Linear Accelerator De-Install & Relocation Checklist

Before you commit

Compare the vault you have with the vault the machine needs. Shielding, ceiling height, door dimensions, chiller capacity, three-phase power and floor loading all have to clear before the purchase makes sense.

• · Vault dimensions and shielding calculations reviewed by a physicist
• · Access route measured for the largest single component
• · Chiller capacity and water loop specification confirmed
• · Power service, phase and grounding verified
• · Treatment planning system compatibility checked
• · OEM software support status for the platform

De-install

Use a rigging contractor with accelerator experience. Photograph and label everything, inventory every cable and accessory, and record the waveguide and gantry positions. Vacuum integrity on the waveguide is the component most often damaged in transit.

Shipping and storage

Specify air-ride transport and climate-controlled storage. Insure at replacement value, not sale price. If storage will run more than a few months, agree in advance who is responsible for periodic power-up and inspection.

Re-install and commissioning

Mechanical and electrical installation typically runs two to four weeks. Physics commissioning — beam data, dosimetry, MLC calibration, imaging QA, end-to-end tests and treatment planning system modeling — adds another two to six weeks. Do not schedule first patient treatment until acceptance testing is signed.

• · Mechanical assembly and alignment
• · Beam tuning and output calibration
• · MLC and imaging system calibration
• · TPS beam modeling and validation
• · End-to-end phantom tests
• · Regulatory inspection and staff training