Therac Glossary Actuator: Device
for moving the turntable CGR:
Compagnie Generale Radiologie (CGR), an established French radiology firm
from which AECL got some of its technology for the Therac series of machines. Class 1 recalls: the
most serious recalls in terms of health risk
AECL: Canadian company that designed and manufactured the Therac-25
Collimator: a device for obtaining a particle beam of limited cross section
Dosimeter: radiation dose measuring device
electron beams: Accelerated electrons are absorbed by phosphors, which in turn produce light
eV: the energy needed to move one electron through a potential of one volt.
Gantry: the turntable assembly
The General Accounting Office is the investigative arm of the Congress and is charged with examining all matters relating to the receipt anddisbursement of public funds.
The General Accounting Office (GAO) was established by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 (31 U.S.C. 702), to independently audit Government agencies. Over the years, the Congress has expanded GAO's audit authority, added new responsibilities and duties, and strengthened GAO's ability to perform independently.
The Office is under the control and direction of the Comptroller General of the United States, who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of 15 years.
Kludge or Kluge: a computer system made up of poorly matched components
medical linear accelerator: a device that accelerates electrons to create an electron beam.
Operator: the individual responsible for the facitily room and preparing the Therac-25 machine for a particular patient.
Potentiometer: a device that independently monitors turntable position
rad (radiation absorbed dose): the amount of radiation that is absorbed by tissue in a treatment. Acceptable level for single treatment is around 200 rad.
radiation therapy: exposure to ionizing radiation using electron, X-rays or gamma rays. It is administered in a series of sessions occurring over several weeks,
Radiation therapy technician:X-ray (photons): High intensity electron beam (25 MeV) that is transformed. Often used to in treating deeper tissue areas.
Therac-25: a medical linear accelerator that folds the electron beam back and forth. This allows for a higher energy beam to be produced.
25 MeV: 25 million electron volts. This is the electron beam used in Therac 25