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US 2025/0152970 A1Published application
Intensity and dose modulated radiosurgical needle system and method
AssigneeEmpyrean Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsKalman Fishman, Dirk Bartkoski, Jacob Scott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radiotherapy device includes an electron source, a first beam corrector, a drift tube, a target with target material that when impacted by an electron beam generates Bremsstrahlung x-ray photons, and a radiosurgical needle. The radiosurgical needle has an elongated radiopaque needle body with a lumen and a pointed tip for piercing a tissue of a patient. The target is positioned within the lumen of the radiosurgical needle. A first beam steering device steers a focused electron beam within the micro drift tube to the target. A radiotherapy system and a method for conducting radiotherapy are also disclosed.
Claims30
A radiotherapy system, comprising:
- an electron source for generating an initial electron beam;
- a first beam corrector for focusing the initial electron beam into a focused electron beam;
- a target comprising target material that when impacted by the focused electron beam generates Bremsstrahlung x-ray photons;
- a radiosurgical needle with an elongated radiopaque needle body portion having an interior lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end comprising a pointed tip for piercing a tissue of a patient, the target being positioned within the lumen of the radiosurgical needle and closer to the distal end than the proximal end;
- an elongated radiopaque micro drift tube with an open interior extending from the electron source to the radiosurgical needle, the micro drift tube having a proximal end nearest the electron source, and a distal end nearest the radiosurgical needle, the proximal end of the radiosurgical needle being affixed to the distal end of the micro drift tube, the open interior of the micro drift tube communicating with the lumen of the radiosurgical needle so as to define an electron flow path from the electron source to the target;
- and,
- a first beam steering device for steering the focused electron beam within the micro drift tube to the target.
4 more elements
A radiotherapy system, comprising:
- i) a treatment head comprising:
- an electron source for generating an initial electron beam;
- a first beam corrector for focusing the initial electron beam into a focused electron beam;
- a target comprising target material that when impacted by the focused electron beam generates Bremsstrahlung x-ray photons;
- a radiosurgical needle with an elongated radiopaque needle body portion having an interior lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end comprising a pointed tip, the target being positioned within the lumen and closer to the distal end than the proximal end, the distal end of the radiosurgical needle comprising a radiolucent portion for transmitting x-ray photons generated at the target, the radiosurgical needle further comprising a pointed tip portion for piercing a tissue of a patient;
- a first beam steering device for steering the focused electron beam to the target;
- and,
- an elongated radiopaque micro drift tube with an open interior extending from the electron source to the radiosurgical needle, the micro drift tube having a proximal end nearest the electron source, and a distal end nearest the radiosurgical needle, the proximal end of the radiosurgical needle being affixed to the distal end of the micro drift tube, the open interior of the micro drift tube communicating with the lumen of the radiosurgical needle so as to define an electron flow path from the electron source to the target;
- ii) a robotic arm for manipulating the treatment head;
- and,
- iii) a base unit for supporting the robotic arm.
8 more elements
A method for conducting radiotherapy, comprising the steps of:
- providing a radiosurgical needle with an elongated radiopaque needle body portion having an interior lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end comprising a pointed tip for piercing the tissue of a patient, the radiosurgical needle further comprising a target comprising target material that when impacted by the focused electron beam generates Bremsstrahlung x-ray photons, the target being positioned within the lumen and closer to the distal end than the proximal end, the distal end of the radiosurgical needle comprising a radiolucent portion for transmitting x-ray photons generated at the target;
- inserting the radiosurgical needle into the body of a patient by piercing a tissue of the patient and advancing the radiosurgical needle to a patient therapy location;
- directing a focused and steered electron beam at the target, wherein Bremsstrahlung x-ray photons will be generated at the target and will be transmitted through the radiolucent portion to the patient therapy location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.