Neurological Surgery

Unboxing the Gamma Knife

November 7, 2022

The Gamma Knife experts at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine were excited to get their hands on the new Gamma Knife® Icon™ last week. After a dramatic September delivery and a month of installation and equipment preparation, the day finally arrived: The team was allowed into the treatment room to unpack all the accessories and start running tests and simulations. From warming up the soft mesh masks to ensure a perfect fit, to using a volunteer stand-in to check patient comfort and safety, to checking the control room feed from the treatment room, the team ran through many of the steps used in a real procedure. There is more unpacking and organizing and testing to do before we welcome our first patients in a few weeks, but we are eager to get to work!

Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Unaware of its important role, the Gamma Knife "test head" awaits a trial run
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Dr. Rohan Ramakrishna, physicist Leland Muller, and J. Keith De Wyngaert, vice chair and director for technical operations, unboxing the accessories
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Dr. Rohan Ramakrishna examines a face mask; unlike older radiosurgery machines the Gamma Knife offers comfortable frameless treatment
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Mesh masks are warmed before use to make them malleable and form-fitting
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Senior radiation therapists Brian Thomas and Bryant Vargas prepare to place the mask on the model
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Placing the mask gently on the model stand-in
Brian and Bryant checking the mask fit
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
A perfect fit (at least the model is not complaining)
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Checking position and computer display
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Dr. Susan Pannullo checks the "patient" for mask fit
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
From the control room, the team monitors activity inside the treatment room
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Dr. Ramakrishna and Leland Muller in the control room
In the control room
In the control room
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
In the control room
In the control room
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Once the door is locked and the room sealed, the machine can be turned on
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Dr. Pannullo, Dr. Jonathan Knisely, and Leland Muller in the control room
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Its work done, the model is removed so the couch can be readied for its next "patient"
Bryant Vargas volunteered to stand in for the patient
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Bryant Vargas volunteered to stand in for the patient
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Dr. Pannullo, Dr. Knisley, and technical manager Danielle Cardona check the "patient's" comfort
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Danielle Cardona warms up the mesh mask for her "patient"
Preparing for placement
Preparing for placement
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Preparing for placement
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Dr. Pannullo and Dr. Knisely look on as the "patient" mask is placed
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Ensuring a good fit
Ensuring a good fit
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Ensuring a good fit
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Making sure the "patient" is comfortable
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Checking the overhead display
Last-minute check
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Dr. Knisely and Dr. Babacar Cisse look on as the patient gets one last check
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Real patients probably won't be getting their photos taken at this point
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Unboxing the Gamma Knife
Dr. Babacar Cisse, Dr. Rohan Ramakrishna, Dr. Jonathan Knisely, and Dr. Susan Pannullo

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