Imaging device for radiation treatment applications

• US 20040068169A1
• Filed: 10/05/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Kopels, Robert, Mansfield, Stan, Graf, Ulrich Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,657,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/022 Stereoscopic imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/08 Auxiliary means for directing the radiation beam to a particular spot, e.g. using light beams
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4007 characterised by using a plurality of source units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/405 Source units specially adapted to modify characteristics of the beam during the data acquisition process A61B6/4021, A61B6/4035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4266 characterised by using a plurality of detector units A61B6/4014 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4429 related to the mounting of source units and detector units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4452 the source unit and the detector unit being able to move relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4458 the source unit or the detector unit being attached to robotic arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/482 involving multiple energy imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/587 Alignment of source unit to detector unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1061 using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam

Abstract

A radiotherapy clinical treatment machine is described having a rotatable gantry and an imaging device with articulating robotic arms to provide variable positioning and clearance for radiation treatment applications. According to one aspect of the invention, a first and a second robotic arms are pivotally coupled to the rotatable gantry, allowing the robotic arms to maneuver independently from the rotatable gantry.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a drive stand;

a rotatable gantry pivotally coupled to the drive stand;

a first arm coupled to the rotatable gantry;

an imaging source coupled to a source end of the first arm;

a second arm coupled to the rotatable gantry; and

a image detector coupled to the imaging end of the second arm, wherein at least one of the first arm, the second arm, the imaging source and the imaging detector is pivotally coupled at its coupling point.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first arm and the second arm maneuver independent from the rotatable gantry.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first arm and the second arm extend to a imaging position from a retracted position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first arm and the second arm swing laterally into the imaging position from the retracted position.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first arm and the second arm swing downward into the imaging position from the retracted position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the imaging source is at a different distance from the gantry than the imager, wherein the imaging source is pivotally positioned to target the image detector, and the image detector is pivotally positioned to capture an imaging beam from the imaging source.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image detector provides target volume information.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a computer to position a treatment beam based on the target volume information.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a computer having a mechanical flexure feedback control component to correct a mechanical flexure of the imaging source and a mechanical flexure of the imager.

10. A method to perform a clinical treatment, comprising:

positioning a first arm and a second arm on a rotatable gantry to receive target volume data, wherein the first arm is positioned from a clearance position;

determining a treatment position for a treatment beam based on the target volume information;

applying the treatment beam upon maneuvering to the treatment position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the positioning the first arm and the second arm includes positioning an image detector on the first arm to receive radiation from an imaging source on the second arm.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the target volume data is based on the radiation received by the image detector.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the positioning includes extending the first and second arms to provide higher resolution.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the positioning includes extending the first and second arms for large field-of-view computed tomography.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the positioning includes correcting for mechanical flexure.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the target volume information is based on intra-fraction motion away from a target volume.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the positioning the first arm and the second arm includes positioning an image detector on the first arm to receive radiation from a first and a second radiation source.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining is based on generated stereoscopic information.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

an imaging source to emit imaging radiation on a target volume;

an imaging means to receive the radiation from the imaging source; and

means for positioning the imaging source and the imaging means, wherein the means for positioning is pivotally coupled to the imaging source and imaging means at coupling points, wherein the positioning includes transitioning between a clearance position and an imaging position.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for positioning swings the imaging source downward into the imaging position.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for positioning swings the imaging means outward into the imaging position.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for positioning contracts the imaging means to provide a higher resolution.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for positioning extends the imaging means to provide a larger image field of view.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a computing means to correct a mechanical flexure of the imaging source.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

a drive stand;

a rotatable gantry coupled to the drive stand;

a first arm coupled to the rotatable gantry; and

a second arm coupled to the rotatable gantry;

a plurality of imaging sources coupled to the second arm; and

a image detector coupled to the first arm, the image detector to receive radiation from the plurality of radiation sources.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a first of the plurality of imaging sources is a kilovoltage radiation source.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the image detector is a multi-energy imager.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first arm extents to an imaging position from a clearance position.