Device and method for protoacoustic image- guided proton therapy
AssigneesThe Regents of the University of California, The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
InventorsLiangzhong Xiang, Yong Chen
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Abstract
Proton beams can deliver a highly targeted radiation dose to a narrow volume defined by their Bragg peaks. However, Bragg peak range uncertainties persist during dose delivery. Fortunately, pulsed proton beams generate protoacoustic emissions proportional to absorbed proton energy, thereby encoding dosimetry information in a detectable acoustic wave. The present embodiments provide methods and apparatuses to derive and model protoacoustic imaging with an ultrasound transducer, and examine the frequency characteristics of protoacoustic emissions, which are crucial parameters in imaging resolution.
Claims19
A system for generating protoacoustic images in real time, including:
- an ultrasound transducer adapted to receive proton induced acoustic signals generated from a proton source during proton therapy;
- and
- a protoacoustic imaging unit adapted to receive signals from the ultrasound transducer and generate a reconstructed image for assisting the proton therapy, wherein the protoacoustic imaging unit is adapted to generate the reconstructed image by performing k-wave simulations of signals received by the ultrasound transducer to generate relative protoacoustic pressure maps.
A method for generating protoacoustic images in real time, including:
- receiving, from an ultrasound transducer, proton induced acoustic signals generated from a proton source during proton therapy;
- and
- generating, by a protoacoustic imaging unit adapted to receive signals from the ultrasound transducer, a reconstructed image for assisting the proton therapy, wherein generating the reconstructed image includes performing k-wave simulations of signals received by the ultrasound transducer to generate relative protoacoustic pressure maps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.