Summary:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Radiation Oncology have developed a collimation device that can achieve ultrafast delivery and complex dose modulation for x-ray radiotherapy.
Background:
Radiotherapy aims to treat and control the growth of tumors via exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation. While it is generally effective, it can often damage surrounding healthy tissue, limiting the maximum allowable radiation dose and decreasing its overall efficacy. Recent evidence suggests that the treatment of tumors can be conducted via a single, high dose-rate radiation delivery (FLASH) which reduces the degree of radiation-induced tissue damage without compromising tumor control. Additionally, since FLASH requires a single dose of radiation, it can be up to 400 times quicker than conventional irradiation techniques. However, the widespread implementation of FLASH on patients with non-superficial tumors faces significant technical challenges due to inadequate beam energy production and low narrow focus. Therefore, there is a need for a high output x-ray and dose conformity for the treatment of deep tumors.
Innovation:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Radiation Oncology have developed a rotational direct aperture with a decoupled ring-collimator (ROAD) to achieve simultaneous ultrafast delivery and complex dose modulation. The device was capable of producing FLASH delivery while maintaining a narrow focus and high X-ray penetration depth. The ROAD design was capable of achieving ultrafast dose rates up to 112 Gy s-1 and improved physical dosimetry compared to current clinical dose delivery practices.
Potential Applications:
- Radiation therapy
- X-ray dose therapy
- Deep tumor treatment
- Particle accelerator
Advantages:
- Applicable to a wide-range of cancers and tissues
- Ultrafast radiation delivery
- High-quality dose distribution
- X-ray usage
- Low dosimetry
Development to Date:
First description of complete invention
Related Papers:
Lyu, Q.; Neph, R.; Ruan, D.; Boucher, S.; Sheng, K. “ROAD: ROtation directed Aperture optimization with a Decoupled ring-collimator for FLASH radiotherapy” Phys. Med. Biol. 66, (2021), 035020.