US 4,365,341 A · On-line treatment monitoring for radiation teletherapy

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for the on-line treatment monitoring of patients during radiation teletherapy. A patient is positioned in the irradiation portal of the radiation teletherapy machine in a supposed effective treatment position, and operation of the machine is effected to provide several pulses of high energy x-rays. The pulses are detected by a plurality of solid-state detectors disposed on the opposite side of the patient as the teletherapy machine, and the pulses are transformed to electrical signals. Lead covers the detectors to screen out low energy radiation. The electrical signals are immediately automatically converted to a readable display providing the landmarks of the irradiation portal, and the patient's position as defined by the landmarks is compared to a predetermined desired position for effective treatment. In case of misalignment, treatment is halted, the patient's position is then immediately adjusted with respect to the irradiation portal so that it is proper for effective treatment, and the radiation teletherapy machine is then actuated to deliver the desired dosage of radiation to the patient for therapy. The digital data of the image can be stored on magnetic disk or tape for later review.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method of treating a patient with radiation therapy utilizing a radiation teletherapy machine capable of emitting high-energy x-rays, comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning the patient in the irradiation portal of the radiation teletherapy machine in a supposed effective treatment position;
(b) effecting operation of the machine to emit a therapy beam, and only a therapy beam, of high-energy pulses for effective patient treatment;
(c) automatically detecting only the high-energy pulses and transforming the radiation detected during the pulses to electrical signals, by providing at least one linear array of solid-state detectors in a position on the opposte side of the patient as the fixed beam radiation teletherapy machine, and stepping the at least one linear array over at least a portion of the irradiation portal in sync with the pulses from the radiation teletherapy machine;
(d) immediately converting the electrical signals to a readable display providing the landmarks of the irradiation portal;
(e) comparing the patient's position as defined by the landmarks to a predetermined desired position for effective treatment;
(f) immediately halting irradiation if the portal is outside the acceptable margin;
(g) adjusting the patient's position with respect to the irradiation portal so that it is proper for effective treatment;
and
(h) continuing radiation therapy to deliver the desired dosage of radiation to the patient.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

On-line treatment monitoring for radiation teletherapy

Life of this patent

On-line treatment monitoring for radiation teletherapy

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25