Trainees Intellectual Forum

ACADEMIC SESSION

Medical Linear Accelerators (Linacs)

Ghufran Ali Trainee Medical Physicist
Medical Physics, Aga Khan University-Karachi

Contents
1. Particle Accelerators 2. Medical Linacs Schematic diagram Linac configurations Linac components Beam interlocks

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PARTICLE ACCELERATORS

PARTICLE ACCELERATORS

PARTICLE ACCELERATORS

Betatron

Cyclotron

Microtron

Medical Linacs

Medical Linacs

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1-80 keV electrons pulse- injected into accelerator tube

Evacuated Cu tube; Transfer microwave energy (from magnetron or klystron) to electrons

X-ray target, flattening filter, electron scattering foil, collimators, etc

Emits high voltage pulses (PRF: 30300 Hz) to magnetron & e - gun; to synchronize electron injection with microwave power.

Source of microwave power (~3000 MHz); Magnetrons up to ~20 MeV; Klystrons at higher energies

Schematic Diagram (simple)

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Schematic diagram Medical Physics, Aga(detailed) Khan UniversityKarachi

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Linac Configurations:
vertical mounting (LA 1 at AKUH)
For 4-6 MV linacs e-gun & x-ray target part of waveguide aligned with isocentre no bending magnet & transport system

X-ray target embedded into waveguide; therefore, this design cannot produce electron beam
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Linac Configurations:
horizontal mounting (LA 2 at AKUH)

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Components of Linacs

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Injections System

Source of electrons; 1-80 keV electrons pulse-injected into accelerator

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RF Power Generation

Source of microwave power (~3000 MHz); Magnetrons up to ~20 MeV; Klystrons at higher energies

RF power amplifier
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RF Power Generation

to synchronize electron injection with microwave power.

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Waveguides

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RF Power transport

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Travelling Waveguide

Above 8 MeV, accelerator structures becomes too long (> 1 m)

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Standing Waveguide

More efficient; half as long; but more expensive Most modern linacs
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Auxiliary System

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Electron Beam Transport

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Coils & Bending Magnet

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Electron Beam Transport

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Linac Treatment Head

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Linac Treatment Head

Electron Beam

Target
Primary Collimator

Flattening Filter Ion Chamber Secondary Collimators

Electron applicator

Patient

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Target and Flattening Filter

Target Transmission geometry

Target is made of gold plated tantalum Ta73or Al13 backed by low Z material
Thickness optimized to maximize x-ray output but minimize electron contamination

Flattening filter

Flattening filter is made of stainless steel alloy (Fe, Ni and Cr) or Al

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Target and Flattening Filter

Carousel

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Photon Beam Collimation

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MLC
Used to define any field shape for radiation beams
Different leaf widths (0.5cm to 1cm) Replaces shielding blocks

INOR

Production of Electron Beams

6 to 30 MeV energy beams are available Electron exits through a thin beryllium window Two techniques for producing uniform beam Pencil beam scattering (Pb or Cu foils) Pencil beam scanning

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Electron Beam Collimation

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Electron Beam

Electron Mode
Primary Collimator

Scattering Foil

Ion Chamber
Secondary Collimator

Electron applicator

Patient

INOR

Dose Monitoring

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Dose Monitoring

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Dose Monitoring

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Dose Monitoring

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Dose Monitoring

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Beam Interlocks
Major Interlocks: if not corrected, can damage the linac; Dosimetry Interlocks: occur within ion chambers, due to transient variations control accurate beam delivery to maintain dose rate, flatness & symmetry within set tolerances, usually + 5%? repeated dosimetry interlocks require intervention; should not be cleared indiscriminately Minor Interlocks: involve secondary operating systems; e.g., door or mismatched accessories can be cleared by clearing the physical fault
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References
Chapter 4: The Physics of radiation Therapy, Faiz M. KHAN Sections 4.3 - 4.8 Chapter 5: Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students, IAEA, Vienna, 2007 Section 5.5
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