UW Clinical UW Clinical Neutron Therapy Neutron Therapy

ProgramProgram

CNTS Engineering Staff

Dave Reid (dreid@uw.edu)Rob EmeryRuedi RislerJames KuanEric Dorman

Stefani Banerian

Outline:

Brief Overview of Clinical Neutron Therapy Program

Challenges of upgrading to EPICS in a clinical setting

How these challenges influenced design decisions

Program ObjectivesProgram Objectives

Clinical Neutron TherapyClinical Neutron TherapyHospital Based FacilityHospital Based Facility

Neutron Therapy ResearchNeutron Therapy ResearchParticle Beams for Medical Based Particle Beams for Medical Based

Isotope ResearchIsotope ResearchNeutron Irradiation for Engineering Neutron Irradiation for Engineering

ResearchResearch

Why Replace Control Why Replace Control System?System?

Original equipment no longer Original equipment no longer supportedsupportedPDP/11 and RL02PDP/11 and RL02Z-80 SubControllers and custom I/OZ-80 SubControllers and custom I/O

Improve system diagnostics, simplify Improve system diagnostics, simplify repairs and isolate I/Orepairs and isolate I/O

Improve functionalityImprove functionalityAutomated beam tuningAutomated beam tuningNeutron IMRTNeutron IMRTImprove operator interfaceImprove operator interface

Design RequirementsDesign Requirements

Standard equipment available from Standard equipment available from multiple sourcesmultiple sources

Communication protocols based on Communication protocols based on open industry standards – GPIB, open industry standards – GPIB, TCP, RS-232, ModbusTCP, RS-232, Modbus

Visual software toolkit to develop Visual software toolkit to develop control programs and user interfacecontrol programs and user interface

Proven, well supported design Proven, well supported design softwaresoftware

Operational Requirements

Machine must be available for patient treatments 4 days a week

Long Shutdowns not possible Must be able to run beam at the end

of the maintenance day Overcome “Operations Inertia”

Control System Design Control System Design PhilosophyPhilosophy

Use PC’s running Linux for Use PC’s running Linux for controllerscontrollers

Locate Analog I/O close to field Locate Analog I/O close to field devicesdevices

Use Ethernet as fieldbusUse Ethernet as fieldbusDistribute Processing PowerDistribute Processing PowerIsolate Network TrafficIsolate Network TrafficMaintain Separate/Independent Maintain Separate/Independent

Safety SystemSafety SystemImplement by sub-systemImplement by sub-system

Operator ConsoleOperator ConsoleDual Operation During UpgradeDual Operation During Upgrade

Operations TerminalOperations TerminalHarmonic Coil A ControlHarmonic Coil A Control

Multiplexed TuningMultiplexed Tuning

Status DisplayStatus DisplayVacuum System – B LineVacuum System – B Line

CNTS Control System CNTS Control System Replacement OutlookReplacement Outlook

8 Years into project8 Years into projectManpower most limiting factorManpower most limiting factorLinux System Administration Linux System Administration

intensiveintensiveInfrastructure in Place – Network, Infrastructure in Place – Network,

UPS Power, Spare PartsUPS Power, Spare PartsOperator Interface OperationalOperator Interface Operational2.5 of 7 Major Subsystems 2.5 of 7 Major Subsystems

OperationalOperational