SyncMRT

SyncMRT enables precise image-guided alignment of samples to synchrotron beams for pre-clinical image-guided radiotherapy at the Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL) of the ANSTO Australian Synchrotron.

Key Features:

• Sub-Millimetre Alignment Accuracy: Provides sub-millimetre precision in aligning samples through integration with the small-animal irradiation platform DynamicMRT.
• Standardization of IGRT Treatments: Established as the standard protocol for conducting IGRT on the IMBL since 2017, providing consistent alignment procedures for pre-clinical radiotherapy experiments.
• Quality Assurance Protocols: Implements the Winston-Lutz test and the hidden target test to detect geometrical setup errors and evaluate end-to-end image guidance accuracy.
• Scalability and Development: Designed to scale to other delivery platforms and under development for application in veterinary radiotherapy trials at the IMBL.

Scientific Applications:

• Pre-clinical IGRT with small-animal models: Facilitates high-precision image-guided radiotherapy experiments using small animal models at the IMBL.
• Geometric accuracy assessment and validation: Enables detection and quantification of geometrical setup errors and end-to-end system accuracy using Winston-Lutz and hidden target tests.
• Translation to veterinary and cross-platform studies: Supports adaptation of pre-clinical alignment protocols for veterinary radiotherapy trials and other delivery platforms.

Methodology:

Integrates imaging techniques with precise alignment tools within the DynamicMRT system and applies Winston-Lutz and hidden target QA tests to verify geometrical and end-to-end accuracy.