Method for non-invasive lung treatment

• US 20050171396A1
• Filed: 10/19/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cyberheart, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Cyberheart, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Patterson, Greg R., Benetti, Federico, Pankratov, Michail, Vivian, Judie
• Application Number:
  US10/969,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171396A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/1
• 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

The invention provides an at least partially non-invasive method for treatment of a non-tumorous lung, often for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or the lung. In a first aspect, a method for treatment of a non lung of a patient comprises directing radiation from outside the patient toward one or more target treatment regions of the lung so as to inhibit the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Claims

1. A method for treatment of a lung of a patient, the method comprising:

directing radiation from outside the patient toward one or more target treatment regions in the lung so as to inhibit chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of the lung.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation from outside the patient toward a target lobe of the lung, wherein the lung does not have a tumor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the radiation effects ablation of the one or more target treatment regions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation is delivered so as to avoid exceeding a tolerance of tissues adjacent the one or more target regions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation is delivered as a series of radiation beams extending toward the heart from different angles.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising dynamically registering the radiation beams with the one or more regions of the lung.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the dynamic registration is performed so as to compensate for movement of the lung.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the dynamic registration is performed so as to compensate for movement of the patient and breathing.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising moving a radiation source around the patient with a robot arm and directing the radiation toward the region of the lung from the radiation source along the series of radiation beams.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising acquiring a plurality of target adjustment images during the radiation treatment procedure, and determining a position of the region relative to a reference frame of the robot from the target adjustment images.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising inserting radiopaque fiducial markers into the patient around the region, wherein the target images are acquired with first and second fluoroscopic systems.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the target adjustment images are acquired between delivery of successive radiation beams.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the robot arm moves the source with six degrees of freedom.

14. The method of claim 5, further comprising scanning patient anatomy so as to identify the target region, and planning the series of radiation beams.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein scanning the patient anatomy comprises a CT scan.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein scanning the patient anatomy comprises an MRI scan.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein planning the series of radiation beams comprises determining a number, intensity, and direction of the radiation beams.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the target region comprises determining a target region shape, wherein the radiation is delivered so as to effect a non-isocentric treatment.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the radiation with a portable linear accelerator, the radiation comprising x-ray radiation.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation comprises gamma radiation.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.