DYNAMIC ELECTRON ARC COLLIMATOR FOR RADIATION THERAPY

RECENT INNOVATIONS IN MOTION-CONTROL TECHNOLOGY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE THE VIABLE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PORTABLE, LIGHTWEIGHT, COMPUTER-CONTROLLED MULTIVANE COLLIMATOR THAT CAN BE USED SIMPLY AND EASILY IN TYPICAL RADIATION THERAPY FACILITIES, AS A THERAPY MACHINE ACCESSORY, TO PROVIDE IMPROVED DOSE UNIFORMITY IN ELECTRON ARC THERAPY. A PROTOTYPE MULTIVANE COLLIMATOR HAS BEEN COMPLETED THAT SUGGESTS IT IS TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE TO APPLY KNOWN MICROPROCESSOR-BASED MOTION-CONTROL TECHNOLOGY TO THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRON ARC RADIOTHERAPY. THE OBJECTIVE OF PHASE I IS TO CONDUCT FEASIBILITY STUDIES OF INTEGRATING A PROTOTYPE TECHNOLOGY INTO A CLINICALLY VIABLE SYSTEM FOR ADMINISTERING OPTIMIZED ELECTRON ARC DOSES THROUGH DYNAMIC COLLIMATION. THE EXISTING PROTOTYPE WILL BE ANALYZED. EXPERIENCE GAINED IN THE PREVIOUS DESIGN EFFORTS WILL BE USED TO EVALUATE (1) THE RADIATION RESISTANCE OF MAJOR MICROPROCESSOR COMPONENTS;(2) THE FEASIBILITY OF ALTERNATE COLLIMATOR VANE DESIGNS; (3) THE REQUIREMENTS OF PORTABILITY AND DURABILITY IN A CLINICAL ENVIRONMENT; (4) THE RELIABILITY OF INNOVATIVE INFRARED AND CURRENT CARRIER COMMUNICATIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF MICROWAVE, ELECTRON, AND PHOTON RADIATION FROM THE THERAPY MACHINES; AND (5) THE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR REDUNDANCY IN MOTION-CONTROL SYSTEMS NEEDED FOR PATIENT AND TECHNOLOGIST SAFETY.