High Reliability, Modular Radiotherapy Treatment Linac for cancer care in Developing Countries

Lead Research Organisation: Lancaster University
Department Name: Engineering

Abstract

Currently Africa has less than 10% of the required capacity to deliver radiotherapy to cancer patients. The participants in this project are working with UK and global collaborators, such as CERN and the International Cancer Expert Corps (ICEC), to develop medical linac solutions in challenging environments in Africa. The key factors to address are the lifetime, service and repair of components in the linac of the radiotherapy system. This project aims to address these factors by making changes to the design in addition to implement the modular design approach.
During a previous project we investigated the use of RF pulse modulated gridded guns to inject bunches of electron beams into the RF structure to increase capture. The results of the project demonstrated that it's possible to provide almost 100% capture and deliver the beam with a very narrow energy spread (typical radiotherapy systems are only able to capture 50% of the beam). However recent studies have suggested the use of the grid reduces the cathode lifetime by a factor of three. The studies also demonstrated that the linac efficiency can be improved by operating first cell of linac at lower gradient enabling 90% capture, with only 25% of electrons in the low energy tail using convenient DC pulse modulated guns. We believe that this effect is due to velocity bunching and request funds to further study this to attempt to reach 100% capture with no electrons in the tail. Such an approach could allow very long lifetimes with little maintenance. Modular design will improve the capability to repair when the system does fail.

Planned Impact

The main aim of this project is to create a linac optimised for use in Africa for widening access to radiotherapy machines. As mentioned previously Africa has only 10% of the required radiotherapy capacity with many machines currently not in use due to failure or missing parts.
This project is also highly relevant to security linacs where maintenance is also a major issue. The collaborators are in discussion with Rapiscan about application in cargo scanning.
The next step after this project would be to construct a prototype including the rotating gantry, collimators and CT systems. Several routes to impact are being considered at present, with ICEC preferring the creation of a separate spin-out company and CERN preferring to provide royalty-free licences to existing vendors. The radiotherapy machine contains more than just the linac hence the route will be decided by the overall collaboration. ICEC is embedded in radiotherapy centres in most LMICs, aiming to improve access through staff training, mentoring and technology development and hence are ideal partners to take this forward to market.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description We created a conceptual design report on a radiotherapy machine designed for use in Africa, with many novel features that focus on the key issues in lower middle income countries. This was reviewed by an expert panel. THis include the worlds first survey of all RT providers in Africa, soon to be published.
Exploitation Route We are looking to build a prototype next, after which we would like to licence to ICEC to start production. ICEC has secured funding to move to the technical design phase to be led by CERN, at the end of which we should have an industrial partner in place
Sectors Healthcare

URL https://cerncourier.com/a/linacs-to-narrow-radiotherapy-gap/
 
Description The reserach was written up for a magazine (CERN courier) and our lead medical physicist has given a range of outreach talks
First Year Of Impact 2022
Sector Healthcare
Impact Types Cultural

 
Description ICEC Linacs for LMIC countries 
Organisation International Cancer Expert Corps
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We are designing novel radiotherapy systems that are either cheaper or some simple to maintain.
Collaborator Contribution They provide expertise on the problems faced by radiotherapy providers in LMI countries
Impact We are now having our 3rd workshop in Botswana.
Start Year 2018
 
Description STELLA Project 
Organisation European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
Country Switzerland 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I led the conceptial phase of the project and have now handed over to CERN, while retaining responsibility for the RF structure
Collaborator Contribution ICEC are the funder and the sponsor CERN are about to take over leadership for the technical design phase of the project
Impact None yet
Start Year 2023
 
Description STELLA Project 
Organisation International Cancer Expert Corps
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution I led the conceptial phase of the project and have now handed over to CERN, while retaining responsibility for the RF structure
Collaborator Contribution ICEC are the funder and the sponsor CERN are about to take over leadership for the technical design phase of the project
Impact None yet
Start Year 2023
 
Description STELLA Project 
Organisation University of Oxford
Department Oxford Hub
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I led the conceptial phase of the project and have now handed over to CERN, while retaining responsibility for the RF structure
Collaborator Contribution ICEC are the funder and the sponsor CERN are about to take over leadership for the technical design phase of the project
Impact None yet
Start Year 2023
 
Title Compact Linac 
Description Medical linac with 90%+ capture efficiency 
IP Reference JRP/NPT/P216545GB00 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted
Licensed No
Impact We are in the process of developing a licencing agreement wiith ICEC