Elekta won European CE Mark approval for its Unity system that combines magnetic resonance imaging with a linear accelerator for highly targeted, real-time radiotherapy. The technology was originally the brainchild of physicists at UMC Utrecht in The Netherlands. Before their research found breakthroughs, it was believed that combining an MRI machine and a particle accelerator was impossible. Fast moving, electrically charged particles are strongly influenced by a powerful magnetic field, so keeping them on track while near an MRI seemed like an impossibility. On our recent visit to UMC Utrecht, we learned that though it seemed there are fundamental limitations, the technology was nevertheless quite realistic, and we got to check out a working prototype. It’s delightful to see a commercialized product come out of this research.
We also got a chance to recently speak with Richard Hausmann, the CEO of Elekta, to learn more about this revolutionary new system. He explained that an MR-linac resembles a traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) television in which electrons are directed at different parts of the screen by changing the strength of the magnetic fields they fly through. While this technique helps to produce an image on a CRT TV, a magnet near a highly focused electron beam bends it in unwanted directions. It took quite a bit of engineering and calculating to align various components to effectively minimize the effect of the magnet on the electron beam.
Here’s a promo video for the Elekta Unity:
Flashbacks: Elekta Introduces Unity, The First High-Field MR-Linac System…; University Medical Centre Utrecht, a Hospital That Built The First MRI/Linac Machine Previously Thought Impossible…; The Best Medical Technologies of 2014…; High-Field MRI-Guided Linear Accelerator Brings Together Imaging, Radiotherapy to Zap Tumors…
Product page: Elekta Unity…
Via: Elekta…
