New Algorithm Promises to Reduce Radiation Therapy Time and Dosage

Companies interested in this novel improvement that optimises radiation therapy time are invited to contact the University of Florida’s Office of Technology Licensing.

Radiation therapy is an integral part of many types of cancer treatment and more than one million patients are reportedly treated each year in the United States. Nearly two-thirds of all cancer patients will receive radiation therapy during their illness states the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

According to its developers, the advantages of this novel algorithm are that it reduces surrounding tissue exposure to radiation, which decreases risk of side effects; it reduces the amount of radiation therapy and/or number of visits, which will save valuable time for physicians and patients; and it offers 10–20% reduction in total monitor unit (MU) to give a significant reduction in energy expenditure.

The developers explained how this is achieved. Dynamic multileaf collimator intensity modulated radiation therapy is used to deliver intensity modulated beams on a collimator with the multiple leaves in motion. Research showed that optimal leaf sequencing based on unidirectional movement of the collimator leaves is as MU efficient as bidirectional movement of these leaves. Efficient algorithms delivery has been developed for segmental collimator beam that completely eliminates areas of under dosages because of practical tongue-and-groove effects between adjacent leafs. These methods result in reportedly 10–20 % decrease in total MU compared with field splitting techniques used in commercial planning systems. This also allow for the scheduling of the leaves of a multileaf collimator to optimise radiation therapy time and minimise damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

To discuss this technology with a licensing officer, companies are asked to e-mail jmuir@ufl.edu and ask about record UF ID: 11882.

Tags: Add new tag