Particle therapy system

• US 20080219407A1
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Use, Tim, Kaiser, Werner
• Application Number:
  US12/074,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20080219407A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1061 using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source
• 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 disclosed, including a treatment chamber and a rotatable gantry with a radiation treatment unit, capable of emitting particles at a variety of angles. A movably supported floor is provided in the treatment chamber, capable of being rotated about the same axis as the gantry, and an imaging modality is disposed on a surface of the movably supported floor. The movably supported floor supports the weight of the imaging modality and is configured so that the imaging modality may be placed in a parked position when the gantry is being rotated. The imaging modality may be a C-arm X-ray device positionable by a robot.

Claims

1. A particle therapy system, including

a treatment chamber;

a rotatable gantry with a radiation treatment unit, capable of emitting a particle beam;

a movably supported floor disposed in the treatment chamber; and

.

an imaging device disposed on the movably supported floor,

wherein the movably supported floor bears the weight of the imaging device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the movably supported floor is rotatable about a same axis as the rotatable gantry.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the movably supported floor has at least one floor segment on which the imaging device is disposed

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the movably supported floor segment remains inside the treatment chamber for angular rotations of the gantry of plus or minus about 90 degrees with respect to a neutral position.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the movably supported floor segment remains inside the treatment chamber for angular rotations of the gantry of plus or minus about 180 degrees with respect to a neutral position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the movably supported floor is a one-piece floor segment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the movably supported floor on which the imaging apparatus is disposed is surrounded by the gantry.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the movably supported floor is movably supported on the gantry.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the movably supported floor is supported with respect to the gantry by roller bearings.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the movably supported floor is rotated by contact with the gantry.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the movably supported floor or the gantry is provided with a resilient contact surface where a contact between the movably supported floor and the gantry is possible.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging device further comprises

a mounting device and an imaging unit, and the imaging unit is positionable by the mounting device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the mounting device is a robotic arm having a plurality of joints.

14. The system a claim 13, wherein the imaging unit is positionable in a parked position proximal to a back wall of the gantry.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein a patient support device is introducible through an opening in the gantry disposed on an opposite end of the gantry from the back wall.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the imaging unit is a C-arm X-ray device.

17. The system of claim 7, wherein the movably supported floor is movably supported on the gantry.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the movably supported floor or the gantry is provided with a resilient contact surface where a contact between the movably supported floor and the gantry is possible.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the imaging device further comprises:

a mounting device and an imaging unit, and the imaging unit is positionable by the mounting device.