Biology-guided radiotherapy (BgRT) is a novel technique of external beam radiotherapy, combining positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) with a linear accelerator (LINAC). The key innovation is to utilize PET signals from tracers in tumor tissues for real-time tracking and guiding beamlets. Compared with a traditional LINAC system, a BgRT system is more complex in hardware design, software algorithm, system integration and clinical workflow. RefleXion Medical has developed the world's first BgRT system. Nevertheless, its actively advertised function, PET-guided radiotherapy, is still in the research and development phase. In this review study, we presented a number of issues related to BgRT, including its technical advantages and potential challenges.
Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Algorithms ; Particle Accelerators ; Biology ; Radiotherapy, Image-Guided/methods* ; Radiotherapy Dosage

Dynamic multi-leaf collimator, which has the function of radiation beam shaping, is a key executive component of tumor precise radiotherapy, and plays a core role in improving the accuracy, efficiency and quality of radiotherapy. A new type of collimator leaf end structure with circular arc and plane combination was studied, and collimator penumbra performance analysis model combining analytical expression and graphic analysis was developed. The influence of leaf end structure on penumbra was analyzed quantitatively, and a set of three-dimensional structure design of dynamic multi-leaf collimator was completed. The feasibility of the structural design and analysis model was verified through experimental measurements.
Humans ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Particle Accelerators ; Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy Dosage

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of positioning accuracy of the multi-leaf collimators (MLC) on the passing rate of the plan dose verification for volumetric modulation arc therapy (VMAT) of cervical cancer using an Elekta linear accelerator. METHODS: The dose distributions were measured using Sun Nuclear's Mapcheck and Arccheck semiconductors matrix before and after MLC calibration in30 cervical cancer patients undergoing VMAT. Dosimetric comparisons were performed with 2D and 3D gamma passing rates of 3%, 3 mm and 2%, and 2 mm. The 3D gamma distribution was reconstructed with respect to the patient's anatomy using 3DVH software to evaluate the possible influence of MLC positioning accuracy. RESULTS: Before and after MLC calibration, the gamma passing rates of Mapcheck were (88.80±1.81)% and (99.25 ± 0.53)% under 3% and 3 mm standard, respectively, with an average increase of 10.45%. The corresponding gamma passing rates of Arccheck were (87.61±1.98)% and (98.13±0.99)%, respectively, with an average increase of 10.52%. The gamma passing rates of 3DVH were (89.87±2.28)% and (98.3±1.15)%, respectively, with an average increase of 8.43%. CONCLUSION The MLC positioning accuracy is one of the main factors influencing dosimetric accuracy of VMAT for cervical cancer. The application of Autocal software facilitates MLC calibration and improves the accuracy and safety of VMAT delivery for cervical cancer.
Female ; Humans ; Particle Accelerators ; Quality Control ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated/methods* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/radiotherapy*

Clinically, beam matching can greatly improve the flexibility and efficiency of treating patients between different medical electron linacs. However, in addition to the regular quality assurance (QA) test of the machine performance of linacs, there is still a lack of comprehensive evaluation of the clinical radiotherapy performance of beam-matched linacs. In this paper, the performance of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) between three closely matched linacs was evaluated by statistical process control (SPC) technology. It was found that the average and median γ passing rates of the VMAT QA processes of the three linacs had little difference, but the process capability levels were at three different levels. The results show that SPC technology can effectively evaluate the performance of beam matching for medical electron linacs, improve the patient-specific VMAT QA processes, and guide clinical decision-making.
Electrons ; Particle Accelerators ; Quality Assurance, Health Care ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated

The transportation of electron is inseparable from vacuum environment. The maintenance of the vacuum system of Elekta linear accelerator depends on two sputtering ionic pumps at the gun end and the target end. The traveling wave acceleration were used in Elekta linear accelerators. And the design of the electron gun filament is detachable. Because of these two reasons, the vacuum stability is relatively weak. Only two vacuum values are used to reflect the operation state of the whole vacuum system, which causes a few failures but will not trigger a the machine interlock. Considering the complexity of whole vacuum system, the problem of vacuum caused by the failure of various components in vacuum system is analyzed in this paper. It is hoped that some useful repairing experience and suggestions for the maintenance engineers of linear accelerator to solve the vacuum fault and rebuild the vacuum can be provided quickly.
Electrons ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Vacuum

Image-guided radiation therapy using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a new technology that has been widely studied and developed in recent years. The technology combines the advantages of MRI imaging, and can offer online real-time tracking of tumor and adjacent organs at risk, as well as real-time optimization of radiotherapy plan. In order to provide a comprehensive understanding of this technology, and to grasp the international development and trends in this field, this paper reviews and summarizes related researches, so as to make the researchers and clinical personnel in this field to understand recent status of this technology, and carry out corresponding researches. This paper summarizes the advantages of MRI and the research progress of MRI linear accelerator (MR-Linac), online guidance, adaptive optimization, and dosimetry-related research. Possible development direction of these technologies in the future is also discussed. It is expected that this review can provide a certain reference value for clinician and related researchers to understand the research progress in the field.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiometry ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Image-Guided

This discussion attempts to organize and analyze the clinical purpose of various technologies developed by medical electron accelerators from the development history and clinical needs of radiotherapy products, so as to avoid the troubles caused by specific technical details and summarize the development of medical accelerators. Directly, the study provides differentiated development ideas for the development of domestic medical accelerators and ways and means to determine the dimensions of differentiated development.
Particle Accelerators ; Protective Devices

This discussion attempts to organize and analyze the clinical purpose of various technologies developed by medical electron accelerators from the development history and clinical needs of radiotherapy products, so as to avoid the troubles caused by specific technical details and summarize the development of medical accelerators. Directly, the study provides differentiated development ideas for the development of domestic medical accelerators and ways and means to determine the dimensions of differentiated development.
Equipment Design ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiotherapy/instrumentation*

Cytogenetic dosimetry is useful for evaluating the absorbed dose of ionizing radiation based on analysis of radiation-induced chromosomal aberrations. We created two types of in vitro dose-response calibration curves for dicentric chromosomes (DC) and translocations (TR) induced by X-ray irradiation, using an electron linear accelerator, which is the most frequently used medical device in radiotherapy. We irradiated samples from four healthy Korean individuals and compared the resultant curves between individuals. Aberration yields were studied in a total of 31,800 and 31,725 metaphases for DC and TR, respectively, obtained from 11 X-ray irradiation dose-points (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Gy). The dose-response relationship followed a linear-quadratic equation, Y=C+αD+βD², with the coefficients C=0.0011 for DC and 0.0015 for TR, α=0.0119 for DC and 0.0048 for TR, and β=0.0617 for DC and 0.0237 for TR. Correlation coefficients between irradiation doses and chromosomal aberrations were 0.971 for DC and 0.6 for TR, indicating a very strong and a moderate correlation, respectively. This is the first study implementing cytogenetic dosimetry following exposure to ionizing X-radiation.
Calibration ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Radiotherapy

This study presents an electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) based on daily check tool for Linac that is usable for different cancer centers.Several images of open rectangle fields were acquired with EPID and the key items of daily Linac check were derived from the obtained images using an in-house developed automatic analysis software.The experiment results showed that each parameter calculated by this tool is as reliable as the corresponding result measured by the commercial quality assurance devices and its measuring efficiency is much higher.
Electronics, Medical ; Electrons ; Particle Accelerators ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Radiometry ; Software