Method and apparatus for treatment by ionizing radiation
First Claim
1. A device for treating a patient with ionising radiation comprising:
- a support, on which is provided a mount, a radiation source attached to the mount;
the support being rotateable about an support axis;
the source being attached to the mount via a rotateable union having rotation axis which is non-parallel to the support axis;
wherein the rotation axis of the mount passes through the support axis and the radiation source is collimated so as to produce a beam which passes through the co-incidence of the rotation and support axes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radiation therapy/surgery device optimised to meet the needs of the Neurosurgeon is provided, i.e. one for the treatment of tumours in the brain. It combines the qualities of a good penumbra and accuracy, simple prescription and operation, together with high reliability and minimal technical support. The device comprises a rotateable support, on which is provided a mount extending from the support out of the plane of the circle, and a radiation source attached to the mount via a pivot, the pivot having an axis which passes through the axis of rotation of the support, the radiation source being aligned so as to produce a beam which passes through the co-incidence of the rotation axis and the pivot. It will generally be easier to engineer the apparatus if the rotateable support is planar, and more convenient if the rotateable support is disposed in an upright position. The rotation of the rotateable support will be eased if this part of the apparatus is circular. A particularly preferred orientation is one in which the radiation source is spaced from the rotateable support, to allow it to pivot without fouling the latter. It is thus preferred that the mount extends transverse to the support. In this way, the pivot axis is spaced from the rotateable support providing free space in which the radiation source can pivot. Another way of expressing this preference is to state that the pivot axis is located out of the plane of the rotateable support. To simplify the geometry of the device and the associated arithmetic, it is preferred both that the pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis, and that the beam direction is perpendicular to the pivot axis. It is preferred that the radiation source is a linear accelerator. The output of the radiation source is preferably collimated to conform to the shape of the area to be treated.
80 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A device for treating a patient with ionising radiation comprising:
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a support, on which is provided a mount, a radiation source attached to the mount;
the support being rotateable about an support axis;
the source being attached to the mount via a rotateable union having rotation axis which is non-parallel to the support axis;
wherein the rotation axis of the mount passes through the support axis and the radiation source is collimated so as to produce a beam which passes through the co-incidence of the rotation and support axes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23)
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19. A method of treating a patient with a source that emits a beam of radiation in a direction emanating therefrom, comprising the steps of;
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i. providing a support for the source, the support permitting rotation about two axes each offset from the source, with both axes and the beam direction all being co-incident at a single isocentre ii. positioning the patient such that a diseased area of tissue is located at the isocentre;
iii. activating the source;
iv. causing rotation about the two axes thereby to achieve a greater dosage at the isocentre than around the isocentre. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification