Gamma Knife of Spokane
Patient Inquiry - Physics: How does it work?
-- Courtesy of NASA |
Gamma rays which are electro-magnetic in nature originate from within the nucleus of Co-60 atoms. Gamma rays are identical to x-rays upon leaving the excited nucleus of a radioactive isotope such as Co-60. When gamma rays enter the patient, in this case the brain, they interact with the atoms of the brain and have the ability to liberate negatively charged electrons from the atom leaving the atom in a charged state called a positive ion.
These negative electrons and positive ions literally break or "knife" the DNA strand of nearby cells thus preventing those cells from splitting (mitosis). This cell is then considered dead. With the gamma knife, we attempt to kill many of the target or cancerous cells and few normal cells.