[Development of Educational Materials for Visualizing the Directional Vectors of Scattered Radiation during X-ray Fluoroscopy Using Virtual Reality Technology].

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to create teaching materials that visualize the direction of scattered radiation as directional vectors in a virtual reality (VR) space.

Methods: The directional vector distribution of scattered radiation during X-ray fluoroscopy was created using the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS), a Monte Carlo code. The directional vector distribution of scattered radiation was visualized as red arrows using the three-dimensional visualization software ParaView (Kitware, Clifton Park, NY, USA), and the directional vector distribution of scattered radiation was confirmed using the VR headset Meta Quest 3 (Meta Platforms, Menlo Park, CA, USA).

Results: The direction of the scattered radiation was visualized three-dimensionally in the VR space and checked from any direction. The effect of the protective plate was also confirmed by superimposing it on the dose distribution.

Conclusion: Visualization of directional vector distribution in VR space is useful as an educational tool that allows the direction of the scattered radiation to be grasped in relation to the position of the fluoroscopy system, patient phantom, protection plate, and the user.