Applications
Medical
Where Innovation Meets Medicine
RI’s expertise in building particle accelerators and photon instrumentation is not only helpful for researchers. The technologies employed in big science experiments also allow medical and pharmaceutical applications.
Particle Therapy
Particle accelerators can be used to treat cancer. By precisely targeting tumors with beams of energetic ions, i.e. ionizing particles, particle therapy damages the DNA of cancer cells, leading to their destruction. Cancer cells are especially susceptible because they have a diminished capacity to repair DNA damage. RI designs and delivers accelerators for particle therapy systems.
Shock Wave Treatment
You can use sound waves to break up kidney stones. Externally applied, focused, high-intensity pulses of ultrasonic energy (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, ESWL) constitute a non-invasive technique for the treatment of uncomplicated cases of kidney stones. The pulses cause fragmentation of the stones, sparing patients more invasive procedures. At RI, we develop and deliver chargers and HV switches for systems that generate these ultrasonic pulses.
Medical Isotope Production
Particle accelerators can also generate beams of electrons, protons, or heavy ions to produce medical radioisotopes used in hospitals for both cancer diagnosis and treatment. RI contributes to this field by providing the physics layout, conducting assessment studies, and developing detailed plans—particularly for high-power accelerators optimized for radioisotope production.
