Beam Me Up
This multi-digitated device shapes the radiation beam before it leaves the LINAC head.
What is a multileaf collimator (MLC)?
The part of the LINAC responsible for generating high-power microwaves.
What is the klystron or magnetron?
This system ensures the correct dose is delivered to the patient.
What is the monitor ion chamber?
This cobalt-based unit delivers gamma rays, often used in radiosurgery.
What is the Gamma Knife?
The vacuum tube where electrons accelerate inside the LINAC.
What is the accelerator waveguide?
This type of radiation beam is produced when electrons hit a high-Z target.
What is a photon (X-ray) beam?
This is the power source that feeds the klystron or magnetron.
What is the modulator?
These "beams" help align the patient with the treatment beam, often red, sometimes green, or blue.
What are room lasers or alignment lasers?
This robotic system delivers radiation without a conventional gantry.
What is the CyberKnife?
This bendy piece of hardware helps redirect electrons towards the target.
What is the bending magnet?
This is the low-energy electron beam that starts the whole acceleration process. Not a bow-and-arrow.
What is the electron gun?
This long finely crafted metal tube where electrons gain energy.
What is the waveguide?
This kind of radiation safety feature shuts the beam off if parameters go out of range.
What is an interlock system?
This older device delivers kilovoltage X-rays, often for superficial skin treatments.
What is Orthovoltage therapy (or superficial X-ray unit)?
This mode increases the dose rate by removing the beam flattening device.
What is flattening filter free mode?
This effect dominates dose fall-off for high-energy X-ray beams. (don't be rectangular)
What is the inverse square law?
The typical frequency (within GHz) used by most clinical LINACs.
What is 3 GHz (S-band)?
This form of radiation measurement happens during every treatment fraction. Not in utero.
What is in vivo dosimetry?
This machine uses a radioactive isotope for total body irradiation or blood irradiation.
What is a Cesium-137 or Cobalt-60 irradiator?
This phenomenon describes how electrons are accelerated to high velocities in the waveguide.
What is electromagnetic acceleration or RF acceleration?
This method of beam modulation creates intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).
What is dynamic MLC motion or step-and-shoot delivery?
This system of coolants prevents a catastrophic LINAC meltdown, typically using H2O.
What is the water cooling system?
This pre-treatment procedure confirms the patient position and beam targeting before delivery, often in 2D or 3D, and sometimes even in 4D.
What is image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)?
This high-dose-rate brachytherapy device moves a tiny radioactive source through catheters.
What is HDR brachytherapy (High Dose Rate brachytherapy)?
This diagnostic test is performed to verify beam energy and symmetry.
What is a monthly or annual QA beam profile test?