RE: Hardman & Co: Nearing the end-goal8 Aug 2019 12:49
Very interesting, looking more and more real.
A very interesting part I wasn't aware of is the FLASH facility, which it would be an enormous advantage for the patients and operators.
Opportunity for FLASH radiation
A major difference between linear accelerators (i.e. LIGHT) and conventional
cyclotrons and synchrotrons (i.e. competitive circular accelerators) is that linear
accelerators can be controlled electronically to produce a proton beam of a specific
energy level required for targeting the tumour at the right depth within the patient’s
body. In contrast, the control of energy in cyclotrons is done mechanically through
the use of absorbers, which results in significant unwanted radiation in the
accelerator hall. Consequently, linear accelerators have been shown to be much
more energy-efficient than cyclotrons, paving the way for the use of a new
technique called FLASH, where the entire radiation treatment is given in one visit –
as opposed to 25-30 currently needed with existing radiation techniques.