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Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies
Published on: February 6, 2019
Supine proton beam craniospinal radiotherapy using a novel tabletop adapter
Jeffrey C Buchsbaum1, Abby Besemer, Joseph Simmons
1IU Health Proton Therapy Center, Bloomington, IN, USA. jbuchsba@iupui.edu
Summary
A new carbon fiber tabletop enables supine craniospinal proton and photon therapy, overcoming couch limitations. This practical solution improves patient tolerance and allows for versatile treatment positioning.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Oncology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Current proton and photon therapy facilities face limitations with existing couch designs for supine craniospinal treatments.
- Developing specialized equipment is crucial for expanding treatment capabilities and improving patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a novel device enabling supine craniospinal proton and photon therapy across diverse clinical settings.
- To overcome the limitations imposed by conventional couch designs in radiation therapy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized clinic-driven design with real-time team collaboration for prototype development.
- Employed computer-assisted design (CAD) and carbon fiber construction for custom tabletop fabrication.
- Developed two distinct carbon fiber tabletop designs (long and short) with high weight tolerance (>164 kg) and adjustable configurations.
Main Results:
- Successfully developed and implemented four custom carbon fiber craniospinal tabletops in clinical use.
- The new designs accommodate patients up to 200 cm in height and allow for oblique beam delivery.
- Demonstrated successful application in adult and pediatric supine craniospinal therapy, including proton therapy and specialized treatments.
Conclusions:
- Introduced an affordable and practical solution for supine craniospinal proton and photon therapy, adaptable to most facilities.
- The developed devices enhance treatment delivery by allowing for easier patient positioning and improved tolerance, especially with proton therapy's lower integral dose.
- These carbon fiber tabletops facilitate advanced treatment techniques, including oblique beams for pelvic and spinal tumors, and breast-sparing Hodgkin's therapy.
