3D Printing in Radiation Therapy provides practical and comprehensive guidance for the implementation, quality management, maintenance and safe use of a clinical 3D printing programme in the radiation therapy context. Radiation therapy is a safe and effective treatment that can benefit half of all cancer patients, and the introduction of an appropriately planned, managed, and resourced 3D printing programme can increase that benefit in terms of the radiation therapy patient experience, staff engagement, treatment accuracy and improved treatment outcomes, in addition to monetary savings. This book provides the guidance needed to:
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Select suitable 3D printing modalities, materials and software;
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Develop processes for efficiently and accurately designing, printing and post-processing phantoms, jigs and attachments as well as radiation treatment equipment such as bolus, immobilisation devices, radiation shields and brachytherapy applicators;
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Achieve comprehensive quality management of the 3D printing service, including documented risk assessments, commissioning methods, 3D printer maintenance, 3D print quality control, reviews, audits and staff training; and
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Understand the potential costs and benefits of the 3D printing service in terms of time, money, space, patient and staff safety, and waste management.
This book is a resource for medical physicists, engineers and technicians, radiation therapists and technologists, dosimetrists, nurses, radiation oncologists, administrators and schedulers, as well as workshop and mould room staff, i.e., all radiation therapy staff who are planning, setting up, managing, researching, auditing or working within a clinical 3D printing service.
