US 5,634,929 A · Apparatus for stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated radiation therapy

Abstract

The invention comprises a rigid frame that is positioned around the skull to define a multi-dimensional coordinate system. Multiple arms are coupled to the frame, each arm having an attachment assembly movable along a longitudinal axis directed toward the center of the rigid frame assembly. Multiple receptors are either attached to the skull or drilled into the skull for receiving an associated attachment assembly. The receptors provide a mounting base upon which the frame is repeatedly attached and detached from the skull at the same reproducible reference location. Each arm has a multi-station receptacle that receives various attachments used for mounting and attaching the receptors. Special bushing are used to lock the attachment assembly in a preset longitudinal position in relation to the arm. The locked attachment assembly can then be removed from the arm allowing the frame to be removed from the skull while maintaining frame position information.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A system for performing stereotactic radiosurgery upon a target within a skull, comprising:

a rigid frame extending about a center axis for positioning around the skull defining a multi-dimensional coordinate system;
multiple receptors for attachment to the skull, the receptors providing a mounting base upon which the frame is repeatably attached to and detached from the skull at the same reproducible reference locations;
multiple arms coupled to the frame;
attachment assemblies each attached to one of said multiple arms and movable along a longitudinal attachment assembly axis directed substantially toward the center axis of the rigid frame into an associated laterally extended condition against one of said receptors;
and
multiple locking devices each locking one of said attachment assemblies in said associated laterally extended condition, each one of said attachment assemblies removable from said arms while remaining locked in said laterally extended condition.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated radiation therapy

Life of this patent

Apparatus for stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated radiation therapy

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14