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Trilogy is built around an advanced medical
linear accelerator, a machine that rotates 360 degrees around the patient to
deliver radiotherapy treatments from many angles.
The Trilogy accelerator has been enhanced for stereotactic applications, which means it delivers higher doses of radiation to smaller areas over a shorter period of time.
Trilogy incorporates sophisticated technology for shaping the radiation beam so that the dose of radiation is limited to the tumor region. By changing the beam shape over time while delivering the radiation, doctors achieve very fine control over how, and where, the radiation is administered.
Trilogy incorporates a number of technologies for positioning patients accurately,
including:
RapidArc
technology, developed by University of Maryland radiologic physics
experts, that allows for fast and efficient arc therapy to be delivered in
multiple planes with a single 360-degree rotation of the machine around the
patient.
A special X-ray imager that is used to check the patient's
position prior to treatment and to monitor the position of the targeted area
during treatment. This on-board imager can take CT-like images throughout
the treatment session, tracking the movement of the tumor with each breath
the patient takes.
An optical guidance system with infrared cameras that continuously
monitor the patient's position to provide therapists with real-time feedback
about any changes in a patient's position. Immediate adjustments can be made
to the remote-controlled treatment couch to maintain the patient in the preferred
position.
Respiratory gating technology that coordinates treatment
with respiration, to compensate for tumor motion due to the patient's breathing.