METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IRRADIATION OF A MOVING TARGET VOLUME

• US 20100301235A1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GSI Helmholtzzentrum FüR Schwerionenforschung GmbH (Government of Germany)
• Original Assignee: GSI Helmholtzzentrum FüR Schwerionenforschung GmbH (Government of Germany), Siemens AG
• Inventors: Gemmel, Alexander, Rietzel, Eike, Bert, Christoph, Kraft, Gerhard
• Granted Patent: US 8,405,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/492.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1061 using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1072 taking into account movement of the target
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/103 Treatment planning systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1037 taking into account the movement of the target, e.g. 4D-image based planning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1043 Scanning the radiation beam, e.g. spot scanning or raster scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1067 in real time, i.e. during treatment

Abstract

A method of determining an actual, especially an actual effective, radiation dose distribution of a moving target volume includes detecting first and further positions of volume elements of the target volume in a first and at least one further motional state of the moving target volume, determining transformation parameters by transformation of the first positions into the further positions, irradiating the moving target volume in accordance with an irradiation plan which comprises a plurality of raster points to be irradiated, wherein during the irradiation of a raster point it is detected which of the motional states is occupied by the moving target volume, assigning raster points to subirradiation plans and determining the actual effective dose for each of the plurality of volume elements, in each case from contributions from the raster points of the subirradiation plans using the transformation parameters. Calculation and application of correction parameters which compensate for changes, caused by movement, to the position of the Bragg maximum and to the biologically effective dose applied.

Claims

1. Method of determining an actual radiation dose distribution in the case of irradiation of a moving target volume (102) which has a plurality of volume elements, having the following steps:

detecting first positions of the plurality of volume elements in a first motional state of the moving target volume (102);

detecting further positions of the plurality of volume elements in at least one further motional state of the moving target volume (102);

determining transformation parameters by means of transformation of the first positions into the further positions;

irradiating the moving target volume (102) in accordance with an irradiation plan having a plurality of raster points (222) to be irradiated, wherein during the irradiation of a raster point it is detected which of the motional states is occupied by the moving target volume (102);

assigning raster points (222), during the irradiation of which the moving target volume (102) occupied the first motional state, to a first sub-irradiation plan;

assigning raster points (222a), during the irradiation of which the moving target volume (102) occupied the at least one further motional state, to at least one further sub-irradiation plan; and

determining the actual dose for at least one of the plurality of volume elements, in each case from contributions from the raster points (222, 222a) of the first sub-irradiation plan and of the at least one further sub-irradiation plan, using the transformation parameters.

2-22. -22. (canceled)