New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Chapter 28 - RADIATION PROTECTION PROGRAMS › Subchapter 14 - THERAPEUTIC INSTALLATIONS › Section 7:28-14.2 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
"Applicator" means a structure which determines the extent of the treatment field at a given distance from the virtual source and which may or may not incorporate the beam limiting device.
"Beam interceptor" means a device located on the central axis of the primary beam whose purpose is to substantially attenuate the beam so that the room shielding requirements may be reduced.
"Beam limiting device" means a device which provides a means to restrict the dimensions of the radiation field and which is an integral part of the equipment.
"Beam monitoring system" means a system designed to detect and measure the radiation present in the useful beam.
"Beam scattering filter" means a filter used to scatter a beam of electrons.
"Central axis of the beam" means a line passing through the virtual source and the center of the plane figure formed by the edge of the final beam limiting device.
"Contact therapy system" means an x-ray system used for therapy not capable of operating above 60 kVp and with a source distance less than or equal to five centimeters.
"Department" means the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
"Dose monitoring system" means a system of devices for the detection, measurement, and display of dose information for the useful beam.
"Dose monitor unit" means a unit response from the dose monitoring system from which the absorbed dose can be calculated.
"Field flattening filter" means a filter used to provide dose uniformity over the area of a useful beam of x-rays at a specified depth.
"Field size" means the projection on a plane perpendicular to the beam axis, of the distal end of the collimator as seen from the front center of the source.
"Full beam detector" means a radiation detector of such size that the total cross section of the maximum-size useful beam is intercepted.
"Gantry" means that part of the system supporting and allowing possible movements of the radiation head.
"Interlock" means a device arranged or connected such that the occurrence of an event or condition is required before a second event or condition can occur or continue to occur.
"Interruption of irradiation" means the stopping of irradiation with the possibility of continuing irradiation without resetting of operating conditions at the control panel.
"Isocenter" means a fixed point in space located at the center of the smallest sphere through which the central axis of the beam pass.
"Leakage radiation" means radiation emanating from the diagnostic or therapeutic source assembly except for the useful beam.
"Moving beam therapy" means radiation therapy with relative movement of the useful beam and the patient during irradiation.
"Normal treatment distance" means:
1. For electron irradiation, the nominal source to surface distance along the central axis of the useful beam, specified by the manufacturer for the applicator;
2. For x-ray irradiation, the nominal source to isocenter distance along the central axis of the useful beam; and
3. For non-isocentric equipment, this distance shall be specified by the manufacturer.
"Phantom" means a volume of material behaving in a manner similar to tissue with respect to the attenuation and scattering of radiation.
"Primary dose monitoring system" means a system which will monitor the quantity of radiation produced during irradiation and which will terminate irradiation when a pre-selected number of dose monitor units have been delivered.
"Qualified radiological physicist" means a person who holds at least a bachelor's degree in one of the physical sciences and who is certified by the American Board of Radiology either in radiological physics, x- and gamma ray physics or therapeutic radiological physics, is eligible for such certification, or has equivalent training and experience.
1. "Equivalent training and experience" means a person has:
i. A bachelor's degree in physical sciences and three years full time experience working under the direction of a physicist certified by the American Board of Radiology;
ii. A doctorate or master's degree in physical science and two years such experience; or
iii. A doctorate or master's degree in radiological or medical physics and two years of full-time, post-doctoral training with clinical experience.
"Registrant" means the person required to register with the Department pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:28-3.
"Secondary dose monitoring system" means a system which will terminate irradiation in the event of failure of the primary system.
"Spot check" means an abbreviated calibration procedure which is performed to assure that a previous calibration continues to be valid.
"Stationary beam therapy" means radiation therapy without relative movement of the useful beam and the patient during irradiation.
"Target" means that part of a radiation-producing device used to intercept a beam of accelerated particles and cause emission of other radiation.
"Termination of irradiation" means the stopping of irradiation in a fashion which will not permit continuance of irradiation without the resetting of operating conditions at the control panel.
"Transmission detector" means a radiation detector through which the useful beam or part of the useful beam passes.
"Traceable to national standards" means a dosimetry system calibrated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) or calibrated in a beam which has been standardized by a transfer-grade ionization chamber having an NIST calibration.
"Treatment field" means the area of the patient's skin which is to be irradiated.
"Virtual source" means a point from which radiation appears to originate.
"Wedge filter" means an added filter effecting continuous progressive attenuation on all or part of the useful beam.