Hard X-ray concentrator for radiotherapy

The invention concerns an X-ray concentrator that can be used in the 10-1000 keV energy range. Used in combination with an X-ray tube or other type of source, it can be used in radiotherapy to produce a focused beam allowing the concentration of X-rays towards the tumour volume and minimising the irradiation of surrounding healthy tissue.

How does it work?

The proposed device is a Laue lens: a set of diffractive crystals arranged to form concentric rings so that the phenomenon of crossing Bragg diffraction (Laue Diffraction) can be used to concentrate an X-ray beam towards the focal point of the lens.

The special design of the device in question allows both the miniaturization of the diffractive crystals, and the control, in a practical manner, of the alignment of a large number of such crystals. Experimental tests have shown that these characteristics make it possible, on the one hand, to overcome the many difficulties encountered so far in the realisation of Laue lenses and, on the other hand, to succeed in assembling a multitude of crystals in such an alignment as to result in an effective X-ray concentrator for radiotherapy.

Applications

• Radiotherapy;
• Punctual material characterisation.

Advantages

• Dose distribution concentrated over the tumour volume;
• Saving healthy tissue;
• Simplified crystal alignment;
• Reduced misalignment correction times;
• Low cost of the overall system.