Purpose: 198Au has promising characteristics for radioactive stent material, having properties as a mixed beta-particle and gamma emitter. Calibration of these radioactive stents is required to provide accurate clinical dosimetry.
Methods and materials: We have developed an electroplating technique to incorporate stable gold onto stents followed by activation to 198Au in the University of Wisconsin nuclear reactor. The calibration method is a modification of the NIST traceable, in-air calibration technique for high-dose-rate (HDR) 192Ir sources.
Results: The air-kerma strength of HDR and low-dose-rate (LDR) sources was measured for proof of principle and found to agree to within 3% of values obtained with other NIST traceable calibration techniques. The photon component of two 198Au radioactive stents was measured over a period of 3 days.
Conclusion: The air-kerma strength of HDR and LDR sources was measured for proof of principle and found to agree to within 3% of values obtained with other NIST traceable calibration techniques.