Design of a Novel Controlled Radiation Capsule for Improved Brachytherapy Cancer Treatment
Disciplines
Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation | Electromagnetics and Photonics | Engineering Mechanics | Radiation Medicine
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Annually, approximately 7 million undergo cancer radiation therapy, with 3.5 million cured. Brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy) has two delivery methods: High-Dose Radiation (HDR) and Low-Dose Radiation (HDR). HDR employs high-energy radiation with higher risks to surrounding tissue; LDR has lower risks but longer treatment. In conclusion, the proposed capsule is a combination of the advantages of HDR and LDR resulting in minimizing the radiation risk and treatment time with the potential applications on intracavity cancers. A nuclear radiation simulation tool called TOPAS is used to simulate the difference between the conventional I-125 radiation seed and the proposed design. The results show that conventional seed emits radiation omnidirectionally, and the proposed device blocks the radiation everywhere except the opening “window” where the radiation targets the tumor. For this project, the dosimetry calculations were conducted to figure out the amount of grams of I-125 and the number of radiation seeds in order to determine the dimensions of the capsule. To design the capsule, Solidworks was used to create the inner and outer cylinders and walls, as well as windows through which the radiation can be released. The dimensions are based on dosimetry calculations and TOPAS simulations. COMSOL, a Multiphysics simulation software, is used to simulate both the electromagnet and permanent magnet, allowing easy adjustments to the material and size of the permanent magnet, as well as the current in the electromagnet. These modifications enable finding optimal conditions where the permanent magnet is weak enough to repel yet strong enough to stay attached when the capsule is inactive. Target cancer types are intracavitary cancer such as esophageal, cervical, nasal, oral cavity, but can also include cancers in the eye and brain, due to very localized radiation and minimal risk to surrounding healthy cells and tissue.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Electrical and Computer Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Hoseon Lee
Design of a Novel Controlled Radiation Capsule for Improved Brachytherapy Cancer Treatment
Annually, approximately 7 million undergo cancer radiation therapy, with 3.5 million cured. Brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy) has two delivery methods: High-Dose Radiation (HDR) and Low-Dose Radiation (HDR). HDR employs high-energy radiation with higher risks to surrounding tissue; LDR has lower risks but longer treatment. In conclusion, the proposed capsule is a combination of the advantages of HDR and LDR resulting in minimizing the radiation risk and treatment time with the potential applications on intracavity cancers. A nuclear radiation simulation tool called TOPAS is used to simulate the difference between the conventional I-125 radiation seed and the proposed design. The results show that conventional seed emits radiation omnidirectionally, and the proposed device blocks the radiation everywhere except the opening “window” where the radiation targets the tumor. For this project, the dosimetry calculations were conducted to figure out the amount of grams of I-125 and the number of radiation seeds in order to determine the dimensions of the capsule. To design the capsule, Solidworks was used to create the inner and outer cylinders and walls, as well as windows through which the radiation can be released. The dimensions are based on dosimetry calculations and TOPAS simulations. COMSOL, a Multiphysics simulation software, is used to simulate both the electromagnet and permanent magnet, allowing easy adjustments to the material and size of the permanent magnet, as well as the current in the electromagnet. These modifications enable finding optimal conditions where the permanent magnet is weak enough to repel yet strong enough to stay attached when the capsule is inactive. Target cancer types are intracavitary cancer such as esophageal, cervical, nasal, oral cavity, but can also include cancers in the eye and brain, due to very localized radiation and minimal risk to surrounding healthy cells and tissue.