ORTHOVOLTAGE RADIOSURGERY

• US 20100239067A1
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec Incorporated (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Oraya Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Gertner, Michael, Hansen, Steven D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/506 for diagnosis of nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/508 for non-human patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1019 Sources therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1022 Generators, e.g. X-ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/105 using a laser alignment system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1051 using an active marker
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1059 using cameras imaging the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1091 Kilovoltage or orthovoltage range photons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1097 Means for immobilizing the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1001 using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1017 Treatment of the eye, e.g. for "macular degeneration"
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1045 using a multi-leaf collimator, e.g. for intensity modulated radiation therapy or IMRT
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1064 for adjusting radiation treatment in response to monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1065 Beam adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1067 in real time, i.e. during treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1077 Beam delivery systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1084 for delivering multiple intersecting beams at the same time, e.g. gamma knives

Abstract

A radiosurgery system is described that is configured to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation to a target structure in a patient. In some embodiments, inflammatory ocular disorders are treated, specifically macular degeneration. In some embodiments, other disorders or tissues of a body are treated with the dose of radiation. In some embodiments, the target tissues are placed in a global coordinate system based on ocular imaging. In some embodiments, the target tissues inside the global coordinate system lead to direction of an automated positioning system that is directed based on the target tissues within the coordinate system. In some embodiments, a treatment plan is utilized in which beam energy and direction and duration of time for treatment is determined for a specific disease to be treated and/or structures to be avoided. In some embodiments, a fiducial marker is used to identify the location of the target tissues. In some embodiments, an eye is held with force and in alignment with the system. In some embodiments, the device automatically turns off with excessive movement outside of alignment along an axis of the eye. In some embodiments, radiodynamic therapy is described in which radiosurgery is used in combination with other treatments and can be delivered concomitant with, prior to, or following other treatments.

Claims

1. A system, for treating an eye with radiation, comprising:

a radiation source that emits radiation;

a collimator that collimates the emitted radiation into a beam;

an alignment system that aligns the beam with an axis traversing the eye;

a gating mechanism that reduces radiation emission from the radiation source when the beam is not aligned with the axis; and

a communication link between the alignment system and the gating mechanism that communicates data, regarding alignment of the beam with the axis, from the alignment system to the gating mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the alignment system comprises a light emitter that emits a light beam that is substantially aligned with a long axis of the collimator.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the light emitter comprises a laser.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a sensor that detects a reflection of the light beam.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an image detection system, in communication with the alignment system, that detects at least one of a fundus, a limbus, a cornea, an iris, and a reflection of light off the eye.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the reflection of light comprises a reflection off a lens positioned near or on the eye.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the alignment system is configured to adjust the beam in response to the reflection of light.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the reduction in radiation emission comprises a cessation of radiation emission.

9. A ocular system, for assisting treatment of an ocular structure with radiotherapy, comprising:

an eye contact member holder that contacts a surface of an eye during a treatment period; and

a communication member that communicates information from the eye contact member to an x-ray system, the information being indicative of a position of the eye during the treatment period, and the information determining, at least in part, a characteristic of an x-ray beam that is emitted from the x-ray system during the treatment period.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the communication member comprises a flexible connector that couples the eye contact member with the x-ray system.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the communication member comprises an optical sensor that detects a position of the eye contact member with respect to the x-ray system.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the eye contact member is configured to contain a lubricant for contacting the surface of the eye.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the eye contact member is configured to hold open the eyelids of the eye.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the characteristic of the x-ray beam comprises at least one of a trajectory of the x-ray beam, a beam on-time, an emit/not-emit status of the x-ray system, and a target on the sclera of the eye.

15. A method, of assisting treatment of an ocular structure with radiotherapy, comprising:

positioning an eye contact member at an anterior structure of a patient'"'"'s eye;

mapping a location of a portion of the eye contact member to a position in a virtual representation of an eye;

directing an x-ray beam toward the patient'"'"'s eye along a trajectory based on the mapped location of the portion of the eye contact member.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the eye contact member comprises a central portion.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the anterior structure of the eye comprises the cornea of the eye.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the anterior structure of the eye comprises the limbus of the eye.