Beam position monitors for medical radiation machines
AssigneeVarian Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsMark E. TRAIL, James E. CLAYTON
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus includes: a structure having a lumen for accommodating a beam, wherein the structure is a component of a medical radiation machine having a target for interaction with the beam to generate radiation; and a first beam position monitor comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode being mounted to a first side of the structure, the second electrode being mounted to a second side of the structure, the second side being opposite from the first side; wherein the first beam position monitor is located upstream with respect to the target.
Claims37
An apparatus comprising:
- a structure having a lumen for accommodating a beam, wherein the structure is a component of a medical radiation machine having a target for interaction with the beam to generate radiation;
- and
- a first beam position monitor comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode being mounted to a first side of the structure, the second electrode being mounted to a second side of the structure, the second side being opposite from the first side;
- wherein the first beam position monitor is located upstream with respect to the target.
A method of monitoring a position of a beam at a medical radiation machine that includes an accelerator and a target for interaction with the beam to generate radiation, comprising:
- obtaining a first signal from a first electrode;
- obtaining a second signal from a second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are on first opposite sides of a space in the medical radiation machine through which the beam is being delivered;
- and
- processing the first signal and the second signal to determine a first position of the beam;
- wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are parts of a first position monitor, and wherein the first position monitor is located upstream with respect to the target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.