System and method of XACT/US-guided radiotherapy
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsLiangzhong Xiang, Siqi Wang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments are directed to a new imaging modality called X-ray-induced acoustic computed tomography (XACT) technology and can be combined with traditional pulse and echo ultrasound imaging. It has the capability of real-time monitoring of geometric and morphological misalignments of the X-ray field with respect to the target tissue, thus improving radiotherapy tumor eradication and limiting treatment side effects. The XACT/US image-guided radiotherapy system according to embodiments holds great potential for personalized cancer treatment and better outcomes.
Claims11
A system for X-ray-induced acoustic computed tomography (XACT) comprising:
- a radiation source configured to apply a dose of radiation to a target in a living subject and to induce an acoustic signal associated with the dose of radiation;
- a two dimensional ultrasound array transducer;
- an ultrasound module configured to receive an ultrasound signal from the two dimensional array transducer and to generate an ultrasound image of tissue surrounding the target in the living subject;
- and
- an imaging module configured to combine the ultrasound image with an image representing the dose of radiation with respect to the surrounding tissue,
- wherein the two dimensional ultrasound array transducer is further configured to receive the acoustic signal induced by the radiation source, and
- wherein the radiation source is configured to apply the dose of radiation in correspondence with a X-ray trigger, and the ultrasound module is configured to generate an ultrasound pulse in correspondence with an ultrasound trigger, the system further comprising:
- trigger sequencing logic that receives both the ultrasound trigger and the X-ray trigger and switches the two dimensional ultrasound array transducer between ultrasound signal reception in response to the ultrasound trigger and acoustic signal acquisition in response to the X-ray trigger.
A method of X-ray-induced acoustic computed tomography (XACT) comprising:
- applying, by a radiation source, a dose of radiation to a target in a living subject and to induce an acoustic signal associated with the dose of radiation;
- generating, by an ultrasound module, an ultrasound image of tissue surrounding the target in the living subject, wherein generating the ultrasound image includes receiving an ultrasound signal from a two dimensional ultrasound array transducer;
- and
- combining the ultrasound image with an image representing the dose of radiation with respect to the surrounding tissue,
- wherein the two dimensional ultrasound array transducer is configured to receive the acoustic signal induced by the radiation source, and
- wherein the radiation source is configured to apply the dose of radiation in correspondence with a X-ray trigger, and the ultrasound module is configured to generate an ultrasound pulse in correspondence with an ultrasound trigger, the method further comprising:
- switching the two dimensional ultrasound array transducer between ultrasound signal reception in response to the ultrasound trigger and acoustic signal acquisition in response to the X-ray trigger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.