Title: A phantom-based evaluation of a real-time tracking micro MLC delivery

Authors: Yaxi Liu; Fan-Chi Su; Martin Szegedi; Lan Lin; Chengyu Shi; Niko Papanikolaou

Addresses: Radiation Oncology Department, Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA. ' Radiation Oncology Department, Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA. ' Radiation Oncology Department, Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA. ' Radiation Oncology Department, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70809, USA. ' Radiation Oncology Department, Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. ' Radiation Oncology Department, Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA

Abstract: A cutting edge real-time tracking delivery system was evaluated for respiratory-correlated radiation therapy. The performed evaluations included Multi-Leaf Collimator (MLC) leaf position accuracy, MLC motion time delay, dosimetric performance, and tracking failure. The experiment-based results indicated that the dynamic MLC was capable of achieving the position accuracy in 1~2 mm and the MLC time delay in the range of 100 μs. The dosimetric comparison evidenced the significant advantage when utilising real-time tracking. The analysis of experiments also indicated the potential fail of tracking due to the impact of patient breathing patterns and the visibility of tumour.

Keywords: dual-layer micro MLC; intra-fractional motion; real-time tracking; radiation therapy; radiotherapy treatment; multi-leaf collimator; MLC leaf position accuracy; MLC motion time delay; dosimetric performance; tracking failure; patient breathing patterns; tumour visibility; tumour motion; dose distribution; lung cancer; respiratory phantom; breathing phantom.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2012.046091

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2012 Vol.8 No.2/3, pp.274 - 297

Published online: 12 Dec 2014 *

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