Overview
Range uncertainty in the exact position of the distal dose gradient of a proton beam delivered within a patient during radiotherapy (RT) can lead to underdosing of the tumor or to excessive dosing to adjacent healthy tissues or critical organs at risk. The unwanted side effects and complications due this uncertainty is currently one of the key limitations to proton RT. UMB research is directed specifically to overcome this limitation by developing a system for measuring prompt gamma emissions from the treated tissue during proton delivery as a method to verify the in vivo beam range. This system uses a Compton camera approach with reconstruction algorithms to determine the initial energy and directional information about an incident radiation (photon or particle) to produce a 3D image. Moreover, investigators have demonstrated that this system can produce images with high spatial and energy resolution without requiring complete energy absorption of the incident radiation within the Compton camera detector. This design provides a feasible path for an on board clinical imaging system to support emission guided RT that has yet to be resolved by other existing technologies, and would improve our ability to fully realize the advantages of proton RT and patient outcomes.
A second, emerging application of this technology is as a compact, portable imaging system for nuclear medicine applications such as PET and SPECT imaging. Feasibility studies have shown its potential as a portable PET scanner and initial design studies are now underway
Applications
- Radiation Oncology
- Medical Imaging
- Theranostics
- Radio-isotope monitoring/imaging
Advantages
- Dose delivery verification solution
- Real‐time monitoring of exposure areas
- Compatible with current treatment delivery systems
- Personalizes treatment regimens
- Compact design
Stage of Development
- Clinical camera prototype testing
- Proton therapy delivery systems integration testing
- Range verification software development
(RB- 2/7/17)
Contact Info
Office of Technology Transfer
620 W Lexington St., 4th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (410) 706-2380