title: Gamma unit facility: concept genesis, architectural design and practical realization.
abstract: The physical creation of a gamma unit facility requires the development of a broad-perspective multidisciplinary plan. The primary goal is radiosurgical treatment of intracranial lesions in a functional environment. The practical realization of a facility optimally designed for patient treatment is dependent on factors which include the facility setting, architectural goals, radiation safety requirements, and patient and medical team needs. This necessitates combined intellectual resources from neurosurgery, radiation oncology and physics, anesthesia, radiology, nursing, administration, and architectural and engineering teams. We undertook the development of a gamma unit facility which optimized the ergonomics and efficiency of patient evaluation, care and treatment, given the instrument requirements. This general plan based on our experience can be used for the development of other gamma unit facilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: LeMay
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Petrovich
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luxton
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zelman
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: See
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Apuzzo
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004630:Emergencies; D004867:Equipment Design; D005160:Facility Design and Construction / Q000191:economics; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D016634:Radiosurgery; D012449:Safety