Particle therapy system

• US 20070217575A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vitali Lazarev, Werner Kaiser
• Original Assignee: Vitali Lazarev, Werner Kaiser
• Inventors: Kaiser, Werner, Lazarev, Vitali
• Application Number:
  US11/652,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20070217575A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/209
• 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 particle therapy system is provided. The particle therapy system includes a radiation chamber having a floor with a plurality of movable segments. A rotatable gantry surrounds the radiation chamber. An examination table is positionable inside the radiation chamber. The movable segments are operable to be driven underneath a floor region bordering on the respective movable segment.

Claims

1. A particle therapy system comprising:

a radiation chamber having a floor with a plurality of movable segments;

a rotatable gantry that surrounds the radiation chamber; and

an examination table which is positionable inside the radiation chamber,

wherein at least one of the movable segments is operable to be driven underneath a floor region bordering on the respective movable segment.

2. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 1, wherein the at least one of the movable segments is operable to be driven underneath a solid floor that borders the radiation chamber.

3. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 1, wherein the at least one of the movable segments is pivotable about a pivot axis and can be driven in a pivoted position.

4. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 3, wherein the at least one of the movable segments is pivotable by about 90°

.

5. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 2, comprising at least one recess for the at least one of the movable segments embodied in the solid floor.

6. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 5, wherein the at least one recess comprises a vertical chute.

7. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 3, wherein the pivot axis and the at least one of the movable segments are operable to rotate to provide adequate lowering.

8. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 7, wherein the at least one of the movable segments is rotatable about the pivot axis using a lever arm.

9. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 8, wherein the lever arm is disposed on a peripheral side of the at least one of the movable segments.

10. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 1, wherein the gantry is rotatable by 360°

.

11. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 2, wherein a support arm secured to the solid floor is operable to place the examination table inside the radiation chamber.

12. The particle therapy system as defined claim 2, comprising a mechanical drive operable to drive the at least one of the movable segments.

13. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 12, comprising a control unit, which automatically drives the at least one of the movable segments as a function of the position of the gantry.

14. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 13 wherein the control unit is operable to automatically drive each of the moveable segments.

15. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 2, wherein the solid floor includes one recess for the plurality of movable segments.

16. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 6, wherein the vertical chute has a width that is approximately equal to the width of the movable segments.