PHASE I SBIR CONTRACT - TOPIC 415 - A Compact and Retrofittable Electronic Brachytherapy Source for Cancer Radiotherapy

电子近距离放射治疗(EB)的使用在过去十年中迅速增长，并正在显著增加 作为一种改进的用户友好技术，受到了全球医学界的关注。然而，目前的EB机 所有都使用能量在100千伏或更低的电子束来产生X射线光子，这将它们的使用限制在低剂量率 近距离放射治疗。在这份提案中，欧几里德光束实验室专注于开发超紧凑型和轻量化的1- MEV电子源，用于产生和向患者提供250千伏X射线光子。该设备的目的是改装成 现有的近距离放射治疗敷贴器。我们提出的加速结构是基于介质的加速器。因为 使用高介电常数介质，腔体的横向尺寸显著减小，变得可与 铅笔的粗细。在优化的聚焦元件的帮助下，光束将通过1~2 mm的 将直径的管道连接到韧致辐射靶标，从而在高度局部化的状态下提供剂量。这个 管子的尺寸将根据与现有的近距离放射治疗器的兼容性进行选择。在第一阶段，我们将开发 一个功能齐全的原型，并测量其关键参数，包括传输的电子和光子能量， 剂量率等。所开发技术的技术准备水平(TRL)将达到TRL4(可行性证明)。 第一期工程竣工后

The use of electronic brachytherapy (EB) has grown rapidly over the past decade, and is gaining significant interest from the global medical community as an improved user-friendly technology. However, the present EB machines all use electron beams at energies of 100 kV or less to generate the X-ray photons, which limits their use to low dose-rate brachytherapy. In this proposal, Euclid Beamlabs focuses on the development of an ultra-compact and light weight 1- MeV electron source to generate and deliver >250 kV X-ray photons to the patient. The device is intended to retrofit to existing brachytherapy applicators. Our proposed accelerating structure is a dielectric-based accelerator. Because of the use of high permittivity dielectrics, the transverse size of the cavity is significantly reduced, becoming comparable to the thickness of a pencil. With the help of optimized focusing elements, the beam will be transported through a 1~2-mm diameter pipe to the Bremsstrahlung radiation target, thus delivering the dose in a highly localized regime. The dimension of the pipe will be chosen for compatibility with existing brachytherapy applicators. In Phase I, we will develop a fully functioning prototype and measure its critical parameters, including the delivered electron and photon energies, the dose rate, etc. The Technical Readiness Level (TRL) of the developed technology will reach TRL4 (feasibility proved) upon the completion of Phase I.