How Does the Gamma Knife Work?

The Gamma Knife precisely focuses a high dose of ionizing radiation, through 201 cobalt-60 sources, on the area to be treated. At the point where the 201 beams converge, enough radiation is deposited to destroy the abnormality. Since the Gamma Knife's accuracy is within the width of a human hair, surrounding tissue, blood vessels, and nerves receive only a minimal dose of radiation.

South Nassau's system includes the Leksell GammaPlan® Wizard and the Automated Positioning System (APS), which enhances treatment planning accuracy. The Wizard is sophisticated software that enables physicians to precisely conform the radiation to the delivery site, even if the target is irregularly shaped. The Wizard imports imaging data and creates a three-dimensional suggested treatment plan. The clinician maintains ultimate control over treatment planning, and has the ability to accept or alter the computer-generated plan at any time. The APS is an automated system that helps position the patient inside the Gamma Knife, which greatly reduces overall treatment time. All data are transferred electronically from the Wizard to the APS to the Gamma Knife, ensuring accuracy.