US 5,117,829 A · Patient alignment system and procedure for radiation treatment

Abstract

Accurate and repeatable patient alignment with a charged-particle beam of a radiation beam therapy system, such as a proton beam delivery system, is provided. The patient is immobilized within a form-fit patient pod. Reference radiographs are prepared that are used for repositioning the patient within the pod on subsequent occasions. CT scan data of a particular tissue volume of interest, such as a region of the patient wherein a cancerous tumor is located, is obtained while the patient remains in the pod. The CT scan data is used to prepare a treatment plan for the patient. The treatment plan includes identifying an isocenter within the tissue volume at which the beam is to be directed from a selected angle(s). A computer simulation of the treatment plan may be performed to optimize the treatment plan, i.e., to help identify the number of beams and treatment angles that will best irradiate the cancerous cells. Once the treatment plan is finalized, the patient is repositioned within the pod and a physical simulation of the treatment plan is carried out to verify that the selected cancerous cells will be properly irradiated. Finally, the treatment plan is carried out by irradiating the cancerous cells with the charged-particle beam in accordance with the treatment plan.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for irradiating a volume of tissue within a patient with a charged-particle beam, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) immobilizing the patient;
(b) obtaining CT scan data of a region of tissue within said immobilized patient that includes said volume of tissue;
(c) preparing a treatment plan using said CT scan data by identifying an isocenter point having a fixed geometrical relationship relative to said volume of tissue at which said charged-particle beam is to be directed, determining an entry angle for said charged-particle beam, and generating an image reconstructed from said CT scan data that identifies how the volume of tissue should appear when viewed along said entry angle through said isocenter point;
(d) verifying said treatment plan by performing a physical simulation of the irradiation of said volume of tissue by said charged particle beam, said physical simulation including, (1) directing an image-forming beam along said entry angle at said isocenter point, said image-forming beam producing an image of the tissue through which it passes, and (2) comparing the image formed by said image-forming beam with said reconstructed image from said CT scan data along said entry angle verify that the charged particle beam will properly irradiate said volume of tissue;
(e) executing said treatment plan by directing said charged-particle beam at said isocenter point.

2 more elements

A method for aligning a charged-particle beam with a volume of tissue, such as a tumor, of a patient undergoing radiation therapy, said method comprising the steps of:

immobilizing the patient;
digitally mapping tissue densities of the patient in a region surrounding said volume of tissue;
within data defining said digitally mapped tissue densities identifying and marking a portion of the data that defines the volume of tissue to be irradiated by said charged-particle beam;
reconstructing at least one image of the tissue densities from said digitally mapped tissue densities, said at least one reconstructed image having a view line normal thereto that passes through said marked data;
forming a radiographic image of the tissue of said patient taken along said view line;
quantitatively comparing said radiographic image to said reconstructed image;
adjusting the position of the immobilized patient relative to the radiographic image until any difference between said radiographic image and said reconstructed image is minimized;
and
aligning the charged-particle beam to be delivered to said volume of tissue with the view line of said radiographic image after the step of adjusting has been completed.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Patient alignment system and procedure for radiation treatment

Life of this patent

Patient alignment system and procedure for radiation treatment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17