# US 11,026,647 B2 · Simultaneous multi-axes imaging apparatus and method of use thereof

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- Number: US 11,026,647 B2
- Document ID: US11026647B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/548,717
- Filed: 2019-08-22
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2010-04-16
- Applicants: James P. Bennett; W. Davis Lee
- Inventors: James P. Bennett; W. Davis Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026647B2

## CPC

- A61B 6/4417: {related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities}
- A61B 6/037: {Emission tomography}
- A61B 6/12: Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
- A61B 6/4014: {arranged in multiple source-detector units}
- A61B 6/4085: {Cone-beams}
- A61B 6/4216: {using storage phosphor screens}
- A61B 6/4258: {for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation (A61B6/037 takes precedence)}
- A61B 6/5211: {involving processing of medical diagnostic data}
- A61N 5/1037: {taking into account the movement of the target, e.g. 4D-image based planning}
- A61N 5/1049: {for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam}
- A61N 5/1067: {in real time, i.e. during treatment}
- A61N 5/1077: {Beam delivery systems}
- A61N 5/1082: {having multiple beam rotation axes}
- G16H 50/20: for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
- G21K 1/08: Deviation, concentration or focusing of the beam by electric or magnetic means (electron-optical arrangements in electric discharge tubes H01J29/46; {details, e.g. electric or magnetic deviating means for direct voltage accelerators or in accelerators using single pulses H05H5/02; arrangements for injecting particles into orbits H05H7/08; arrangements for ejecting particles from orbits H05H7/10})
- G21K 5/04: with beam-forming means
- A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]}
- A61B 6/4266: {characterised by using a plurality of detector units (A61B6/4014 takes precedence)}
- A61B 6/482: {involving multiple energy imaging}
- A61B 6/485: {involving fluorescence X-ray imaging}
- A61B 6/487: {involving fluoroscopy}
- A61B 6/5205: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data}
- A61B 6/582: {Calibration}
- A61N 5/107: {in real time, i.e. during treatment}
- A61N 2005/1051: {using an active marker}
- A61N 2005/1054: {using a portal imaging system}
- A61N 2005/1061: {using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source}
- A61N 2005/1087: {Ions; Protons}
- A61N 2005/1095: {Elements inserted into the radiation path within the system, e.g. filters or wedges}
- A61N 2005/1097: {Means for immobilizing the patient}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- G21K: HANDLING OF PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES

## Abstract

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for imaging a tumor with X-rays while, simultaneously or alternatingly, treating or imaging the tumor with positively charged particles. An X-ray imaging system, such as one or two sets of a cone beam X-ray source coupled to an X-ray detector, is rotatable about a first axis and a patient. The X-ray imaging system is positioned off axis a path of charged particles delivered through an exit port of a nozzle system from a synchrotron and does not block a path of the positively charged particles from the exit nozzle to the patient or an imaging path from the patient to a scintillation detector. Fiducial indicators are used to confirm an unobstructed path of the positively charged particles in a treatment room comprising many movable elements, such as the X-ray imaging system and a patient positioning system/couch.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for imaging a tumor of a patient using positively charged particles and X-rays, comprising the steps of:
rotating elements of an X-ray imaging system, configured to deliver the X-rays, around both a first rotation axis and the patient;
imaging the patient using the X-rays from said X-ray imaging system;
passing the positively charged particles through an exit port of a nozzle system, said nozzle system connected to a synchrotron via a first beam transport line, the positively charged particles passing into the patient from the exit port along a z-axis and at least one of: (1) treating the tumor with the positively charged particles and (2) imaging the patient with residual charged particles comprising the positively charged particles after transmitting through the patient;
disconnecting said nozzle system from said first beam transport line;
moving said nozzle system; and
after said step of moving, connecting said nozzle system to a second beam line to direct the positively charged particles toward the patient at a different relative angle.

### Claim 2

An apparatus for imaging a tumor of a patient using positively charged particles and X-rays, comprising:
a rotatable X-ray imaging system, configured to deliver the X-rays, around both a first rotation axis and the patient;
an X-ray imaging system configured to image the patient using the X-rays; an exit port nozzle of a nozzle system connected to a synchrotron via a beam transport line, said exit port configured to pass the positively charged particles, the positively charged particles passing, during use, into the patient from the exit port along a z-axis to treat the tumor;
a gantry configured to move said exit port along an arc, the z-axis maintaining a path from the exit port to the patient as said exit port moves along the arc;
a main controller configured to rotate a source end of said X-ray imaging system and a detector end of said X-ray imaging system about the first rotation axis, the first rotation axis perpendicular to a z-axis, wherein, while said gantry moves said exit port along said arc and said main controller rotates said X-ray imaging system, said main controller configured to: (1) collect a first set of images of the patient using the positively charged particles and (2) collect a second set of images of the patient using the X-rays.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:
a first cone beam X-ray source and a second cone beam X-ray source, of said X-ray imaging system, positioned on a first side of the patient, said first cone beam X-ray source and said second cone-beam X-ray source separated by at least twenty centimeters; and
at least one two-dimensional X-ray detector, of said X-ray imaging system, configured to detect X-rays from said first cone beam X-ray source, said at least one two-dimensional X-ray detector connected to said X-ray imaging system on an opposite side of the patient from said first cone beam X-ray source.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:
a gantry supporting said nozzle system, wherein a mean treatment beam axis of the positively charged particles and a mean X-ray beam axis of X-rays from said first cone beam X-ray source form an angle of greater than twenty degrees and less than seventy degrees as projected onto a flat surface parallel said mean X-ray beam axis and said mean treatment beam axis of the positively charged particles.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:
a set of fiducial indicators, a first member of said set of fiducial indicators connected to said nozzle system and a second member of said set of fiducial indicators connected to said X-ray imaging system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:
a main controller configured to gather data from said fiducial indicators and using the data determine if a path from said exit nozzle to the patient is unobstructed.