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Proton Therapy Equipment Installation, Upgrades, and Building Design
Benjamin M Clasie1, Daniel Letourneau2, Marco Schwarz3
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Practical Radiation Oncology
|November 15, 2023
Summary
Designing proton therapy facilities requires careful planning for equipment upgrades. Modular design and adaptable building layouts can streamline future replacements, similar to linear accelerators, reducing costs and improving accessibility.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Oncology
- Healthcare Facility Design
Background:
- Proton therapy, initially a research tool, is now hospital-based.
- Older proton therapy machines are nearing end-of-life, necessitating replacements.
- Widespread proton therapy adoption hinges on cost reduction and efficient infrastructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review challenges in proton facility design for equipment upgrades and replacements.
- To identify design strategies that mitigate costs and complexities associated with equipment lifecycle management.
- To inform future proton therapy center planning and construction.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of historical installation and building design practices for commercial proton therapy machines.
- Review of component dimensions and weights (e.g., cyclotron magnets, gantries).
- Discussion of innovative patient positioning systems and modular construction concepts.
Main Results:
- Key component data for proton systems (magnets, gantries) are presented.
- Non-gantry-based patient positioning systems are explored.
- Modular design principles for magnets and gantries are proposed.
Conclusions:
- Adaptable building designs with features like larger elevators and access routes are crucial.
- Generic layouts accommodating multiple vendors simplify installations and maintenance.
- Modular system design, including room temperature magnet coils and sub-unit construction, facilitates easier equipment replacement, akin to linear accelerators.
