The IOERT IntraLine accelerator – the development, current state, and future plans

Abstract

Abstract. Intraoperative electron radiation therapy (IOERT) is a cancer treatment method that combines oncologic surgery with electron beam radiotherapy. This method can reduce the duration of entire tumor treatment and increase its effectiveness. Moreover, shortening the treatment time signifi cantly reduces the cost and accessibility of the therapy. As a result of interdisciplinary research, an innovative accelerator for IOERT, the IntraLine, was developed. In the course of this work, four patent applications were fi led. Today, the work is half way through. In the near future, the device will be optimized. New mechanical design solutions will be developed. Mechanical optimization will signifi cantly reduce the weight of the device. Accelerators control system, which today is in the demo phase, will also be signifi cantly upgraded. This paper describes the stages of the IntraLine accelerator development, its current state and plans for the future R&D work, within the scope of our new Intra-Dose project.

Technical Note: Monte Carlo study on the reduction in x‐ray contamination of therapeutic electron beams for Intraoperative Radiation Therapy by means of improvements in the design of scattering foils

“…Our previous experience in designing dual foil systems with older methods suggests that systems currently in clinical use may exhibit even greater levels of unnecessary x‐ray contamination. For example, the 12 MeV beam delivered by the prototype mobile IOERT accelerator developed at NCBJ exhibits stray x‐ray contamination of the order of 0.39%. Results presented here indicate that it can be reduced by more than 30%.…”

“…The study was performed in a complete and realistic geometry of the beam forming system of a mobile electron linac for IOERT that is currently under development at the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) in Otwock, Poland. Fig.…”

“…The study was performed in a complete and realistic geometry of the beam forming system of a mobile electron linac for IOERT that is currently under development at the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) in Otwock, Poland. 15 4) scattering foils made of tantalum and aluminum, respectively, side shielding (3), ionization chamber (5), a primary collimator (6), and an applicator (7). A water phantom ( 8) is positioned directly below the applicator.…”

“…The study was performed in a complete and realistic geometry of the beam forming system of a mobile electron linac for IOERT that is currently under development at the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) in Otwock, Poland. 15 (1), primary (2) and secondary (4) scattering foils made of tantalum and aluminum, respectively, side shielding (3), ionization chamber (5), a primary collimator (6), and an applicator (7). A water phantom (8) 1. a 50-lm-thick titanium beam exit window mounted in the copper end wall of the accelerating section, 2. primary and secondary scattering foils spaced 10 cm apart and made of tantalum and aluminum, respectively, 3. a 15-cm-long aluminum tubular side shielding of inner diameter 6 cm and outer diameter 8.5 cm, 4. an ionization chamber consisting of six layers of kapton foil each 39 lm thick, 5. a 3-cm-thick collimator made of aluminum with conical inner opening with a top radius of 1.6 cm and bottom radius of 1.87 cm, 6. a 45-cm-long aluminum tubular applicator of inner diameter 10 cm and outer diameter 10.3 cm.…”

Dosimetry of the Electron Beams Generated by ‘LIAC’ for Intraoperative Radiation Therapy: Using GATE Monte Carlo Simulations

“…The dosimetric characteristics and water to air mass stopping power ratios were acquired by Monte Carlo simulations, for Novac7 and light intraoperative accelerator (LIAC) as two IORT accelerators; using BEAMnrc code and EBT radiochromic films [12]. Other studies also used BEAMnrc MC code to simulate a LIAC accelerator [8,[13][14][15][16]. To the best of our knowledge, no reports have been published yet on the development of software for the dosimetry of LIAC systems; using the GATE Monte Carlo code.…”