directly probing the proton stopping power, reducing uncertainties, enabling a fast verification treatment. In last 15 years, imaging prototypes have primarily used calorimeter detectors. An alternative...
Radiotherapy is a fundamental tool in cancer treatment, utilized over 60% of patients during their treatment course. While conventional radiotherapy effective, it has limitations, including prolonged durations, which extend patient discomfort, and toxicity to surrounding healthy tissues. FLASH (FLASH-RT), an innovative approach using ultra-high-dose-rate irradiation, shown potential selectively sparing normal tissues while maintaining unaltered tumor control. However, the precise mechanisms...
Abstract A huge amount of imaging data is becoming available worldwide and an incredible range possible improvements can be provided by artificial intelligence algorithms in clinical care for diagnosis decision support. In this context, it has become essential to properly manage handle these medical images define which metadata have considered, order the provide their full potential. Metadata are additional associated with images, a complete description image acquisition, curation, analysis,...
Introduction: Charged Particle Therapy plays a key role in the treatment of deep-seated tumours, because advantageous energy deposition culminating Bragg peak. However, knowledge dose delivered entrance channel is limited by lack data on beam and fragmentation target. Methods: The FOOT experiment has been designed to measure cross sections nuclear projectile target with two different detectors: an electronic setup for identification Z ≥ 3 fragments emulsion spectrometer ≤ fragments. In this...
Abstract Radiotherapy (RT) is a fundamental tool in cancer treatment. Recent technological advances improved considerably radiotherapy techniques, allowing to obtain more precise, effective and most importantly safer treatments. However, RT not without risks. Ionizing radiation also injures healthy cells, there limit the amount of an area body can safely receive over course lifetime. A new delivery method, called FLASH (FLASH-RT) has shown very promising results vivo studies, where...
The challenge of saturation at the high dose rate employed in FLASH radiotherapy and lack real-time 2D 3D dosimeters create an opportunity for use plastic scintillators. This study presents development online dosimetric system designed electron applications: array dosimeters, made by scintillating fibers, each one coupled to optical fiber, was evaluated as a proof-of-concept using LINAC providing 9 MeV electrons, Centro Pisano Flash Radiotherapy. Signal linearity established up 10 Gy/pulse,...
Abstract In hadron therapy, the accelerated ions, interacting with body of patient, cause fragmentation both projectile and target nuclei. The fragments interact human tissues depositing energy in entrance channel volume surrounding tumor. knowledge features is crucial to determine amount deposited body, - hence damage organs around tumor target. FOOT (FragmentatiOn Of Target) experiment aims at studying induced by interaction a proton beam (150-250 MeV/n) inside body. detector includes an...
Abstract The FOOT (FragmentatiOn Of Target) experiment is an international project designed to carry out the fragmentation cross-sectional measurements relevant for charged particle therapy (CPT), a technique based on use of beams treatment deep-seated tumors. detector consists electronic setup identification <m:math xmlns:m="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <m:mi>Z</m:mi> <m:mo>≥</m:mo> <m:mn>3</m:mn> </m:math> Z\ge 3 fragments and emulsion spectrometer <m:mo>≤</m:mo> Z\le fragments....
A feasibility study was done to assess the capability of digital silicon photomultipliers measure Cherenkov luminescence emitted by a β source. imaging (CLI) is possible with charge coupled device (CCD) based technology, but stand-alone technique for quantitative activity measurements on has not yet been developed. Silicon (SiPMs) are photon counting devices fast impulse response and can potentially be used quantify β-emitting radiotracer distributions CLI. In this study, Philips (PDPC)...
Charged particle therapy exploits proton or 12C beams to treat deep-seated solid tumors. Due the advantageous characteristics of charged particles energy deposition in matter, maximum dose is released tumor at end beam range, Bragg peak region. However, nuclear interactions with patient tissues induces fragmentation both projectile and target nuclei needs be carefully taken into account. In treatments, produces low energy, short range fragments along all which deposit a non negligible entry...
In a carbon ion treatment the nuclear fragmentation of both target and beam projectiles impacts on dose released tumor surrounding healthy tissues. Carbon occurring inside patient body has to be studied in order take into account this contribution. These data are also important for development range monitoring techniques with charged particles. The production fragments generated by beams 115-353 MeV/u kinetic energy impinging carbon, oxygen, hydrogen targets been measured at CNAO particle...
The study of nuclear fragmentation plays a central role in many important applications: from the Particle Therapy (PT) up to radiation protection for space (RPS) missions and design shielding reactors. FragmentatiOn Of Target (FOOT) collaboration aims reactions that describe interactions with matter different light ions (like <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="m2"><mml:mmultiscripts><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">H</mml:mi><mml:mspace width="0.3333em"...
The correct quantification of the dose released in charged particle therapy treatments requires knowledge double differential fragmentation cross section particles composing both beam and target. FragmentatiOn Of Target (FOOT) experiment aims at measuring these sections for ions interest applications. This article describes performance time-of-flight (TOF)-wall detector experiment. is composed two layers 44 cm ×2 ×3 mm plastic scintillator bars (20 each layer), arranged orthogonally read-out...