Pre-planning Linac Maintenance

Medical linear accelerators have continued to make progress through history since the late 1950’s and pave new ways for curing a variety of different cancers that once were not an option to treat. The design of the equipment combines the use of hardware and software that together gives the advantage of precision and overall success of today’s cancer treatment worldwide. Manufacturing and design continue to evolve and become a better tool for future use in reliability and efficiency but as with all mechanical systems, dysfunction and failures still exist. Having unplanned accelerator downtime and failures can impact a company and its patients very negatively. The scheduled treatments need to be performed at precise times given by the cancer specialists for an effective procedure while fighting against cancer. To avoid these situations from occurring, proper testing and maintenance of the radiology equipment must be done.

Steps During Maintenance

Deliver a daily quality assurance (QA) treatment
Automatically move and examine the log files that are created
Create baselines, then perform daily operating and performance values to statistical process control (SPC) for examination
Investigate if any alarms have been activated
Inform the facility and system service engineers

Trained Professionals

Medical physicists will typically receive basic training of the principals of linear accelerators functionality, but much hands-on experience will be lacking since there is a limited access to linacs that’s are in clinical use but more importantly because these devices can only be adjusted with small set of parameters to maintain. For actual technicians, training for service personnel is generally one of the largest components to a person early on in employment. The process can be lengthy and costly and require unique training from the manufacturer of linear accelerator company.

Scheduled Maintenance and Repairs

Typically, Linac machines will be under an annual service contract that will provide scheduled, preventative maintenance throughout the year to keep the radiotherapy machines running optimally. Keep in mind, older equipment may reach their “end of life” period and may no longer be supported or even worse parts can become sparse or unavailable which may be a reason to start to look for replacement linear accelerators. Extending the life of your current systems with upgrades will be the most cost-effective option for your business. By repairing or upgrading the system this will also not only save money but save precious down time that will need to be taken if having to remove and install new equipment is needed. Not having a machine functioning will mean no treatments being performed which could cost you losing valuable patients.

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 and support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.

Techniques Used in Radiation Therapy

The leading cause of death globally remains to be cancer. The word cancer is often used when a person describes how a loved family or friend dies. The first cancer treatments appreciated were introduced in 1895 after the discovery of Xrays. Cancer treatment has continued to progress at an increasing rate each year with new technology and growth in knowledge on the subject. There are many treatment options to be considered such as radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy. Radiation therapy continues to be one of the most important components of treatments available since it’s estimated 50% of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy during their sickness. The reason for such a high amount of uses for this type of treatment is the efficiency to target the cancer cells with beams of radiation produced by radiation equipment called a linear accelerator or LINAC. The high energy x ray beams destroy the cancer cells while preventing radiation damage from the healthy cells. Radiation therapy can be delivered in two different ways, the first is through External beam radiation. This type is the most common and is used from the outside of a patient’s body by aiming the radiation beams at the location of tumor. The second type of delivery is Internal radiation or also called brachytherapy. Internal radiation is done through the inside of the body by radioactive sources such as catheters or seeds directly into the tumor.

Fractionation

Radiation dose fractionation is radiotherapy delivered in a fractionated form. This type of therapy generally increases the survival of normal tissues and cells over the cancer cells. Normal cells multiply more slowly compared to the rapid increasing cancer cells which allows the healthy cells more time to heal before they replicate.

3D Conformal Radiotherapy

New technology has allowed older 2D radiation therapy that previously used rectangular fields based on plain X-ray imaging to be replaced with 3D radiation therapy based on CT imaging. This replacement allows for a more accurate target of the tumor as well as precise location of other normal organ structures for the most efficient beam placement and shielding to occur.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

Oncologists can create irregular-shaped radiation doses that take shape of the tumor while also having the ability to avoid other organs with IMRT technology. This process is all possible due to two factors which are inverse planning software and also computer controlled intensity modulation of multiple radiation beams during the process.

Image-guided Radiotherapy

The possibility to miss a tumor due to organ movement or the variations needed for each patient’s setup it becomes even more important for treatment options to be more precise than ever before. When critical tissue and organs are close to the tumor, a slight positional error could lead to radiation damage to the healthy cells. IRGT is created and utilized to allow detection of these such errors by the information taken through pre-radiotherapy imaging which can be used for corrections.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)

Another type of treatment that is possible today due to advances in newer technology is SBRT. This treatment delivers very high separate doses of radiation over only a few treatment fractions to destroy small tumors anywhere in the body of patient. The side effects of this however, tissues that are close in proximity to the tumor is likely to get damaged due to the high radiation dose. Since the amount of normal tissue effected is small in the high does region, toxicity is less. 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 and support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. More information can be found at https://www.radparts.com/.

Choosing Radparts For Your Linac Needs

Radparts is a unique supplier of OEM replacement parts for linear accelerators and CT scanners. We partner with Acceletronics who offers a number of services surrounding LINACS including sales of new and refurbished radiation equipment, the servicing of radiation equipment, and a variety of services including relocation and removal of linear accelerators. This arrangement allows us to provide services that other companies cannot. Selling new and refurbished medical equipment can be quiet a challenge. This is true of CT scanners, linear accelerators, MRI systems, and other higher valued medical equipment. Medical facilities face a great deal of challenges of their own with making large scaled equipment such as financing, regulations, time issues, delays, and a million other obstacles that can cause delays. When working with the team at Acceletronics and Radparts we help to create a process that is practically seamless for our clients. This allows you to focus on growing their business and creating an environment to offer the most complete and comprehensive patient care program for patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Why We Are Better Than the Rest

Short-Terms Solutions – Sometimes facilities need a little more time to prepare for the installation and delivery of their new or refurbished linear accelerator. When our clients find themselves in need of a temporary solution to ensure their patients needs are met, we have them covered. Our sister company, Acceletronics, has pre-owned equipment that can be purchased to buy some time. These systems can then be utilized as a back up at a later date or resold. This is often a more affordable solution than renting a mobile unit.
Financing – New facilities and healthcare centers do not often have a lot of capital to buy and operate new medical equipment. We offer financing options as well as less expensive refurbished equipment that can be used to provide quality care to patients until facilities are more established.
Contracts for Service – We offer a number of contracts for servicing equipment. The major benefit is the team effort between Acceletronics and Radparts which ensures the parts that are needed to service your equipment are available and ready when needed. Here at Radparts we specialize in parts for repairing all linear accelerators and radiation equipment. We are the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for LINAC. With over 65,000 parts in stock and 3,200 individual line items – we are almost guaranteed to have what is needed to service or repair your equipment in a timely fashion.

A Little Preparation Goes A Long Way In Maintaining Linear Accelerators

Linear accelerators, LINAC, are large scaled medical devices that deliver external radiation in the form of a beam to cancerous tumors in order to shrink them. As with most medical equipment, LINAC systems are expensive which is a barrier that many facilities face when purchasing a new or refurbished unit.

With the expense of these large scaled systems it is important to make sure they are properly maintained and that you have access to linear accelerator parts for repair as needed. Medical facilities can contract with companies that specialize in maintenance and repair services of LINAC systems such as Acceletronics or have on staff a team of professionals whose job it is to provide these services for their equipment. There are advantages and disadvantage to both options, facilities choose based on their budget and facility needs.

Linear accelerators have evolved over the years. LINAC machines no longer only provide external radiation beams for treatment. Major advancement in this technology include onboard imaging systems and portal dosimetry. Such complex systems require biomedical and clinical engineers to not only understand what these machines do but also how they are operated. Even with advanced training, until the engineer has hands on experience it is difficult to truly understand how the machine functions.

Not only is the linear accelerator expensive but the expertise to use and understand the machine is costly as well. This again is an issue that faces many medical facilities. These two factors alone make up the most significant aspect of expense faced by facilities when deciding on the purchase of equipment.

All linear accelerators are not created equally and therefore when replacing an existing system there will be a significant cost to not only bring new equipment in but also the training on the individual piece of equipment. One way to combat this is to replace existing LINAC with identical refurbished linear accelerators.

We have discussed a lot about the expense of these units however there is also significant revenue to be gained by having external radiation treatment available to patients seeking treatment for cancerous tumors. It is important for facilities to make sure these machines are functioning at peak capabilities at all times. Downtime not only impacts revenue but also patient care. In order for patients to have effective treatment for their tumors it is important they are able to strictly follow the treatment schedule laid out by their radiation team. If equipment is down this is not possible.

To ensure that patient care and revenue is not affected by machine downtime it is crucial to maintain equipment. Machine maintenance includes repairs in anticipation of failure. If a parts failure is eminent based on previous experience it behooves the facility to purchase the LINAC replacement part ahead of time so that service can be provided around patient’s treatment schedules. This allows facilities to schedule downtime to prevent unplanned downtime.

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/.

Installment Two – The Process of Treating Cancer Using Radiation

In our first installment on treating cancer with radiation we took a look in to exactly what radiation therapy was, how it worked, and how treatment is planned and delivered. In today’s installment we will look deeper into what patients can and cannot doing during treatment, how long treatment sessions take, what to expect, and potential side effects.

During treatment are there particular things I should or shouldn’t do?

It is hard to believe however, life as normal can continue while you receive radiation therapy. In fact, the less interruption to your overall schedule, the better. Try to think of radiation as you would any other appointment, don’t make it any more important than any other task in your daily life. Taking the importance away helps to ease anxiety. Consider the following when planning treatment:

Radiation therapy is performed using a linear accelerator. Some Skin tumors require a superficial x-ray unit, however for the most part radiation is delivered using a LINAC system. You will be required to lay still while on the table/couch underneath the linear accelerator while the treatment is occurring. You will feel nothing at all during the procedure. Many times, you don’t even know that treatment has occurred. A myth has circulated that you will be radio active after radiation therapy however this is incorrect. There is not a possibility of this at all.

Treatment can range from a single treatment, one time to multiple treatments a week for several weeks. This depends on a number of different factors including the type of cancer, where it is located, and how it is responding to treatment. Treatment is most often done during the week. The duration of your session will vary as well depending on the LINAC system that is used, and duration set in your treatment plan. Certain linear accelerators operate faster than others and certain cancers require slow and steady treatment. Your radiation oncologist will go over your specific case when reviewing your treatment plan.

During treatment it is important to drink plenty of fluids while eating regularly. A small, balanced meal several times a day will help with energy loss. It is also important to keep up on your regular, daily hygiene regimen. Try to avoid extreme foods of any nature, too spicy, too hot, too cold, and so on are not desirable when receiving treatment. It is also important to avoid extreme sun exposure during radiation as your skin will be more sensitive to burns.

What side effects should I be prepared for?

Radiation therapy provides a localized treatment which means that any side effect will depend on where it is received. You may experience the following:

Nausea: Depending on where treatment is given you may feel nauseous during or after treatment. (This could also be nerves) Whatever the case symptoms can easily be treated with the use of anti-nausea medication.

Diarrhea: As with nausea, diarrhea can be treated with medicine. Depending on severity a dietician can help prepare your diet to prevent future occurrences.

Sore Throat/Mouth: If you are having treatment done on your mouth or throat you can experience some tenderness. Your oncologist will offer suggestions to help prevent chewing and swallowing difficulties.

Increased Urination: Treatment in the lower abdomen and pelvic region can lead to frequently needing to relieve yourself. To prevent discomfort be sure to stay well hydrated by drinking extra water throughout the day. Take note of drastic changes which could be signally an infection verse side effects from treatment.

Hair Loss: This too is localized to the treatment area. Hair loss may occur on your chest, arms, legs, face, and head depending on where the radiation treatment is performed.

Can I continue to work?

As stated earlier, keeping your routine as normal is possible is key. Of course, each treatment plan is different, and your oncologist may recommend rest after treatment. If this is the case, you will want to follow their specific instructions. Once treatment is finished any side effects and symptoms should subside within a few weeks.

Will I need to follow up?

After radiation therapy is performed you will need to follow up with your physician. In most cases, the first time you meet after treatment will be between four and six weeks. This is not true in all cases and therefore it is important to work with your doctor to make these arrangements at the time of or before your last treatment of radiation.

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/.

Replacing Equipment: Age Is Not the Only Factor

There are a number of factors that hospitals, medical facilities, and healthcare organizations must consider before they replace equipment besides age. Each year companies could potentially waste thousands of assets by focusing solely on the age of their equipment.

It wasn’t long ago that healthcare facilities were zealous to add all of the latest surgical equipment to their organization. From robotic surgery systems, linear accelerators, and other large scaled medical equipment were installed to keep physicians happy and be competitive.

However, in recent years budgets have gotten smaller and funds have become more restricted and facilities are seeing that equipment can’t just be discarded on a whim or purchased without advanced planning. Instead equipment needs to be repaired or refurbished and kept at peak performance for longer and a strategic approach needs to be taken to replace not only large scaled equipment but also universal equipment such as beds, linens, and so forth.

Proactive replacement planning is necessary between financial and clinical leaders within organizations need to work together to plan in order to achieve:

A reduction in expenses associated with service, parts, maintenance, and training
A decrease “close call” events that come with the use of older equipment with more precise maintenance schedules
A reallocation of assets that are underutilized throughout the facility
An ability to cross train employees throughout facility locations
An increase in consistency and standardization throughout facilities

When the above objectives can be achieved, a reduction in costs can occur with an increase in the quality of care patients receive.

Instead of the reactive strategy that medical facilities have embraced in the past more proactive approaches are being embraced. When purchasing new or refurbished medical equipment in a proactive approach allows leaders to embrace the situation over a period of time verse the reactive approach which tends to be more mission critical. Being proactive allows financial leaders in medical facilities to work with clinical leaders to plan for the addition of new equipment whether it is brand new or refurbished. When the replacement of equipment no longer is a life or death situation a better decision for the facility can be made.

Proactive planning in medical facilities allows for better outcomes overall. Financial teams and clinical teams can work together, armed with historical data, to have meaningful conversations instead of hypothetical ones. This allows better decisions to made for everyone throughout the facility from administrators and physicians to patients and care givers.

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/.

Radiation Therapy: Equipment Used by Veterinarians

When many of us think of cancer and how it affects us and the lives we lead we are more often than not picturing human patients however, we are not the only ones that affected by cancer. Today’s post is all about cancer in our pets and how their treatment includes similar treatment plans and medical equipment. Just like in the treatment of cancer within humans, pets use radiation therapy in various forms to shrink and kill tumors.

Radiation therapy delivered to pets can take various forms with the most common form of radiation treatment being delivered via linear accelerators with multi-leaf collimators. The multi-leaf collimator moves while the radiation treatment is on and being delivered to the patient. This allows the radiation therapist to sculpt the treatment around the tumor with very little damage done to cells outside of the area.

Another form of radiation therapy that is used to administer radiation treatment to pets and humans alike is Cyberknife, a linear accelerator that is paired with a robotic arm. This combination allows the machine to move around the patient. The radiation beam is turned off and on and is able to deliver radiation to the tumor from several angles. This ensures that the treatment conforms to the shape of the tumor within your pet.

Treatment can also be delivered through a Tomotherapy machine. A Tomotherapy unit is best described as a mix between a LINAC and CT scanner. It allows an image to be taken of the tumor right before radiation treatment is delivered. The therapist uses the images that are produced to guide radiation treatment to the tumor.

Tumors of the brain are treated with a very specific method of radiation known as the Gamma Knife. The word knife in the name may lead you to believe that cutting is involved however this is not the case. What occurs in Gamma Knife treatment is that very high doses of radiation are delivered to a very specific location on the brain while avoiding normal brain tissue.

As with humans, radiation therapy can be prescribed to pet patients through a variety of methods. One method is known as hyper-fractionated which means that many small doses of radiation are delivered to the pet with the goal being complete eradication of the tumor. This method is most often considered after surgery has been performed when there are small bits of the tumor left behind. Another method is known as hypo-fractionated in which radiation therapists use large doses of radiation in order to treat tumors that cannot be removed through surgery.

A more advanced scheme of delivering radiation treatment are Stereotactic Radiation Therapy, SRT. This includes both SRS, Stereotactic Radiosurgery, and SBRT, Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy. These methods both deliver high doses of radiation in one, two, or three treatments.

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/.

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/.

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.