# US 7,471,765 B2 · Cone beam computed tomography with a flat panel imager > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,471,765 B2 - Document ID: US7471765B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/023,037 - Filed: 2004-12-27 - Published: 2006-03-09 - Granted: 2008-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 2000-02-18 - Assignees: William Beaumont Hospital - Inventors: David A. Jaffray; John W. Wong; Jeffrey H. Siewerdesen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7471765B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]} - A61B 6/4085: {Cone-beams} - A61B 6/466: {adapted to display 3D data} - A61B 6/508: {for non-human patients} - A61B 6/583: {using calibration phantoms} - A61N 5/1049: {for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam} - A61B 6/027: {characterised by the use of a particular data acquisition trajectory, e.g. helical or spiral} - A61B 6/06: Diaphragms - A61B 6/4405: {the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley} - A61B 6/4458: {the source unit or the detector unit being attached to robotic arms} - A61B 6/482: {involving multiple energy imaging} - A61N 5/1038: {taking into account previously administered plans applied to the same patient, i.e. adaptive radiotherapy} - A61N 5/1065: {Beam adjustment} - A61N 5/1069: {Target adjustment, e.g. moving the patient support} - A61N 2005/1061: {using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A radiation therapy system that includes a radiation source that moves about a path and directs a beam of radiation towards an object and a cone-beam computer tomography system. The cone-beam computer tomography system includes an x-ray source that emits an x-ray beam in a cone-beam form towards an object to be imaged and an amorphous silicon flat-panel imager receiving x-rays after they pass through the object, the imager providing an image of the object. A computer is connected to the radiation source and the cone beam computerized tomography system, wherein the computer receives the image of the object and based on the image sends a signal to the radiation source that controls the path of the radiation source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radiation therapy system comprising: a radiation source that moves about an object and directs a beam of radiation towards said object; a cone-beam computed tomography system comprising: an x-ray source that moves about said object and emits toward said object from multiple positions around said object x-ray beams in a cone-beam form; a flat-panel imager positioned to receive x-rays after at least a portion of said x-ray beams pass through said object, said imager providing an image that contains three-dimensional information concerning said object based on a plurality of two-dimensional projection images; and a computer coupled to said cone-beam computed tomography system, wherein said computer receives said three-dimensional information and based on said three-dimensional information received controls a path of said beam of radiation through said object by controlling a relative position between said radiation source and said object, wherein said receiving said x-rays by said flat panel imager is performed substantially at a time of occurrence of said controlling said path of said beam of radiation through said object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The radiation therapy system of claim 1, further comprising a support table upon which said object is placed while said radiation source directs said beam of radiation towards said object. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The radiation therapy system of claim 2, wherein said support table moves based on said three-dimensional information so as to control said path of said beam of radiation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The radiation therapy system of claim 1, wherein said x-ray source comprises a kV x-ray source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The radiation therapy system of claim 1, wherein said flat-panel imager is an amorphous silicon flat-panel imager. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The radiation therapy system of claim 1, wherein said three-dimensional information from said object is based on one rotation of said x-ray beam around said object. ### Claim 7 A radiation therapy system comprising: a support table upon which to position an object to be treated; a radiation source which is movably mounted relative to said support table and which directs a beam of radiation toward said object; a cone-beam computed tomography system comprising: an x-ray source that emits x-rays in cone-beam form towards said object and is rotatably mounted relative to said support table; a flat-panel imager which is rotatably mounted relative to said support table and positioned to receive x-ray beams emitted from said x-ray source and which acquires a two-dimensional projection image of said object based upon each received x-ray beam passing through said object; a computer to generate three-dimensional information concerning said object based upon multiple two-dimensional projection images of said object acquired by said flat-panel imager; a controller to control a path of said beam of radiation through said object by controlling a relative position between said radiation source and said object in response to said three-dimensional information being sent to said controller, wherein said object is correctly positioned relative to said radiation beam, and wherein said receiving said x-ray beams by said flat panel imager is performed substantially at a time of occurrence of said controlling said path of said beam of radiation through said object. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The radiation therapy system of claim 7, wherein said x-ray source comprises a kV x-ray source. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The radiation therapy system of claim 7, wherein said flat-panel imager is an amorphous silicon flat-panel imager. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The radiation therapy system of claim 7, wherein said three-dimensional information concerning said object is based on one rotation of said x-ray source around said object. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The radiation therapy system of claim 7, wherein said controller controls said path of said radiation beam by controlling movement of said support table. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The radiation therapy system of claim 7, wherein said controller comprises a second computer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The radiation therapy system of claim 7, wherein said controller automatically controls said path of said radiation beam. ### Claim 14 A method of treating an object with radiation, comprising: positioning said object on a support table; generating three-dimensional information concerning said object by: passing multiple x-ray beams in a cone beam form through said object from different angles; creating a two-dimensional projection image of said object based on each of said multiple x-ray beams passing through said object by using a flat-panel imager to detect portions of said multiple x-ray beams passing through said object; generating an image containing three-dimensional information concerning said object, wherein said three-dimensional information concerning said object is based on a plurality of two-dimensional projection images; and controlling a path of a radiation beam through said object by controlling a relative position between said radiation beam and said object based on said three-dimensional information substantially at a time when said detecting portions of said multiple x-ray beams passing through said object is performed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said path of said radiation beam through said object is controlled by moving said support table. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein each of said multiple x-ray beams has an energy of approximately 100 keV. ### Claim 17 A method of planning a treatment of an object with radiation, comprising: positioning said object on a support table; generating three-dimensional information concerning said object by: passing multiple x-ray beams in a cone beam form from an x-ray source through said object from different angles; acquiring a two-dimensional projection image of said object based on each of said multiple x-ray beams passing through said object by using a flat-panel imager to detect portions of said multiple x-ray beams passing through said object; generating an image containing three-dimensional information concerning said object based on said acquired two-dimensional projection image and other two-dimensional projection images acquired by said flat panel imager; and modifying a radiation therapy treatment plan based on said three-dimensional information substantially at a time when said detecting portions of said multiple x-ray beams passing through said object is performed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein each of said multiple x-ray beams has an energy of approximately 100 keV. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said three-dimensional information concerning said object is based on one rotation of said x-ray source around said object. ### Claim 20 A radiation therapy system comprising: a radiation source that moves about an object and directs a beam of radiation towards said object; a cone-beam computed tomography system comprising: an x-ray source that moves about said object and emits toward said object from multiple positions around said object x-ray beams in a cone-beam form; a flat-panel imager positioned to receive x-rays after at least a portion of said x-ray beams pass through said object, said imager providing an image that contains three-dimensional information concerning said object based on a plurality of two-dimensional projection images; and wherein said radiation therapy system has a structure for controlling a path of said beam of radiation through said object based on said three-dimensional information by controlling a relative position between said radiation source and said object, wherein said receiving said x-rays by said flat-panel imager is performed substantially at a time of occurrence of said controlling said path of said beam of radiation through said object. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The radiation therapy system of claim 20, wherein said structure comprises a support table upon which said object is placed while said radiation source directs said beam of radiation towards said object. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The radiation therapy system of claim 21, wherein said support table moves based on said three-dimensional information so as to control said path of said beam of radiation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The radiation therapy system of claim 20, wherein said x-ray source comprises a kV x-ray source. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The radiation therapy system of claim 20, wherein said flat-panel imager is an amorphous silicon flat-panel imager. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The radiation therapy system of claim 20, wherein said three-dimensional information from said object is based on one rotation of said x-ray beam around said object. ### Claim 26 A radiation therapy system comprising: a support table upon which to position an object to be treated; a radiation source which is movably mounted relative to said support table and which directs a beam of radiation toward said object; a cone-beam computed tomography system comprising; an x-ray source that emits x-rays in cone-beam form towards said object and is rotatably mounted relative to said support table; a flat-panel imager which is rotatably mounted relative to said support table and positioned to receive x-ray beams emitted from said x-ray source and which acquires a two-dimensional projection image of said object based upon each received x-ray beam passing through said object; a computer to generate three-dimensional information concerning said object based upon multiple two-dimensional projection images of said object acquired by said flat-panel imager; wherein said support table controls a path of said beam of radiation through said object by controlling a relative position between said radiation source and said object in response to said three-dimensional information, wherein said object is correctly positioned relative to said radiation beam and, wherein said receiving said x-ray beams emitted from said x-ray source by said flat-panel imager is performed substantially at a time of occurrence of said controlling said path of said beam of radiation through said object. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The radiation therapy system of claim 26, wherein said x-ray source comprises a kV x-ray source. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The radiation therapy system of claim 26, wherein said flat-panel imager is an amorphous silicon flat-panel imager. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The radiation therapy system of claim 26, wherein said three-dimensional information concerning said object is based on one rotation of said x-ray source around said object. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The radiation therapy system of claim 26, further comprising a controller that controls said path of said radiation beam by controlling movement of said support table. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The radiation therapy system of claim 26, wherein said path of said radiation beam is controlled automatically.