PARTICLE THERAPY SYSTEM

• US 20080315111A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Sommer, Andres
• Application Number:
  US12/142,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20080315111A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/396R
• 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 rotatable gantry with a gantry wall that surrounds an interior. A small irradiation chamber, with an irradiation chamber wall, is located inside the interior. The irradiation chamber wall is spaced apart from the gantry wall, and a deflection chamber is embodied between the two walls. The irradiation chamber wall includes a plurality of wall elements, which to enlarge the irradiation chamber are adjustable in the direction of the deflection chamber, for example, when positioning a treatment table in the small irradiation chamber, such that an opening in the irradiation chamber wall is created.

Claims

1. A particle therapy system comprising:

a rotatable gantry with a gantry wall that surrounds an interior, and

an irradiation chamber with an irradiation chamber wall, the irradiation chamber being located inside the interior, and

a deflection chamber disposed in a space between the irradiation chamber wall and the gantry wall,

wherein the irradiation chamber wall includes a plurality of wall elements that are adjustable in the direction of the deflection chamber such that an opening in the irradiation chamber wall is created.

2. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the irradiation chamber is approximately 20% to 60% smaller than the cross-sectional area of the interior.

3. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 1, the irradiation chamber wall includes a floor region that is load-bearing.

4. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 3, wherein the floor region of the irradiation chamber wall is at a level of a fixed floor adjoining the irradiation chamber.

5. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 1, wherein the wall elements are secured to a back wall.

6. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 1, wherein the wall elements are supported pivotably.

7. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 1, wherein the wall elements are movable one after the other in a circumferential direction of the irradiation chamber.

8. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 1, wherein the irradiation chamber is a cylinder.

9. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 1, wherein the irradiation chamber is parallelepiped.

10. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 1, wherein the wall elements are automatically movable.

11. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 1, further comprising a control unit that is operable to automatically move the individual wall elements as a function of the position of a treatment table and/or of an irradiation unit.

12. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 2, the irradiation chamber wall includes a floor region that is load-bearing.

13. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 12, wherein the floor region of the irradiation chamber wall is at a level of a fixed floor adjoining the irradiation chamber.

14. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 6, wherein the wall elements are supported pivotably with hinges.

15. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 14, wherein the hinges are operable to swing the wall elements open until they strike the back wall 26.

16. The particle therapy system as defined by claim 3, wherein the floor region includes the wall elements.

17. The particle therapy system as defined in claim 1, wherein the wall elements may be removed.

18. The particle therapy system as defined in claim 11, wherein the control unit is operable to synchronize a movement of the wall elements and a movement of the treatment table and of the irradiation unit.

19. The particle therapy system as defined in claim 3, wherein the back wall may be a part of the gantry wall and is operable to rotate with the gantry.

20. The particle therapy system as defined in claim 19, wherein irradiation chamber wall and the back wall may rotate in common, yet the floor region remains in a defined position.