A wide variety of existing combinations of target and filter materials (target/filter combinations) are used in mammography equipment. The patient dose depends on the X‐ray quality that is derived from the target/filter combination, and a calibration of the dosimeter that is used in the measurement that corresponds to the specific target/filter combination is necessary. However, dosimeters in mammography are generally calibrated with reference to the X‐ray quality of Mo/Mo or W/Al combinations, and it is unclear whether or not the X‐ray quality that is derived from other target/filter combinations will affect the calibration coefficients. In this paper, the calibration coefficients of different dosimeters were evaluated for target/filter combinations. For an ionization chamber‐type dosimeter, good energy dependence was found and the effect of the target/filter combination was small. However, for a semiconductor dosimeter, a large energy dependence was found, and different calibration coefficients that depended on the target/filter combination used were required.PACS number: 87.59.E‐

SummaryIn order to produce a cheap and stable X-ray generator system for calibration of dosimeters used in mammographic field, a dummy source of mammographic X-ray was developed using a tungsten (W) target X-ray tube and a molybdenum (Mo) filter. The photon fluence spectra of mammographic equipment were calculated using Birch's formula and aluminum (Al) attenuation curves were derived. The Al attenuation curves of X-rays from W target with Mo filter of various thicknesses were similarly obtained. Comparing the similarities of attenuation curves, the best fit Mo filter thickness was chosen. Consequently, a 0.04 mm thick Mo plus a 4 mm thick poly-methylmethacrylate filter were chosen to be added to W target industrial X-ray tube. The similarity of Al attenuation curves were verified by ionization chamber measurements.

The method defined by the IEC 60522 for determining the inherent filtration of an x-ray source device is applicable only for a limited range of tube voltage. Because the users cannot legally remove the x-ray movable diaphragm of the x-ray source device, total filtration, which is the sum of the additional filtration diaphragm movable for specific filtration and x-ray, cannot be measured. We develop a method for simply obtaining the total filtration for different tube voltage values. Total filtration can be estimated from a ratio R' of the air kerma [Formula: see text], which is measured with an Al plate with thickness T, and [Formula: see text] measured without an Al plate. The conditions of the target material of the x-ray source device are then entered into the Report 78 Spectrum Processor to calculate the air kerma K x and K x+T for Al thicknesses x and (x  +  T), respectively, to obtain R. The minimum value of x, which is the difference between the R and R', is the total filtration of the x-ray source device. The total filtration calculated using the industrial x-ray source device was within  ±1% in the 40-120 kV range. This method can calculate the total filtration using air kerma measurements with and without the Al plate. Therefore, the load on the x-ray tube can be reduced, and preparation of multiple Al plates is not necessary. Furthermore, for the 40-120 kV tube voltage range, the user can easily measure the total filtration.

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We developed an educational program that encourages students from three departments −namely, Medical Technology, Radiology Science, and Physical Therapy− to learn collaboratively by working on a clinical case. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this program was useful as an interprofessional education (IPE) program for physical therapy undergraduate students. [Participants and Methods] One hundred and seventeen third-grade undergraduates enrolled in an undergraduate program, named "Biophysical Diagnosis Workshop". We prepared tasks based on four clinical scenarios, whereby participants had to assess a patient's biodata and clinical information to derive a diagnosis and then develop a treatment plan. The students had to confer with each other, exchange perspectives regarding their respective disciplines, and coordinate their opinions. After the workshop, we administered a questionnaire to 43 physical therapy students, seeking their subjective opinions about the usefulness of the workshop and their levels of satisfaction with the workshop. [Results] Out of the physical therapy students that responded, 97.7% answered either "yes" or "yes, to some extent" when asked whether the workshop increased their interest in other medical professions, and 97.7% reported feeling either "satisfied" or "satisfied, to some extent" by the workshop. [Conclusion] The program positively affects physical therapy students, and potentially improves their expertise in and understanding of interprofessional collaboration.