Radiation therapy positioning device developer Medibord has developed an overlay for the Biograph mMR PET/MRI scanner from Siemens Healthcare.
The overlay was specifically designed for a head and neck cancer research project at King's College London & Guy's and St. Thomas' PET Centre in the U.K. Researchers are developing PET/MR protocols for patients with head and neck cancer to be scanned in the radiotherapy treatment position, with the immobilization devices in situ, according to the company.
The device consists of a newly developed coil holder and fixation mask that complements existing Medibord radiotherapy planning devices for the Biograph mMR scanner. It allows the body coils to envelop the patient's head and neck, leaving space for a fixation mask and head rest, while the patient's arms are supported in position with new hand grips to reduce movement.
Researchers in the trial have been working with phantoms and healthy volunteers, and a pilot study has started recruiting patients with head and neck cancer.
