A system for remote monitoring of a hospital linear accelerator

• Published in: British journal of radiology 1996-05, Vol.69 (821), p.469-471
• Main Author: JENNINGS, C. S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Medical sciences; Radiation therapy and radiosensitizing agent; Treatment with physical agents; Treatment. General aspects; Tumors
• ISSN: 0007-1285; 1748-880X
• DOI: 10.1259/0007-1285-69-821-469

Linear accelerators are complex machines with many parameters affecting the quality of the treatment beam delivered. A high level of technical support is required but this can be difficult to achieve if the linear accelerator is at a centre distant from a medical physics department. This paper describes a solution to this problem whereby a newly installed linear accelerator at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital is remotely monitored from the Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton. The system enables run-up procedures to be completed by guiding radiographers at Shrewsbury through a series of steps. It consists of electronic hardware connected to the linear accelerator, under the control of a computer. The machine parameters are read and tested against preset tolerances. The monitoring system has been installed and is in routine use. The benefits have been shown to be: a saving in staff time and travel costs, the satisfactory completion of run-up procedures, a higher level of efficiency in the medical physics service provided and effective quality control. Finally, some future developments are presented. These include the development of a real time remote monitoring system that constantly monitors the linear accelerator, allowing the Medical Physics Department access to the machine parameters at any time.