The CyberKnife M6 is a radiosurgery device described as a "precision product". The linear accelerator mounted on a precise 6-axis robotic arm delivers millimetre-level accuracy in radiotherapy. Thanks to the robotic arm's precise movement, beams can be directed from around 1,500 different points during treatment. Before delivery, during the planning phase, the appropriate beams are selected according to the location, size and shape of the tumour.
The CyberKnife allows non-isocentric, non-coplanar treatment. The device's couch is also robotic in design, so all adjustments are made automatically along 6 axes without moving the patient.
The CyberKnife's collimation systems are varied (the area where the beam is shaped): Fixed, Iris™ Variable Aperture and InCise2™ Multileaf Collimator. Any collimation field can be changed automatically by the robotic arm. The collimator best suited to the patient's treatment is chosen during the planning phase. The fixed collimator is used by manually changing, according to the planning data, 12 different collimators ranging from 5 to 60 mm. The Iris variable aperture collimator consists of two banks, each made up of 6 tungsten segments; each bank creates a hexagonal aperture and automatically provides a circular opening reproducing that of the fixed collimator. Compared with the Fixed and Iris collimation systems, the InCise2 Multileaf collimator can target larger areas in less time, using fewer beams and fewer MU.
The CyberKnife M6 handles patient positioning and uses kV X-ray images to locate the tumour during treatment. The imaging system consists of two X-ray sources installed in the ceiling at a 45-degree angle and the corresponding detectors installed in the floor. Linear and angular adjustments are made by comparing the images obtained of the patient with the DRRs from the planning phase. The automatic transmission of these adjustments to the couch makes it possible to determine the patient's exact position. The Synchrony respiratory tracking system is one of the device's most important software features. This software provides continuous synchronisation with tumour movement caused by breathing. Tumour motion due to breathing is determined by correlating the patient's real-time breathing with the tumour's location at the different phases of the respiratory cycle. Non-periodic movements of the target, meanwhile, are compensated for by the InTempo imaging system.
General features of the CYBERKNIFE M6:
- Shorter treatment time thanks to a high dose rate.
- Fewer side effects, excellent protection of surrounding tissues and organs.
- Painless procedure.
- Outpatient treatment, with no need for hospital admission.
- Non-invasive.
- No invasive metal frame is fixed to the head or body.
- No anaesthesia.
- Because organ movement is tracked during treatment, there is no need to hold your breath.
- Quick return of the patient to normal activities.