The thermoAcoustic Range Verifier (tARV) system is a research tool that provides a non-invasive, non-ionizing means of acquiring signals that can be analyzed for accurate and precise localization of the Bragg peak relative to anatomical structures. This wireless device may have the potential to assist in adaptive planning decisions and be integrated with clinical workflow.
2024: tARV provides 2 mm range accuracy on ultrasound QA phantom. (tARV circled in red)
Design Specifications
| Spec | thermo-acoustic | nuclear |
| Sampling Rate | 384 ksps | 1.536 Maps |
| Vertical Resolution | 1.24 nV | 1 mV |
| DAQ gain | 60-65 dB | 0 dB |
| Weight | 0.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 150 x 95 x 110 mm |
Receive chain specifications over 10-100 kHz
Performance Specifications
| Specification | Thermoacoustic |
| Accuracy | 1.3 mm*, 0.5 mm^ |
| Precision | 1.6 mm*, 1.6 mm^ |
| tARV Rx sensitivity surrounded by coupling | 0.3-2.1 mV/Pa |
| tARV Rx sensitivity coupled only at face | 0.1-2.8 mV/Pa |
Mevion Hyperscan accelerator results published * Med Phys 2025 , ^ RedJ 2026
Workflow
tARV research workflow. Colors indicate added steps that are part of the clinical workflow (red) and performed offline (green).
Setup
tARV positioning is fast and flexible (anterior, oblique, or lateral)