The best advice, research, and insights—all in the name of helping you improve your set up cases using Alpha Cradle devices and forms.
Gunilla Bentel, R.N., R.T.T., was a renowned author and clinician at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. Gunilla was the Chief Dosimetrist and Clinical Associate in the Department of Radiation Oncology/Physics Division. Gunilla was a true pioneer in the use of immobilization devices for external beam radiation therapy patients. Ms. Bentel spent several decades…
PATIENT POSITIONING AND IMMOBILIZATION IN RADIATION ONCOLOGY: SOME CONSIDERATIONS BY Gunilla C. Bentel, RN, RTT Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Durham INTRODUCTION Uncertainties associated with the delivery of a prescribed radiation treatment can be divided into two groups; uncertainties of dose (i.e., in homogeneities, dose calculations, variables in machine output and uncertainties in patient-beam…
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here’s our model, over six foot and three inches standing on the AC Side form just made for him. Durability? You bet. You can get in and out of a properly made Alpha Cradle® form all day long without damaging the form or moving its sides…
Using Alpha Cradle® Forms and the Alpha Cradle Mold Maker II Board Robert F. Giffel, RTR St. Joseph Hospital Flint, Michigan This set up is a compromise between the standard ALPHA CRADLE® brand Patient Repositioning System form and the use of the ALPHA CRADLE® Mold Maker Board. The following set-up is primarily used for breast…
THE BUILDING OF FREE-FORM CUSTOMIZED IMMOBILIZERS Max Buscher Tufts New England Medical Center Boston, Massachusetts The immobilization required for patients’ limbs or achieving the decubitus position can be solved using the Smithers Medical Products ALPHA CRADLE® MOLD MAKER II, polyform bag and foaming agents. This department has been using a different method which has advantages…
Treating Lung Patients with Hands Over Their Heads with Alpha Cradle® Forms Sheila R. Polansky, RTRT University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, Texas The purpose of this paper will be to demonstrate the necessity of the ALPHA CRADLE® brand Patient Repositioning System, specifically, the head and shoulder 2 form, HS2, while resolving three specific problems….
THE CHALLENGING EXTREMITY Sandi Williamson Regional Cancer Center Erie, Pennsylvania The ALPHA CRADLE® system is a unique device that can help simplify the sometimes complex and difficult extremity setup. The possibilities of uses vary as vastly as the variety of patients. So to take the challenge out of the challenging extremity, try an ALPHA CRADLE®…
IMMOBILIZATION AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS RECEIVING RADIATION THERAPY FOR EXTREMITY SOFT-TISSUE SARCOMA By Kim L. Light, RTT, CMD Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina INTRODUCTION Soft-tissue sarcoma arises from mesenchymal tissue and accounts for less than 1% of cancers treated in most oncology centers. These tumors show no prevalence in any particular sex nor…
REPOSITIONING AND IMMOBILIZING THE EXTREMITIES AND MISCELLANEOUS TREATMENT SITES Jeffrey Vincent Kostich, President Smithers Medical Products, Inc. North Canton, Ohio ALPHA CRADLE® BRAND PATIENT REPOSITIONING SYSTEMS UEF, LEF, HND, K-9 Several forms have been developed for repositioning and immobilizing the extremities and miscellaneous treatment sites for successful treatment of sarcomas located on the patient’s extremities….
IMMOBILIZATION TECHNIQUES AND DOSIMETRIC ASPECTS FOR PITUITARY TUMORS Mona K. Weller, RTT, BS, CMD Patricia L. Muller, RTT, BS Stanley Sugai, RTT, CMD Jo Levenick, RTT Hahnemann University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania INTRODUCTION Twelve percent of intercranial tumors arise in the pituitary gland.1 The sella turcica houses the most common adult tumors-pituitary adenomas. Pituitary insufficiency and hypersecretion…
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE THREE FIELD ELECTRON WRAP-AROUND TECHNIQUE FOR EXTENSIVE RECURRENT CHEST WALL CARCINOMA: DOSIMETRIC AND CLINICAL CONSIDERATION Mollye Norris, AS, RTRT, CMD St. Luke’s Hospital Kansas City, Missouri INTRODUCTION Radiation Therapy (RT) Extensive recurrent chest wall carcinoma is a geometric challenge for the Radiation Oncology team. The direct skin involvement often extends from the…
KYPHOTIC IMMOBILIZATION AND FLATTENING TECHNIQUES USING ALPHA CRADLES® Marlene Henrichs, RT, Radiation Therapy Student Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Nebraska Three major factors challenge each radiologic science technologist when treating patients in their department. First, immobilization problems can ultimately determine treatment success rates. Secondly, proper alignment including position of the beam and flattening of…