New technology enables high precision multislit collimators for microbeam radiation therapy
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, B.P. 220, 38043 Grenoble (France)
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 31, 3010 Bern (Switzerland)
During the past decade microbeam radiation therapy has evolved from preclinical studies to a stage in which clinical trials can be planned, using spatially fractionated, highly collimated and high intensity beams like those generated at the x-ray ID17 beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The production of such microbeams typically between 25 and 100 {mu}m full width at half maximum (FWHM) values and 100-400 {mu}m center-to-center (c-t-c) spacings requires a multislit collimator either with fixed or adjustable microbeam width. The mechanical regularity of such devices is the most important property required to produce an array of identical microbeams. That ensures treatment reproducibility and reliable use of Monte Carlo-based treatment planning systems. New high precision wire cutting techniques allow the fabrication of these collimators made of tungsten carbide. We present a variable slit width collimator as well as a single slit device with a fixed setting of 50 {mu}m FWHM and 400 {mu}m c-t-c, both able to cover irradiation fields of 50 mm width, deemed to meet clinical requirements. Important improvements have reduced the standard deviation of 5.5 {mu}m to less than 1 {mu}m for a nominal FWHM value of 25 {mu}m. The specifications of both devices, the methods used to measure these characteristics, and the results are presented.
- OSTI ID:
- 22053527
- Journal Information:
- Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 80, Issue 7; Other Information: (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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