Arrangement for performing proton therapy

• US 20050161618A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Scherrer-Institut (Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft)
• Original Assignee: Paul Scherrer-Institut (Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft)
• Inventors: Pedroni, Eros
• Granted Patent: US 7,348,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/492.300
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1081 Rotating beam systems with a specific mechanical construction, e.g. gantries

Abstract

A system for treating a patient by proton therapy, also called gantry, includes a proton beam guide involving, in particular, magnets, quadropoles, and the like and having an outlet aperture for guiding and directing the proton beam to the side in the patient that is to be treated. In addition, a patient table that cab en displaced in a controllable manner is provided for moving the patient into a desired position relative to the proton beam. The inventive proton beam guide and control device is mounted down from the patient table in the direction of the beam guide in a supported manner whereby being able to rotate or pivot about a horizontal axis.

Claims

1. An arrangement for treating a patient by means of proton therapy, comprising:

a proton beam delivery system including magnets, quadrupoles, an exit window arranged to guide or direct a proton beam to location in the patient that is to be treated, and

a patient table arranged to be moved in a controllable manner so as to move the patient into a desired position relative to the proton beam,

a proton beam guiding and controlling device mounted downstream of the patient table, a direction of the beam guide, in a supported manner whereby the device is rotateable or pivotable about a horizontal axis.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a front suspension arranged on the table or device, the suspension being pivotable via a roller at the suspension'"'"'s front most point.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the table or beam guide is arranged so as to pivot or rotate up or down through at least 135°

from a horizontal plane, thereby essentially running through an axis of rotation, such that the patient table is accessible at all times from one side.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the table or beam guide is arranged such that it can be rotated about an axis of rotation from a vertical plane through an angle of about 90°

, essentially running through an axis of rotation, from a side of the vertical plane on which the patient is disposed up to an angle of approximately 180°

on the opposite side of the vertical plane.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a radiation chamber including at least a semi-open space with at least one side wall extending away from the side from which the patient table is accessible.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a radiation chamber arranged such that the magnet or last magnet of the beam guide is not visible from the radiation chamber such that for the patient only a nozzle is visible by disposing a slit in the radiation chamber wall, the nozzle moving along the slit opening in the radiation chamber wall, and a bilateral cover is provided on the slit, the cover being a rolling cover.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the patient table is arranged so as to be rotationally and translationally movable such that when combined with rotation of the gantry any site in the patient'"'"'s body can be irradiated.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein mechanics for moving the patient table are not disposed in a region of the proton beam.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising cabling for measurement signals and/or sensors for monitoring the patient'"'"'s condition, at least part of the cabling being routed or connected from a front through an area of a front roller in order to allow local separation from a magnetic feed.