General Radiotherapy Machines
The most common machine used to distribute external beam radiotherapy treatment is known as a linear accelerator or LINAC for short. LINAC systems generate high energy x-rays that are carefully aimed at the cancerous tumors. This process is done with much care given to direct the rays in a manner that does as little harm as possible to the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. Linear accelerators are used to treat cancerous tumors on all areas of the body.
Some LINAC systems that are more advanced have the capability to deliver radiation on or near the surface of the skin. In this type of treatment electrons are used in replacement of high energy x-rays.
Newer linear accelerators have the ability to deliver radiation using Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, IMRT. These systems use multi-leaf collimators adjust the shape of the radiation beam to match the shape of the tumor. Without these adjustments LINAC systems would only be able to shoot radiation beams in the shape of a square or rectangle.
Radiographers all have different methods that they use to make sure the radiation treatment is targeting the exact location of the cancerous tumor. In its most fundamental form radiation is just a plain x-ray. Most linear accelerators work through digital imaging where the bottom arm of the machine takes an EPI, electronic portal image, or PI, portal image.
The image is compared by radiographers, to images that were generated during the planning process of your treatment as a type of checks and balances before treatment is delivered. The quantity of images that are taken to compare between depends on the departments protocol for imaging. Different types of radiotherapy treatment machines have an On-Board Imager, OBI, that is comprised of a Kv x-ray and detector. Higher quality images are obtained as a verification which allows for another radiotherapy technique known as Image Guided Radiotherapy, IGRT. With IGRT the accuracy of treatment is improved as daily changes are accounted for such as changes in organ location which can in turn reduce unpleasant side effects.
Electrons are generated and speed up to almost as close to the speed of light using electrical fields. The energy continues to increase until it collides with its intended target and then releases the photon energy. These photons enter the patient in an attempt to break down the DNA cells in the cancerous tumor. Healthy cells are most often able to mend themselves where as the cancerous tumors don’t and eventually die.
Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.
Imaging and radiotherapy
The Institute of Cancer Research, London, works at the leading edge of imaging and precision radiotherapy. With state-of-the-art facilities and internationally renowned researchers, we are pioneering technologies to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of cancer, and to guide new forms of precision treatment.
-carousel.jpg?sfvrsn=5f597e69_0 "radiotherapy IMRT")
Image: Radiotherapy IMRT (Credit: Jan Chlebik/the ICR)
The ICR and our partner hospital, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, have a long track record of practice-changing advances in radiotherapy.
We helped to pioneer image-guided radiation therapy, and a technique called intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), which shapes the radiation beam to the outline of tumours.
Now we’re going even further, with commitments under our research strategy to do the innovative physics needed to target radiation precisely, and to test out enhanced forms of precision radiotherapy in clinical trials.
The aim is to create new treatments that target tumours with pinpoint accuracy, and minimise the side-effects caused by damage to healthy tissue.
The installation by the ICR and The Royal Marsden of one of the world’s most advanced radiotherapy machines, the MR Linac, gives us the capability to shape a radiotherapy beam to a tumour in real time, even as it moves in the body – for example, as a patient breathes.
At the same time, scientists in the ICR’s Centre for Cancer Imaging are pushing boundaries with the very latest in single and combined imaging technologies to visualise tumours precisely, and study their behaviour, physiology and growth.
Our molecular imaging capabilities are a vital tool in preclinical drug discovery and development. By using imaging in animal studies we can, for example, accurately evaluate whether a cancer drug candidate is hitting its target and having the predicted effect.
In future, doctors could use this information to see if tumours are responding to cancer treatments over time, and to adapt treatment accordingly – without the need for the patient to undergo multiple, uncomfortable biopsies.
Original Source: https://www.icr.ac.uk/our-research/about-our-research/imaging-and-radiotherapy
The Lifespan of a Linear Accelerator Parts
A linear accelerator has a wide range of built-ins that are designed to ensure patients are only given the recommended dose of radiation. The dosage recommended by the physician should never be ignored or changed as each treatment dosage is unique to each patient. Linear accelerators are comprised of several parts and mechanisms that age over time. This article will go over what facilities can expect when it comes to the average lifespan of the parts on LINAC systems, CT scanners, and other radiation oncology devices.
The Lifespan of Linear Accelerator Parts
The lifespan of linear accelerator equipment comes down to two major elements: usage and maintenance. On average medical facilities can expect that large scaled radiation equipment, such as linear accelerators, to last around 5 to 10 years before they begin to break down. Regular maintenance of your LINAC system keeps it running smoother, longer.
Examples of medical equipment lifespans are:
- High use parts like Magnetron and iView detectors can last upwards of two to three years and with average use around four to six years.
- X-ray tubes with high use last about eighteen months however with low usage can last if four years.
- XVI detectors can last up to ten years within linear accelerators that have low usage whereas with high usage XVI parts last around five years.
- Thyratron tubes have a lifespan of anywhere between three to five years.
Age and Usage of LINAC Parts
The average life expectancy of most linear accelerator parts depends on the legitimacy of the parts and the amount they are used. There are some parts that need to be replaced yearly with increased use, like the electron gun, however with low usage can last upwards of six years.
Environmental factors cannot be ruled out as it also affects the ion chamber of a linear accelerator, high humidity can cause a reduced lifespan. While an average ion chamber will only need a replacement after four years, one in an environment with high humidity will need a replacement after a year.
When to Replace Aging Parts
Replacing aging parts over time is necessary to avoid causing any damages to the equipment. Some corporation has a habit of considering the price of the equipment and the costs involved in changing the parts over time, and as such delayed the immediate replacement of an overdue or overused equipment. But, this is never a good yardstick of profit maximization, in the long run definitely, a breakdown of significant parts of the system may be disastrous to the equipment.
As a Linear Accelerator stays over time and ages, errors can creep in and this will have an adverse effect on the accuracy of the equipment. It is reasonable to expect a good 5 to 10 years of use out of the linear accelerator, but the maintenance also takes its toll on expenses if it stays much longer.
Companies can often get more usage out of a machine and ensure errors are resolved or controlled just by keeping the software up to date and replacing or upgrading linear accelerator parts as at when needed. Most importantly it is advisable to choose a reputable company to replace your LINAC’s aging parts as the wrong equipment can end up creating more damage to the machine instead of improving its performance. Most companies who sell linear accelerators and parts will have service contracts available that offer varying levels of support.
Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. Radparts provides high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.
Insanely Intense X-Ray Lasers Have Recorded Nanoplasma Generation For The First Time
Watching an explosion in super slow motion is what we expect from just about any Hollywood action blockbuster.
But capturing details of an explosion that’s about the same size as a protein? That might not have the same appeal as a Michael Bay movie, but don’t let that fool you. There’s a lot we can learn from the sizzle of a nano-sized bang.
Nanoplasma is exactly what it sounds like – bursts of charged particles contained on a sub-microscopic scale as a nanoparticle disintegrates. Now, for the first time, researchers have used a cutting-edge X-ray laser to watch one in high detail.
X-rays are incredibly useful for studying the world of insanely tiny things. Their tight wavelengths act like thin, sensitive fingers capable of feeling every nook and cranny of objects too small to study with your typical microscope.
Unfortunately, what they promise in detail they lack in subtlety. Hitting a delicate object such as a protein with an X-ray and studying the aftermath is like blindly caressing a snowflake to determine its shape. It can be hard to tell what is authentic and what’s clumsy prodding.
Learning exactly what the brutal stabbing of X-rays does to a crowd of atoms would at least help researchers interpret their results, sifting out the details that are significant from the ones that show blast damage.
We recently reported on US researchers using bursts of light from an X-ray free-electron laser called the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory to study the ionisation of water.
A pulse of intensely focussed electromagnetic radiation in the X-ray region heated water molecules to a temperature hotter than Earth’s core in 75 femtoseconds, blasting the molecules apart into a soup of charged particles they could examine.
This time, another team of physicists used the Spring-8 Angstrom Compact free electron Laser (SACLA) in Japan to strip apart a few thousand atoms of xenon.
Similar to the LCLS, the SACLA focusses a beam of X-rays onto an area that’s a fraction of the width of a human hair, shining with the brightness of thousands of Suns.
As you might imagine, being hit with such an intense pulse – even if it is for less than 10 quadrillionths of a second – will do more than tickle.
The researchers filled a vacuum chamber with about 5,000 xenon particles and hit them with a pulse of X-rays that lasted less than 10 femtoseconds, causing them to lose electrons and leave behind a variety of positively charged ions.
The aftermath wasn’t up for debate. What they wanted to know was exactly how the atoms lost their electrons. Did they all shake free at once? Was it a progressive reaction?
Hollywood cinematography would use high-speed cameras to capture every glorious detail of an explosion. But femtosecond photography requires some clever thinking.
The team used a bright flash of near infra-red laser light, which was absorbed by particles making up the nanoplasma.
The absorption pattern revealed key details about the variety of positive xenon atoms, from those that had lost just a handful of electrons to some that were stripped of as many as nearly half of their stash.
By repeating the experiment with different intervals between the blast and the ‘photo finish’ infra-red snap-shot, the researchers could shoot a virtual slow-motion scene of xenon nanoplasma formation.
Those details pointed to a specific process of ionisation that was more like a steady electron version of pass-the-parcel than a sudden, chaotic free-for-all of electron flight.
Breaking it down, atoms of xenon transform into a bubble of nanoplasma in stages.
Energy absorption was followed by a small number of xenon atoms shedding electrons. These created zones of positives and negatives that continue to hold the plasma together.
Understanding brief moments of a tiny, contained explosion holds the key to understanding how atoms are arranged when the heat is on.
Applied to more complex systems, it could lead to models that better describe the shapes and arrangements of nanomaterials.
Or, throw in a lens flare or two, and we can one day look forward to a more organic version of Transformers on the small screen.
Original Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/x-ray-free-electron-laser-nanoplasma-analysis-xenon-atoms
Original Date: Aug 8 2018
Written By: MIKE MCRAE
September Monthly Specials!
Preventive Maintenance Increases the Lifespan of LINAC Systems
LINAC systems are just one of the methods that facilities use to administer radiotherapy to patients with cancer. The high cost of this technology necessitates that preventive maintenance be routinely undertaken to extend the life span of linear accelerator parts and other radiation oncology equipment. Linear accelerator parts should be serviced to ensure high quality service delivery to patients. This will go a long way in helping cancer patients to access quality treatment.
The main parts of LINAC systems consist of linear accelerator wave guide and the beam defining system. Other parts include: handle control, couch with controls, touch guard and wall panel to hide stand. Being that it is electrical equipment and it’s in continuous use, the systems will breakdown if not cared for properly which will lead to system breakdown. Therefore, preventive maintenance should be regularly done to ensure that the system works effectively and efficiently. A complex system such as linear accelerators and ct scanners depends on electrical connections, once there is poor connection the machine will malfunction. All parts work in cohesion and if one of them is faulty it will affect other parts.
Linear accelerator parts are expensive and the cost of purchasing a new one is prohibitive. Proper preventive maintenance should be carried out from time to time. Most LINAC systems use water cooling because a constant temperature need to be maintained to ensure harmonious operation. However, there is advanced air-cooled chillers for LINAC cooling. This cooling system is expensive but once it is replaced the system works as if it is a new one.
LINAC parts can be procured from the original equipment manufacturer or through local dealers. There are many advantages to buying parts through companies that offer several parts (and services) instead of a more expensive OEM dealer. Often these companies offer less expensive, refurbished options and OEM parts with warranties. If the parts should malfunction within the period of coverage of warranty, they can help. However, one important decision one must make is that whether one should buy refurbished parts or new OEM parts. Refurbished parts are suitable for repairs and maintenance and the cost is lower than buying new ones. This decision is often mostly decided because of your budget however, just know that refurbished parts are just as reliable and as effective so either way you are getting quality parts.
A lot of factors need to be considered when servicing or maintaining LINAC system. One of such considerations is the response time of maintenance company versus original equipment manufacturer. The response time of maintenance companies tend to be quicker than that of the original manufacturer. Therefore, procuring the service of maintenance company will shorten the downtime of the medical equipment. Associated with this is the high level of expertise of engineers working with servicing and maintenance companies.
In most cases, these engineers were trained by original equipment manufacturers hence, the quality of service delivery. Another advantage of servicing and maintenance of linear accelerator parts is that servicing companies have favorable and flexible contract agreement, and this ensure that servicing of equipment is done comprehensively with minimal costs. This contract agreement includes periodical preventive maintenance without extra costs. Routine service and maintenance of LINAC parts are necessary for optimal functioning of the system and it greatly reduces the amount of downtime of the equipment and elongate its lifespan.
Learn more about Radparts and the variety of services and parts they offer to repair medical equipment including: linear accelerators parts, CT scanners parts, linac parts, and radiation oncology equipment at www.radparts.com. To contact one of our medical equipment repair specialists for parts or service call toll free 877.704.3838 for 24/7/365 support.
Finding Parts and Services for Medical Equipment Repair
Healthcare businesses will often find that while their oncology equipment is in excellent shape, there comes a time when something will breakdown or break all together. When that happens, there is usually a ruckus, because then someone needs to find out who sells parts or services their linear accelerator or other oncology equipment. While this may seem easy, it is not as easy as it appears, especially because the company that is hired must excel in the work that they do and the oncology equipment parts that they provide.
There are numerous linear accelerator parts and oncology equipment parts that are needed when things go wrong, and Radparts has more than sixty-five thousand parts in our warehouse. That means that whatever you and your patients need, we have it in stock and ready to use.
Whether your linear accelerator needs a new MLC motor, console keyboard, or a new pump, you will not need to spend days waiting for a replacement. Instead of shuffling patients around, and trying to fulfill their needs, you can have your oncology equipment repaired quickly and be ready for your next patient right away.
Knowing where to find parts for your oncology equipment and knowing who can service them all is key to keeping your patients safe and healthy during their treatments. You never want to take a risk and use a linear accelerator or any other oncology equipment that has a broken or missing part, as that can put your patients in danger.
Instead, you will want to inspect your linear accelerator and other oncology equipment every day and have routine maintenance and outside inspections completed too. The sooner you notice an issue, the easier it will be to have everything fixed and up and running again. After all, no oncology unit will be able to function properly without this equipment and patients can suffer significantly from a broken-down machine as well.
Whether you have a brand-new linear accelerator or a completely refurbished one, you will want to have someone on hand for service and parts right away. While you may hope that you do not need their services for a long time, you will quickly find that things do not always work out the way that you plan. Therefore, a little pro-action will go a long way when the inevitable does happen and you need linear accelerator parts or other oncology equipment parts and services.
Learn more about Radparts and the variety of services and parts they offer to repair medical equipment including: linear accelerators parts, CT scanners parts, linac parts, and radiation oncology equipment at www.radparts.com. To contact one of our medical equipment repair specialists for parts or service call toll free 877.704.3838 for 24/7/365 support.
Global Medical Linear Accelerator market will propel huge growth and share in near future.
Global Medical Linear Accelerator Market 2018 Research Reports emphasizes on key industry analysis, market size, growth and extensive industry dynamics with respect to with respect to drivers, restraints, opportunities, pricing structure and latest trends in the industry.
Request for the sample report here:
https://apexmarketreports.com/Life-Science/Global-Medical-Fiber-Optics-Market-Status-By-Manufacturers,-Types-And-Application,-History-And-Forecast-2025#sample
In the introductory part, Medical Linear Accelerator Market Research Report offers optimum market insights of the Medical Linear Accelerator industry, which comprises definitions and a diverse range of statements, Medical Linear Accelerator market chain structure and pricing analysis. The global Medical Linear Accelerator market analysis further provides pioneering landscape of market along with market expansion history and key development involved in the industry. The report also features comprehensive research study for high growth potential industries professional survey with market analysis.
Top Manufacture analysis of Global Medical Linear Accelerator Market:
Coherent, Inc
Schott AG
Boston Scientific Corporation
Timbercon, Inc
IPG Photonics Corporation
American Medical System LLC
Leoni AG
Rofin-Sinar Technologies
Vitalcor, Inc
Olympus America
Trumpf Group
Global Medical Linear Accelerator Market Segmentation:
By Type
Laser Fiberoptic
Endoscopes
Fiberoptic Dental Lights
Fiberoptic Sensors
Fiberoptic Surgical Lights
Others
By Applications
Medical Telecommunication
Capital Equipment
Others
Geographical segmentation of Medical Linear Accelerator Market involves the regional outlook which further covers United States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia and India.
As the report proceeds further, it covers the analysis of key market participants paired with development plans and policies, production techniques, price structure of the Medical Linear Accelerator market. The report also identifies the other essential elements such as product overview, supply chain relationship, raw material supply and demand statistics, expected developments, profit and consumption ratio.
Inquire before buying here:
https://apexmarketreports.com/Life-Science/Global-Medical-Fiber-Optics-Market-Status-By-Manufacturers,-Types-And-Application,-History-And-Forecast-2025#inquiry
The report encompasses 15 chapters to precisely capture the Global Medical Linear Accelerator Market:
Chapter 1, to characterize Medical Linear Accelerator market structure, product scope, industry survey, business opportunities, market restraint, industry driving force;
Chapter 2, to analyze the top key players of the Medical Linear Accelerator, with sales, revenue, and cost structure of Medical Linear Accelerator, in 2017 and 2018;
Chapter 3, to evaluate the aspiring situation among the key players, with sales, revenue, and market share in 2017 along with 2018;
Chapter 4, to provide the Medical Linear Accelerator market in terms of region, with sales, revenue and market share for each region from 2013 to 2018;
Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, to identify the regional and country analysis with respect to sales, revenue and Medical Linear Accelerator market share;
Chapter 10 and 11, to showcase the Medical Linear Accelerator market segmentation by type and application, in terms of sales, market size and growth rate of each segment, from 2013 till 2018;
Chapter 12, Comprises Medical Linear Accelerator market forecast, market segmentation including region, type and application in terms of sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2025;
Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to unveil Medical Linear Accelerator sales channel, distributers, traders, dealers, research findings, conclusion, appendix and data source;
We also provide report customization services according to your special requirements. We would be glad to assist you!
August Monthly Specials
