Rosatom plans to release a new generation of devices for brachytherapy by 2029 — a high-precision method of contact radiation therapy where the radiation source is inserted directly into the tumor. This was reported by Petr Zelenov, Deputy Development and International Business Officer at AO Rosatom Science.
“Brachium 2.0” will be half the weight of previous versions, and scientists will also refine and translate the device’s software into foreign languages. The key element of “Brachium 2.0” will be a new isotope source based on iridium. In the coming months, permission is expected for its use at the Institute of Reactor Materials (part of Rosatom’s scientific division).
“The device will correspond as closely as possible to real clinical tasks. An important element of the strategy is the localization of production: currently, 60% of Brachium’s components are manufactured by enterprises of the nuclear industry, and the overall share of domestic components is 96%,” Zelenov stated, noting that the geography of potential sales markets for the device includes Indonesia, Myanmar, India, Vietnam, Latin American countries, and Africa.
The current version of the Brachium complex is available in a number of Russian medical institutions, Rosatom noted. The device is equipped with dosimetric control to reduce the likelihood of error, applicators compatible with visual diagnostic systems, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, as well as a three-dimensional radiation therapy planning system. The latter allows for the creation of a 3D model of the tumor using a computer for more precise irradiation.
