Multiplexed proton tomography imaging apparatus and method of use thereof
First Claim
1. A method for imaging a tumor of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- delivering a set of n protons from a synchrotron;
through a beam transport system exit nozzle, through a proton radial cross-section beam expander, through a first prior imaging sheet, through a second prior imaging sheet, through a patient position, through at least one posterior imaging sheet, and into a scintillation material of a beam energy scintillation detector system, said first prior imaging sheet positioned between said proton radial cross-section beam expander and the patient position, said second prior imaging sheet positioned between said proton radial cross-section beam expander and the patient position, wherein the patient occupies the patient position during use, wherein n comprises a positive integer of at least two;
simultaneously detecting spatially resolved prior position photon emissions, resultant from passage of the set of n protons;
determining a set of prior proton vectors entering the patient using the spatially resolved prior position photon emissions;
simultaneously detecting spatially resolved posterior position photon emissions, resultant from passage of the set of protons;
determining a set of posterior proton vectors exiting the patient using the spatially resolved posterior position photon emissions;
determining a set of n probable proton paths through the patient using spatial correlations of entry points of the set of prior proton vectors into the patient and exit points of the set of posterior proton vectors from the patient; and
generating an image of the patient using the n probable proton paths.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention comprises a multiplexed proton tomography imaging apparatus and method of use thereof. In one embodiment, a method for imaging a tumor of a patient comprises the steps of: (1) simultaneously detecting spatially resolved positively charged particle positions passing through each of a set of cross-section planes, where the cross-section planes are both prior to and posterior to the patient along a path of the positively charged particles; (2) determining a prior vector for each of the individual positively charged particles entering a patient using the detected positions; (3) determining a posterior vector for each of the individual positively charged particles exiting the patient using the detected positions; (4) generating a probable path of each positively charged particle through the patient; and (5) generating an image of the patient using the n probable proton paths and optionally a detected residual energy of each proton.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for imaging a tumor of a patient, comprising the steps of:
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delivering a set of n protons from a synchrotron;
through a beam transport system exit nozzle, through a proton radial cross-section beam expander, through a first prior imaging sheet, through a second prior imaging sheet, through a patient position, through at least one posterior imaging sheet, and into a scintillation material of a beam energy scintillation detector system, said first prior imaging sheet positioned between said proton radial cross-section beam expander and the patient position, said second prior imaging sheet positioned between said proton radial cross-section beam expander and the patient position, wherein the patient occupies the patient position during use, wherein n comprises a positive integer of at least two;simultaneously detecting spatially resolved prior position photon emissions, resultant from passage of the set of n protons; determining a set of prior proton vectors entering the patient using the spatially resolved prior position photon emissions; simultaneously detecting spatially resolved posterior position photon emissions, resultant from passage of the set of protons; determining a set of posterior proton vectors exiting the patient using the spatially resolved posterior position photon emissions; determining a set of n probable proton paths through the patient using spatial correlations of entry points of the set of prior proton vectors into the patient and exit points of the set of posterior proton vectors from the patient; and generating an image of the patient using the n probable proton paths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for imaging a tumor of a patient, comprising:
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an imaging system, comprising; a beam transport system exit nozzle configured to simultaneously deliver a set of n protons from a synchrotron, wherein n comprises a positive integer of at least two; a proton beam radial cross-section expander configured to radially expand a beam of the set of n protons; a patient position, the patient occupying the patient position during use; a first prior imaging sheet, said first prior imaging sheet positioned between said proton beam radial cross-section expander and the patient position; a second prior imaging sheet, said second prior imaging sheet positioned between said proton beam radial cross-section beam expander and the patient position; at least one posterior imaging sheet; and a scintillation material of a scintillation detector system, said imaging system configured to; simultaneously detect spatially resolved prior position photon emissions, resultant from passage of the set of n protons; determine a set of prior proton vectors entering the patient using the spatially resolved prior position photon emissions; simultaneously detect spatially resolved posterior position photon emissions, resultant from passage of the set of protons; determine a set of posterior proton vectors exiting the patient using the spatially resolved posterior position photon emissions; determine a set of n probable proton paths through the patient using spatial correlations of entry points of the set of prior proton vectors into the patient and exit points of the set of posterior proton vectors from the patient; and generate an image of the patient using the n probable proton paths and output of said scintillation detector system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification