SBIR-STTR Award

The goal of this research is to develop and test a new type of shaped-field collimator system to mount on existing oncology therapy linear accelerators and cobalt units. The collimator allows the radiation beam to be shaped in arbitrary irregular patterns to match the size and shape of the tumor so that the dose to the tumor region will be maximized relative to the dose received by surrounding normal tissue.The shaping of the radiation field is achieved through an array of movable but permanently mounted tungsten rods, the position of the rods being set automatically by easy-to-fabricate styrofoam patterns. Medical technicians are relieved of the burden (and of the frequent minor injuries) associated with the handling of heavy cast-metal collimators, which are at present in frequent use for the shaping of irregular fields. The new "rod-type" collimator will reduce operating costs, improve staff working conditions, and increase the number of patients that a facility can handle.The research plan involves collecting data on collimator attachment arrangements for four to six of the most frequently used therapy devices, designing collimators for these devices, performing life-cycle tests on critical elements, upgrading an existing prototype to fully automated status, and installing this prototype for weekend debugging periods on an existing therapy unit.National Cancer Institute (NCI)

This research will develop and test a new type of collimator for producing irregularly shaped fields to either mount on existing radiation oncology therapy machines or incorporate into the original equipment. Shaped irradiation fields maximize the dose to the tumor relative to the dose received by surrounding normal tissue. The shaping of the radiation field is by an array of movable but permanently mounted tungsten rods, the position of the rods being set automatically by easy-tofabricate styrofoam patterns.Use of the new collimator will decrease the total dose received by the normal tissues of radiation therapy patients by encouraging a wider use of shaped fields and a greater use of 6- to 8-field treatment plans. The rod-type collimator will reduce operating costs, increase the number of patients a facility can treat, and improve staff morale by making their job easier.The research plan involves:(1) establishing a review committee to set up the plan for clinical trials;(2) collecting data on retrofitting three collimators to existing accelerators and on design and fabrication of these collimators;(3) performing inhouse preclinical cycle testing;(4) installing collimators at three therapy centers for 9 months of clinical trials; and(5) evaluating the results for a business plan.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:Several thousand linear accelerator and cobalt units are in use in the United States for radiation therapy. All of these machines would benefit by adding a rod-type collimator. Advantages of the system include improved treatment effectiveness, increased patient throughput, decreased operating costs, improved staff morale, and- increased shielding for patients.National Cancer Institute (NCI)