Mounting device for phantom, method for quality monitoring of a particle therapy system, and particle therapy system

• US 20080219411A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Knop, Sophia, Use, Tim, Gunzert-Marx, Konstanze
• Granted Patent: US 7,875,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/583 using calibration phantoms
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1076 using a dummy object placed in the radiation field, e.g. phantom
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1075 for testing, calibrating, or quality assurance of the radiation treatment apparatus

Abstract

A mounting device for phantoms for use in quality monitoring of a radiation therapy system is described. The mounting device is adapted such that a plurality of phantoms can be placed replicably in a defined position on the mounting device. A quality assurance procedure is performed by placing a plurality of phantoms on a mounting device, each phantom at a predefined position; positioning the mounting device in the radiation therapy system, so that one of the phantoms is located in a position intended for performing a quality monitoring procedure; and performing the procedure using one or more of the phantoms.

Claims

1. An apparatus for quality monitoring of a particle therapy system, the apparatus comprising:

a mounting device adapted to receive one or more phantoms having differing characteristics, each phantom having a defined position on the mounting device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting device has a fixation device adapted to interface with a positioning system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the positioning system is a patient positioning system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting device is a structure with a substantially planar surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the planar surface has a pattern of holes, for snapping the phantoms into place at defined positions.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the holes form a regular pattern.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting device has a position marking.

8. A method for quality monitoring of a particle therapy system, the method comprising:

placing a phantom of a plurality of phantoms on a mounting device at a predefined position;

positioning the mounting device in the radiation therapy system, so that the phantom is located in a position intended for performing a quality monitoring procedure; and

performing the quality monitoring procedure using the phantom;

wherein at least two of the plurality of phantoms are sequentially positioned at a predefined spatial position.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mounting device is positioned by a positioning system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the positioning system is a patient positioning system.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein control parameters for positioning the mounting device are stored in memory in a control unit of the positioning system.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein after the positioning of the mounting device, the position of the mounting device relative to a spatially fixed coordinate system is monitored, using at least one position marking on the mounting device.

13. A medical treatment system, the system comprising:

a particle therapy apparatus, the particle therapy apparatus further comprising;

a movable positioning device; and

,

a mounting device adapted to receive one or more phantoms having differing characteristics, each phantom having a selectable position on the mounting device

wherein the mounting device is adapted to interface with the movable positioning device.

14. The medical treatment system of claim 13, wherein the particle therapy apparatus further comprises an ion generator and an ion accelerator to produce an ion beam.

15. The medical treatment system of claim 13 the system configured to position the mounting device in the radiation therapy system, so that the phantom is located in a position intended for performing a quality monitoring procedure;

performing the quality monitoring procedure using the phantom; and

wherein at least two of the plurality of phantoms are positioned sequentially at a predefined spatial position.