title: Microprocessor controlled limitation system for a stand-alone freely movable treatment couch.
abstract: Because of the capability of free movement in the treatment room, we recently introduced a Hercules treatment couch on one of our linear accelerators. One of the advantages of this couch is that it allows for a more flexible way of patient setup and that it can be moved entirely out of the way to enable treatment with a hospital bed. A disadvantage, however, is that the couch can hit a wall or a cover of the accelerator accidentally. A limitation system has been developed to protect both the table and the accelerator against such collisions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Free University Brussels (AZ-VUB), Belgium. conrvvli@az.vub.ac.be
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Van de Vondel
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coppens
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verellen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bel
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Linthout
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Beukeleer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van den Berge
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Storme
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001513:Beds; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D009038:Motion; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010315:Particle Accelerators / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*