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- Level Foundation
- Duration 8 hours
- Course by Lund University
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Offered by
About
Hello and welcome to this course! The NPAP - Medical Applications of Accelerators is one out of three courses in the Nordic Particle Accelerator Program (NPAP). Here you will be taken on a tour focusing on the medical applications of particle accelerators. You will see that there are two very important, but different, applications of accelerators in hospitals. The first application concerns radiotherapy of tumours and the other concerns the production of medical nuclides for diagnosis and treatment. Both will be included in this course and described through four modules. The first module offers the basic principles of radiotherapy from a medical and physics point of view. You there learn about the main components of the machines used for radiotherapy and get to know why radiotherapy is important for cancer treatments. The second module guides you through the different types of linear accelerators used in the machines for radiotherapy. It also describes the design of the treatment head. The design is important because it is the settings of the treatment head that determines the dose and the radiated region. It is also in the treatment head where the dose given to the patient is measured. In the third module you are introduced to proton therapy. In this type of therapy protons are first accelerated and then guided down to the tumour by magnets. The machines are considerably larger and more expensive than machines used for radio therapy. The module also offers a description and comparison between different types of accelerators, and explains how the protons interact with tissue. Also ions that are heavier than protons can be used in cancer therapy. This is described in the fourth module, where we also introduce you to the production of medical nuclides. You learn how the nuclides are produces in proton and ion accelerators and how the nuclides come into play at different places in hospitals. Medical nuclides are for instance used in Positron Electron Tomography, PET. Enjoy!Modules
Introduction
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- A brief history of medical applications of accelerators
1
Videos
- A brief history of medical applications of accelerators
1
Readings
- Introduction to lecture
Biological rationale for radiotherapy
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1
Videos
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5
Readings
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2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- What is radiotherapy ?
- Dose delivery of radiotherapy
1
Videos
- What is radiotherapy?
5
Readings
- Introduction to the lecture
- Ionizing radiation
- Dose response
- Dose delivery of radiotherapy
- Further reading
Introduction to the electron linac for radiotherapy
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1
Videos
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2
Readings
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2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- Main components of a radiotherapy linac
- Graded Quiz
1
Videos
- The main components of a radiotherapy electron linac
2
Readings
- Introduction to the lecture
- Access to external-beam radiotherapy worldwide and in Europe
The multi-energy electron linac structure
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2
Videos
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3
Readings
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3
Assignment
3
Assignment
- The Linac structure
- Traveling and standing wave linac structures
- Examples of standing wave linac structures for radiotherapy
2
Videos
- The LINAC structure
- Travelling and standing wave linac structures
3
Readings
- Introduction to the lectures
- Change beam energy
- Examples of standing wave linac structures for radiotherapy
Dose delivery to the patient
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2
Videos
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3
Readings
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3
Assignment
3
Assignment
- Treatment head design
- Clinical workflow of radiotherapy with an electron linac
- Graded Quiz
2
Videos
- Treatment head design
- Clinical workflow of radiotherapy with an electron linac
3
Readings
- Introduction to the lectures
- Dose deposition in the patient
- Extra link
Rationale of proton therapy
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Interaction of the protons with matter
1
Videos
- Interactions of the proton with matter
1
Readings
- Introduction to the lecture
Accelerators for proton therapy
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1
Videos
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3
Readings
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2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- Accelerators for proton therapy
- Examples of accelerators for proton therapy
1
Videos
- Examples of accelerators for proton therapy
3
Readings
- Introduction to the lecture
- Accelerators for proton therapy
- Examples of accelerators for proton therapy with specifications
Treatment delivery of proton therapy
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2
Videos
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4
Readings
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3
Assignment
3
Assignment
- Slow extraction
- Adjustment of treatment energy
- Graded Quiz
2
Videos
- The proton gantry and nozzle
- Practical aspects of a proton therapy center
4
Readings
- Introduction to the lectures
- Slow extraction from a synchrotron
- Adjustment of treatment energy
- Links
Heavy-ion therapy
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1
Videos
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3
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Treatment delivery system of heavy-ion therapy
1
Videos
- Treatment delivery systems of heavy-ion therapy
3
Readings
- Introduction to lecture
- Introduction to therapy with ions heavier than the proton
- Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center
Challenges in proton therapy and heavy ion therapy
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1
Videos
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2
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Challenges of proton and heavy ion therapy
1
Videos
- Introduction to the challenges of proton and heavy ion therapy
2
Readings
- Introduction to the lecture
- Challenges of proton and heavy ion therapy
Introduction of medical radionuclides
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1
Videos
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2
Readings
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2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- Introduction to medical radionuclides
- Diagnostic imaging using medical radionuclides
1
Videos
- Introduction to medical radionuclides
2
Readings
- Introduction to the lecture
- Diagnostic imaging using medical radionuclides
Production of medical radionuclides
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2
Videos
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6
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Graded Quiz
2
Videos
- Production of medical radionuclides
- Target design
6
Readings
- Introduction to the lecture
- Production of medical radionuclides II
- Cyclotrons for production of medical radionuclides
- Target design
- Examples of cyclotrons for production of medical radionuclides
- Link to animation of radionuclide production
A thank you to all participants!
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1
Readings
1
Readings
- Well done! You have now successfully finalized the course!
Auto Summary
Explore the fascinating world of medical applications of particle accelerators in this engaging course by Coursera. Focused on science and engineering, this foundational course, led by expert instructors, covers radiotherapy for tumors and the production of medical nuclides for diagnosis and treatment. Over four modules, you'll delve into the principles of radiotherapy, linear accelerators, proton therapy, and the production of medical nuclides. Suitable for beginners, the course spans 480 minutes and offers starter and professional subscription options. Ideal for those interested in medical technology and particle physics.
Lars Hjorth Præstegaard