Electron FLASH Delivery at Treatment Room Isocenter for Efficient Reversible Conversion of a Clinical LINAC

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, procedures were developed to achieve efficient reversible conversion of a clinical linear accelerator (LINAC) and deliver electron FLASH (eFLASH) or conventional beams to the treatment room isocenter. Material & Methods: The LINAC was converted to deliver eFLASH beam within 20 minutes by retracting the x-ray target from the beam's path, positioning the carousel on an empty port, and selecting 10 MV photon beam energy in the treatment console. Dose per pulse and average dose rate were measured in a solid water phantom at different depths with Gafchromic film and OSLD. A pulse controller counted the pulses via scattered radiation signal and gated the delivery for preset pulse count. A fast photomultiplier tube-based Cherenkov detector measured per pulse beam output at 2 ns sampling rate. After conversion back to clinical mode, conventional beam output, flatness, symmetry, field size and energy were measured for all clinically commissioned energies. Results: Dose per pulse of 0.86 +/- 0.01 Gy (310 +/- 7 Gy/s average dose rate) were achieved at isocenter. The dose from simultaneous irradiation of film and OSLD were within 1%. The PMT showed the LINAC required about 5 pulses before the output stabilized and its long-term stability was within 3% for measurements performed at 3 minutes intervals. The dose, flatness, symmetry, and photon energy were unchanged from baseline and within tolerance (1%, 3%, 2%, and 0.1% respectively) after reverting to conventional beams. Conclusion: 10 MeV FLASH beams were achieved at the isocenter of the treatment room. The beam output was reproducible but requires further investigation of the ramp up time in the first 5 pulses, equivalent to <100 cGy. The eFLASH beam can irradiate both small and large subjects in minimally modified clinical settings and dose rates can be further increased by reducing the source to surface distance.