Feasibility of the 3D printer to design an intracavitary applicator for the treatment of cervical cancer patients with high dose rate brachytherapy system.

Designing an intracavitary brachytherapy applicator with a 3D printer using Polyamide12 for Tandem-Ovoid configuration. Further, to evaluate its feasibility and initial clinical use for the treatment of cervical cancer patients with a High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy system. SolidWorks, Computer Aided design software was used for the design of the intracavitary brachytherapy applicator. Hewlett-Packard Jet Fusion 4200 was used for printing different parts of applicators with Polyamide12 (PA12) material. Radiograph and CT images of printed material parts were taken in the air and water medium to see the visualization. Before use in the patient, necessary quality assurance tests were carried out by coupling it with a microSelectron HDR machine. X-ray markers were used to visualize the source path inside the uterine and vaginal tandems. Physical and clinical evaluations were performed with a prototype 3D-printed applicator to check its suitability for clinical use. Final Applicator design was created from multiple hit and trial methods in SolidWorks. Printed PA12 of ovoid parts having a mean Hounsfield unit (HU) value of - 75 HU. Quality tests on the PA12 intracavitary applicator performed with the microSelectron HDR brachytherapy machine were passed. The chances of uterine perforation were less due to the semi-rigidity of the PA12 applicator. The newly designed T-O-based applicator and dummy marker do not produce any artifacts on the CT images. A low-cost flexible plastic applicator was developed that allowed the user to guide the tandem into the uterus of a patient. The developed PA12 intracavitary brachytherapy applicator did not produce artifacts on CT images.