The XOFT electronic brachytherapy system is designed with the ability to perform brachytherapy and Intra Operative Radiation Therapy (IORT) without the use of radioactive sources. It uses a miniature X-ray tube instead of the usual radioactive sources (such as Iridium-192 and Cobalt-60) to produce radiation to cancerous tissues. The advantages of this type of source are:
- The production of radiation takes place only during treatment
- There is no need to keep the source in a lead container.
The X-ray energy produced by the tube is a maximum of 50 kV, which means there is no need concrete or lead bunkers to treatment, and even personnel can be present in the treatment room during irradiation. Due to the steep dose fall-off gradient, the amount of unwanted dose to Organ at Risk (OAR) around the irradiation site is much less tolerable. Also, due to the portability of the device, it can be easily moved between the brachytherapy room and the operating room, and it can even be moved between centers.
Due to the high rate of radiation production in the tube, the operating range of the device is in the High Dose Rate (HDR) range and shortens the treatment time of the patient (between 4 to 10 minutes, depending on the tissue being treated, the dose is prescribed, and the applicator used). This is especially important in the treatment of radiotherapy during surgery, where the duration of anesthesia is important.
Device applicators:
Device-related applicators include skin applicator (for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers), cylinder applicator (for the treatment of tumors of the rectum, vagina and endometrium), tandem & ovoid applicator (cervix cancers), and balloons applicators of various sizes (IORT, APBI, especially breast cancer).
Device accessories:
A: Dosimetry and physics kit:
The physical kit includes a complete system dosimetry tool (such as: Electrometer and Well type Chamber) and the necessary tools for quality control of the device (such as: Phantom and Ion Chamber).
B: Treatment Planning Systems (TPS):
The device has Treatment Planning software and dose distribution atlases, which is designed in accordance with standard protocols TG-43 and TG-61.
Before each use of the device, the system software starts to perform internal tests of the device parameters automatically. In addition, the device includes an internal dosimeter that is used to check the accuracy and precision in delivering the dose to the patient
