Researchers from UCLA’s Department of Radiation Oncology have developed a novel process for creating patient-specific immobilization masks: an essential component in radiation therapy modalities for various types of cancer.
BACKGROUND
External beam radiotherapy is the primary, and in some cases, the only form of treatment for various cancer types of the head, neck, and brain: due to their proximity to vital organs. During external beam radiotherapy, it is fundamentally essential to immobilize patients properly. Immobilization is traditionally achieved by using custom-made “masks” to ensure precise and accurate delivery of the radiation beam while preventing radiation leakage to adjacent healthy tissues. Currently, these masks are made of commercial-grade thermoplastic polymer mesh and hard plastic, created using a manual imprinting method that utilizes the patient and intended treatment position as a mold. To avoid treatment bottlenecks, clinical workers must anticipate changes to patient treatment positions that would require the fabrication of a new mask. Further complicating this issue lies that unstandardized mask fabrication procedures can lead to significant differences in mask quality. Therefore, a current need exists to develop a standardized mask fabrication approach that can reduce clinical workload and solve quality control issues.
INNOVATION
UCLA researchers have developed a new approach for the creation of 3-D printed masks for immobilization during radiotherapy that dramatically improves on current methods by increasing safety, comfort, the accuracy of treatment, and reducing clinical work hours. They have achieved this by establishing a workflow that takes the diagnostic MR or CT images already generated during the diagnosis and management steps and repurposes this data to create a high accuracy 3-D topographical image of the patient’s head. This image is then processed and serves as the schematics for a 3-D printed mask. The nature of this novel approach means that the patient does not need to be present during the mask creation process. Additionally, the mask can be better optimized for patient position and optimal dose calculation. The same image used to plan these parameters can be used to design the mask. The mask, in turn, can be created with added grooves and vents to improve patient comfort. Compared to current immobilization methods, this approach increases the safety profile of radiotherapy procedures while simultaneously enhancing patient comfort while reducing the clinic's burden.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
• Immobilization of patients
• External beam radiotherapy to the head and neck
ADVANTAGES:
• Creates a more accurate mask
• Better immobilization of the patient
• Improved safety
• Improved comfort
• Reduces time input by utilizing already available MR/CT information
• Reduce burden on clinical staff and patient
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE: Workflow to create masks has been established and prototype masks have been made for use in the clinic.