Introduction
Radiotherapy relies heavily on precision, and every component involved in the treatment pathway must support optimal dose delivery. One crucial factor is beam attenuation—the reduction in radiation intensity as it passes through various materials. Carbon fiber, known for its high strength-to-weight ratio and radiolucency, is widely used in patient positioning devices. In this article, we explore the dosimetric performance of Panacea’s carbon fiber couch top used with the IMPACT positioning device, tested at RCC Trivandrum.
Panacea’s Proven Carbon Fiber Solution
Panacea’s carbon fiber technology has a well-established legacy, with materials used in systems like Bhabhatron-II, Imagin and Lilac all of which are FDA 510(k) cleared and certified. With over 25 years of safe clinical use, our carbon fiber solutions ensure durability, stability and minimal radiation interaction—key for modern radiotherapy workflows.
The Specific Product tested
Panacea Patient Couch Carbon Fiber
This evaluation tested its performance integrated with the IMPACT device to assess overall beam attenuation.
Test Methodology
The dosimetric test was carried out on both 6MV and 15MV photon beams using a linear accelerator. Measurements were taken using an FC-65G ion chamber placed inside a 5cm slab phantom on the carbon fiber couch top, both with and without the IMPACT device in place measuring radiation dose (in nanoCoulombs, nC). The field size was kept constant at 10×10 cm², with SSD at 95cm, under SAD technique.
The attenuation percentage is calculated as given below,
Attenuation % = [(Absorbed dose in open state − Absorbed dose with IMPACT) / Absorbed dose in open state] × 100
Results Overview
Attenuation of Carbon Fiber (IMPACT)
Date 24/02/19 Chamber FC-65G
Temperature 22.5°C Field Size 10×10 cm2
Pressure 1008.1 mbar Technique SAD
Ktp 1.0134 Depth 5cm
SSD 95cm
Open Readings | 6 MV | |||
MR1(nC) | MR2(nC) | MR(nC) | SAD Output | |
19.12 | 19.1 | 19.115 | 0.93 cGy/MU | |
Gantry Angle | MR (nC) | Attenuation | |
Open | With im.PAc.T | (%) | |
0 15 30 45 60 | 19.115 18.94 18.48 17.53 15.38 | 18.7 18.55 18.07 17.01 14.79 | 2.17 2.06 2.21 2.96 3.83 |
Open Readings | 15 MV | |||
MR1(nC) | MR2(nC) | MR(nC) | SAD Output | |
21.26 | 21.23 | 21.245 | 1.03 cGy/MU | |
Gantry Angle | MR (nC) | Attenuation | |
Open | With im.PAc.T | (%) | |
0 15 30 45 60 | 21.245 21.14 20.8 20.08 18.42 | 20.96 20.83 20.47 19.68 17.9 | 1.3 1.46 1.58 1.99 2.82 |
Outcome and Clinical Relevance
The evaluation clearly demonstrates that Panacea’s carbon fiber solution with the IMPACT device exhibits minimal attenuation, especially for higher energy beams such as 15MV. Even at oblique angles (60°), attenuation remained within acceptable clinical limits.
This performance ensures:
- High-precision dose delivery
- Reproducibility across angles
- Minimal dose perturbation
- Patient safety and comfort
Conclusion
With verified low attenuation rates, Panacea’s carbon fiber couch top integrated with the IMPACT device reaffirms its reliability and clinical safety for advanced radiotherapy procedures. Backed by over two decades of successful field usage and CE-certified design, it continues to support treatment centers in delivering uncompromised care.
