How Does CyberKnife Work?
CyberKnife uses an advanced, lightweight linear accelerator (LINAC), a device mounted on a robotic arm, used to concentrate a high dose of radiation through multiple radiation beams on a designated tumor or lesion. Using image-guided cameras, the CyberKnife system locates the exact position of the tumor.
The robotic delivery system integrates motion-tracking software, called the Synchrony System, making it accurate enough to treat a moving target. a patient breathes or moves during treatment, the robot detects the motion and compensates in 'real time,' ensuring that the radiation is accurately hitting the target with sub-millimeter precision throughout treatment. With the maneuverability of the robotic arm, surgeons can administer multiple radiation beams from up to 1,200 different targeting positions and angles. All the beams intersect within the tumor or lesion where the cumulative dose is high enough to destroy specific cancer cells while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
