Real time verification in radiation treatment

A method for achieving a targeted dose profile in brachytherapy radiation treatment on a patient, comprising:

• inserting an applicator into the patient, at a site desired for administering brachytherapy, the applicator having at least one onboard dosimeter sensor, each sensor being at a position to be directly adjacent to tissue to be irradiated,
• using a treatment plan calculated for the patient, commencing irradiation using an electronic radiation source in the applicator and during irradiation, sensing dose received at least at one dosimeter sensor on the applicator, adjacent to the tissue,
• feeding back to a controller data on dose received at each of the dosimeters, at least at repeated intervals during the procedure, and
• automatically adjusting in real time, based on the dose information fed back to the controller, the radiation emitted by the radiation source in the applicator, so as to adjust actual received dose at multiple locations in the tissue as the radiation procedure continues, in a way that repeatedly readjusts the treatment plan and the radiation being emitted so as to achieve a projected total dose profile which meets the targeted dose profile.

A method for achieving a targeted dose profile in brachytherapy radiation treatment on a patient, comprising:

• inserting a probe into the patient, the probe having an electronic radiation source, to a position for delivering radiation to the tissue to be irradiated, and placing at least one dosimeter in or adjacent to the tissue to be irradiated,
• commencing irradiation using the electronic radiation source and during irradiation, sensing dose received at the at least one dosimeter,
• feeding back to a controller data on dose received at each of the dosimeters, at least at intervals during the procedure, and extrapolating as needed with the controller to determine dose at additional tissue positions lacking dosimeters, and
• automatically adjusting in real time, based on dose information fed back to the controller, the radiation emitted by the electronic radiation source, so as to adjust actual received dose at multiple locations in the tissue as the radiation procedure continues, in a way that repeatedly readjusts the radiation being emitted so as to achieve a projected total dose profile which meets the targeted dose profile.

A method for treating a patient with radiation therapy which includes brachytherapy without use of a treatment plan,comprising:

• inputting to a controller a prescription dose for tissue to be irradiated,
• placing on or in the patient a plurality of dosimeter sensors, each in or near the tissue to be irradiated, each being in communication with the controller to send sensed dose data to the controller,
• inserting into the patient a controllable electronic radiation source, under the control of the controller, and
• initiating with the controller a source manipulating routine to move the source so as to emit radiation from plural locations within the patient, and monitoring radiation received at the dosimeter sensors and controlling radiation delivered by the source to different tissue locations based on dose data fed back from the dosimeter sensors, and continuing to move the source and emit radiation as selected by the controller at different locations in a plurality of iterations, until substantially the prescribed dose has been received at all tissue locations.