Technical note: a transparent template system for positioning independent radiation-therapy shielding blocks

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Accurate patient setup is crucial for effective radiation therapy.
• Manual placement of lead shielding blocks can be time-consuming and prone to error.
• Existing methods may lack the precision required for complex treatment fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel accessory system for precise manual placement of radiation therapy treatment fields.
• To enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and reproducibility of lead-shielding block placement.
• To integrate software solutions for template generation compatible with common radiation therapy units.

Main Methods:

• Development of a transparent template system with alignment pegs and a specialized hole-punch.
• Software for printing templates on transparency sheets using laser printers.
• Integration with specific radiation teletherapy units (Siemens, Theratron) and block file formats (Helax TMS).

Main Results:

• The system facilitates efficient, accurate, and reproducible manual placement of independent lead-shielding blocks.
• Templates are rapidly and accurately positioned using alignment pegs on the template holder.
• The developed software and accessories streamline the treatment setup process.

Conclusions:

• The developed accessory system significantly improves the accuracy and reproducibility of radiation therapy field setup.
• This innovation offers a practical solution for radiation therapists to enhance treatment precision.
• The system's compatibility with multiple units and formats broadens its clinical applicability.