03/18/2024
By Joanne Gagnon-Ketchen

Physics Colloquium, Wednesday, March 20 at 4 p.m. in Olsen 102.

Dirk A. Barkoski, Chief Scientific Officer, Empyrean Medical Systems, Inc. will give a talk on "An Introduction to the Morpheus System for Intracavitary and Intensity Modulated Brachytherapy."

Abstract: The Morpheus is a novel delivery platform for intraoperative and brachytherapy. It's robotically mounted compact x-ray tube allows for optimal ease-of-use as well as a wide range of clinical implementations. As an electronic brachytherapy source with energies up to 120 kVp in development, the Morpheus has the capability to deliver anisotropic radial, azimuthal, and longitudinal distributions. Intensity modulated intracavitary treatments are possible through the usage of a novel, azimuthal collimated septa. Also in development, are onboard imaging capabilities, treatment planning system, and multiple applicators to be used in either brachytherapy or operating room environment. An in-depth analysis of the Morpheus will be presented that will provide and complete view of this novel device and its capabilities.

Bio: After receiving a Ph.D. in Particle Accelerator Physics from the University of Tennessee, Barkoski went to spend the next 9 years doing research and development for novel radiation therapy devices at MD Anderson Cancer Center, after which he joined Empyrean Medical systems in 2022 as the Chief Scientific Officer.