Particle therapy with magnetic resonance imaging

• US 10,413,751 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viewray Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Viewray Technologies, Inc. (Viewray Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dempsey, James F., Shvartsman, Shmaryu M., Kawrykow, Iwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cox, Thaddeus B
• Application Number:
  US15/445,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20170252577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1055 using magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1061 using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/109 Neutrons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1094 Shielding, protecting against radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1031 using a specific method of dose optimization
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1038 taking into account previously administered plans applied to the same patient, i.e. adaptive radiotherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1039 using functional images, e.g. PET or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1067 in real time, i.e. during treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1071 for verifying the dose delivered by the treatment plan
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1081 Rotating beam systems with a specific mechanical construction, e.g. gantries

Abstract

Particle radiation therapy and planning utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Radiation therapy prescription information and patient MRI data can be received and a radiation therapy treatment plan can be determined for use with a particle beam. The treatment plan can utilize the radiation therapy prescription information and the patient MRI data to account for interaction properties of soft tissues in the patient through which the particle beam passes. Patient MRI data may be received from a magnetic resonance imaging system integrated with the particle radiation therapy system. MRI data acquired during treatment may also be utilized to modify or optimize the particle radiation therapy treatment.

Claims

1. A radiation therapy system comprising:

a particle therapy delivery system for delivery of radiation therapy to a patient via a particle beam;

a magnetic resonance imaging system configured to obtain patient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data during the radiation therapy; and

a controller configured to;

receive radiation therapy beam information during the radiation therapy;

receive the patient MRI data during the radiation therapy;

utilize the patient MRI data and the radiation therapy beam information to perform real-time calculations of a location of dose deposition for the particle beam, taking into account interaction properties of soft tissues through which the particle beam passes; and

determine a biological effectiveness of dose delivered to the soft tissues by the particle beam through utilization of the patient magnetic resonance imaging data.

2. The radiation therapy system of claim 1, the controller further configured to utilize the patient MRI data and the radiation therapy beam information to calculate accumulated dose deposition to the patient during the radiation therapy.

3. The radiation therapy system of claim 2, the controller further configured to re-optimize the radiation therapy based on the calculated dose deposition.

4. The radiation therapy system of claim 3, further comprising:

a dosimetry system for monitoring the radiation therapy to the patient; and

,

a magnetic shielding structure surrounding at least a portion of the dosimetry system.

5. The radiation therapy system of claim 4, wherein the magnetic shielding structure comprises a plurality of shells.

6. A radiation therapy system comprising:

a particle therapy delivery system for delivery of radiation therapy to a patient via a particle beam;

a magnetic resonance imaging system configured to obtain patient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data during the radiation therapy;

a controller configured to;

receive radiation therapy beam information during the radiation therapy;

receive the patient MRI data during the radiation therapy; and

utilize the patient MRI data and the radiation therapy beam information to perform real-time calculations of a location of dose deposition for the particle beam, taking into account interaction properties of soft tissues through which the particle beam passes;

a dosimetry system for monitoring the radiation therapy to the patient; and

a magnetic shielding structure surrounding at least a portion of the dosimetry system.

7. The radiation therapy system of claim 6, wherein the magnetic shielding structure comprises a plurality of shells.

8. The radiation therapy system of claim 6, the controller further configured to utilize the patient MRI data and the radiation therapy beam information to calculate accumulated dose deposition to the patient during the radiation therapy.

9. The radiation therapy system of claim 8, the controller further configured to re-optimize the radiation therapy based on the calculated dose deposition.

10. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by at least one programmable processor forming part of at least one computing system, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving radiation therapy beam information for radiation therapy of a patient utilizing a particle beam;

obtaining patient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data during the radiation therapy;

utilizing the patient MRI data and the radiation therapy beam information to perform real-time calculations of a location of dose deposition for the particle beam, taking into account interaction properties of soft tissues through which the particle beam passes;

interrupting the particle beam if the real-time calculations of the location of dose deposition indicate that dose deposition is occurring off-target;

utilizing the patient MRI data and the radiation therapy beam information to calculate accumulated dose deposition to the patient during the radiation therapy; and

re-optimizing the radiation therapy based on the calculated dose deposition.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, the operations further comprising taking into account influence of a magnetic field produced by the MRI system on the particle beam in performing the real-time calculations of location of dose deposition.

12. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by at least one programmable processor forming part of at least one computing system, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving radiation therapy beam information for radiation therapy of a patient utilizing a particle beam;

obtaining patient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data during the radiation therapy;

utilizing the patient MRI data and the radiation therapy beam information to perform real-time calculations of a location of dose deposition for the particle beam, taking into account interaction properties of soft tissues through which the particle beam passes;

adjusting an energy of the particle beam if the real-time calculations of the location of dose deposition indicate that dose deposition is occurring off-target;

utilizing the patient MRI data and the radiation therapy beam information to calculate accumulated dose deposition to the patient during the radiation therapy; and

re-optimizing the radiation therapy based on the calculated dose deposition.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, the operations further comprising taking into account influence of a magnetic field produced by the MRI system on the particle beam in performing the real-time calculations of location of dose deposition.

14. A radiation therapy system comprising:

a particle therapy delivery system for delivery of radiation therapy to a patient via a particle beam;

a magnetic resonance imaging system configured to obtain patient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data during the radiation therapy; and

a controller configured to;

receive radiation therapy beam information during the radiation therapy;

obtain the patient MRI data during the radiation therapy;

utilize the patient MRI data and the radiation therapy beam information to perform real-time calculations of a location of dose deposition for the particle beam, taking into account interaction properties of soft tissues through which the particle beam passes;

interrupt the particle beam if the real-time calculations of the location of dose deposition indicate that dose deposition is occurring off-target;

utilize the patient MRI data and the radiation therapy beam information to calculate accumulated dose deposition to the patient during the radiation therapy; and

re-optimize the radiation therapy based on the calculated dose deposition.

15. The radiation therapy system of claim 14, the controller configured to take into account influence of a magnetic field produced by the MM system on the particle beam in performing the real-time calculations of location of dose deposition.

16. A radiation therapy system comprising:

a particle therapy delivery system for delivery of radiation therapy to a patient via a particle beam;

a magnetic resonance imaging system configured to obtain patient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data during the radiation therapy; and

a controller configured to;

receive radiation therapy beam information during the radiation therapy;

obtain the patient MRI data during the radiation therapy;

utilize the patient MRI data and the radiation therapy beam information to perform real-time calculations of a location of dose deposition for the particle beam, taking into account interaction properties of soft tissues through which the particle beam passes;

adjust an energy of the particle beam if the real-time calculations of the location of dose deposition indicate that dose deposition is occurring off-target;

utilize the patient MRI data and the radiation therapy beam information to calculate accumulated dose deposition to the patient during the radiation therapy; and

re-optimize the radiation therapy based on the calculated dose deposition.

17. The radiation therapy system of claim 16, the controller configured to take into account influence of a magnetic field produced by the MM system on the particle beam in performing the real-time calculations of location of dose deposition.