Multi-mode cone beam CT radiotherapy simulator and treatment machine with a flat panel imager
AssigneeVarian Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsEdward G. Shapiro, Edward J. Seppi, John M. Pavkovich, Peter Munro, Stanley W. Johnsen, Richard E. Colbeth
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Abstract
A multi-mode cone beam computed tomography radiotherapy simulator and treatment machine is disclosed. The radiotherapy simulator and treatment machine both include a rotatable gantry on which is positioned a cone-beam radiation source and a flat panel imager. The flat panel imager captures x-ray image data to generate cone-beam CT volumetric images used to generate a therapy patient position setup and a treatment plan.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- logic configured to modify a treatment plan for a target volume, the logic comprising at least one of hardwired logic and a programmable computer component;
- a rotatable gantry;
- a cone-beam radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry;
- and
- a flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, wherein the flat-panel imager is operable to capture image projection data to generate cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data capable of being used by the logic to modify a treatment plan for a target volume.
A method to perform a clinical treatment, comprising:
- using a clinical simulator machine to capture image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data capable of being used by logic of the clinical simulator machine configured to modify a treatment plan for a clinical treatment machine;
- emitting a cone-beam from a radiation source;
- transmitting at least a portion of the cone-beam through a target volume;
- providing a treatment plan;
- modifying said treatment plan for a clinical treatment machine using said logic and based on the cone-beam volumetric image data;
- transferring the treatment plan to the clinical treatment machine, wherein the clinical treatment machine implements the treatment plan;
- and
- treating a patient according to the treatment plan including providing synchronization and gate control between the imager and a therapeutic radiation beam during treatment, wherein treating includes coordinating acquisition by the flat panel imager and pulsing by a therapeutic radiation source.
A method to perform a clinical treatment, comprising:
- using a clinical simulator machine to capture image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data capable of being used by logic of the clinical simulator machine configured to modify a treatment plan for a clinical treatment machine;
- emitting a cone-beam from a radiation source;
- transmitting at least a portion of the cone-beam through a target volume;
- providing a treatment plan;
- modifying said treatment plan using said logic;
- continuing to rotate a gantry on which the imager is mounted while capturing image projection data;
- and
- one of capturing radiation at non-uniformly spaced angles with respect to a rotation, and changing the speed of rotation of the gantry during a rotation.
A method to perform a clinical treatment, comprising:
- using a clinical simulator machine to capture first image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data capable of being used by logic of the clinical simulator machine configured to modify a treatment plan for clinical treatment of a target volume;
- radiating a target volume with a megavoltage radiation source;
- capturing second image projection data produced using the megavoltage radiation source;
- and,
- providing a treatment plan;
- modifying said treatment plan using said logic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.