Beam delivery platform and position system

A radiation beam delivery apparatus comprising:

• at least one isotope-based treatment head;
• at least six linear actuators, each actuator in independent operative engagement of the treatment head;
• a support ring which secures the treatment head and each of the actuators, the support ring being supported by a support ring frame;
• a drive motor in communication with the support ring, the drive motor able to bidirectionally rotate the support ring;
• and,
• a brake on at least one side of the support ring for securing the support ring in a desired position.

A process of delivering a therapeutic dose of radiation to a human or animal patient comprising the steps of:

• providing a radiation beam delivery apparatus having at least one isotope-based treatment head;
• at least six linear actuators, each actuator in independent operative engagement of the treatment head;
• a support ring which secures the treatment head and each of the actuators, the support ring being supported by a support ring frame;
• a drive motor in communication with the support ring, the drive motor able to bidirectionally rotate the support ring;
• a brake on at least one side of the support ring for securing the support ring in a desired position;
• a patient positioning system in operative engagement with a linear rail apparatus for supporting and positioning a patient in one axis having a rotary table in operative engagement with the linear rail system and capable of continuous movement with a linkage system wherein a table top of the rotary table assembly can be positioned within an operative two-dimensional plane of the radiation beam apparatus;
• placing a patient on a platform;
• moving the patient and the platform to a treatment position within the radiation beam delivery apparatus, the treatment position being controlled by the positioning of the treatment head and a collimator within the treatment head by the at least six actuators and further being controlled by positioning the patient by controlled movements of the table top along the patient's x-axis, the patient's y-axis, rotational roll positioning along the patient's axis, and adjusting a pitch of the table top.

A patient positioning system comprising:

• a base member comprising a pair of rails, a platform supporting the rails along an upper platform surface, the platform responsive to a drive motor for moving the platform along the rails;
• a rotating motorized platform supported on an upper surface of the platform;
• a linkage system secured to the rotating motorized platform the linkage system providing vertical movement of a supported patient platform, the linkage system having a first, a second, a third and a fourth arm, each of the arms defining a pivot along a midpoint of the respective arms;
• the first arm and the second arm attached along a respective lower end to a first side plate;
• the third arm and the fourth arm attached at a respective lower end to a second side plate:
• a first rod connecting the lower end of the first arm and the third arm;
• a second rod connecting the lower end of the second arm and the fourth arm;
• a third rod connecting the respective pivots of the first arm and the third arm;
• a fourth rod connecting the respective pivots of the second arm and the fourth arm;
• a fifth rod connecting an upper end of the first arm and the third arm;
• a sixth arm connecting an upper end of the second arm and the fourth arm;
• a first horizontal support member connecting the first arm and the second arm at a respective upper end of said arms, the first horizontal support member being further engaged by a first terminal end of the of the respective fifth and sixth rod;
• a second horizontal support member connecting the third arm and the fourth arm at a respective upper end of said arms, the second horizontal support member being further engaged by a second terminal end of the of the respective fifth and sixth rod;
• at least one drive motor for engaging at least one of the arm pivots, thereby raising and lowering in a coordinated manner the first and second horizontal support members;
• and,
• a table assembly supported by the first and second support members the table assembly further comprising a horizontal table having a motor for directing the table along a patient axis, a pitching adjustment mechanism for compensating for deflection of the table by a patient's weight, the table assembly having independent movement in a horizontal 360 degree range of motion in response to movement of the rotating motorized platform.