Charged particle cancer therapy patient positioning method and apparatus
AssigneeVladimir Balakin
InventorVladimir Balakin
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Abstract
The invention comprises a patient positioning method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The patient positioning system is used to translate the patient and/or rotate the patient into a zone where the proton beam can scan the tumor using a targeting system. The patient positioning system is optionally used in conjunction with systems used to constrain movement of the patient, such as semi-vertical, sitting, or laying positioning systems.
Claims28
An apparatus for positioning a patient relative to charged particles extracted from a synchrotron for irradiation therapy of a tumor of a patient, comprising:
- a platform configured to support the patient, said platform comprising multi-axis computer control of:
- a vertical position of said platform;
- and
- a rotation position of said platform,
- wherein at least a portion of said platform comprises a position under an about horizontal beam path of the charged particles extracted from said synchrotron,
- said platform configured to rotate, under computer control, to at least ten rotation positions over at least about one hundred eighty degrees of rotation during a tumor treatment period, and
- wherein said control of position positions the tumor in the about horizontal beam path during use.
An apparatus for positioning a patient for irradiation of a tumor with charged particles extracted from a synchrotron, comprising:
- a lower support unit;
- at least one patient positioning device, said lower support unit supporting said patient positioning device;
- and
- means for rotating said lower support unit about an about vertical axis to a plurality of rotation positions,
- wherein said plurality of rotation positions comprises at least five computer controlled rotation positions in a period of less than two minutes during irradiation of the tumor by the charged particles, said synchrotron configured to deliver the charged particles along an about horizontal axis over a portion of said lower support unit.
A method for positioning a patient relative to charged particles extracted from a synchrotron for irradiation therapy of a tumor of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- supporting the patient on a platform;
- computer controlling a vertical position of said platform;
- computer controlling a rotation position of said platform, wherein at least a portion of said platform comprises a position under an about horizontal beam path of the charged particles extracted from said synchrotron;
- rotating said platform, under computer control, to at least ten rotation positions over at least about one hundred eighty degrees of rotation during a tumor treatment period;
- and
- positioning the tumor of the patient with said platform in the about horizontal beam path during use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.