Localization Using Non-Metallic Implantable Fiducial Markers

• US 20110009736A1
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Bani-Hashemi, Ali, Maltz, Jonathan S.
• Application Number:
  US12/500,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20110009736A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00411 actuated by application of energy from an energy source outside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3975 active
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1051 using an active marker markers in general A61B90/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 5/00 Nanobiotechnology or nanomedicine, e.g. protein engineering or drug delivery

Abstract

A system may include a biocompatible housing and an electrical circuit disposed within the housing, the electrical circuit to emit a radiofrequency signal, and wherein the electrical circuit does not comprise a metal. Also included may be a signal generator to generate a wireless signal to trigger the electrical circuit, a receiver to receive a wireless response signal generated by the triggered electrical circuit, a processor to determine a location of the biocompatible housing based on the wireless response signal, and a ion beam source to deliver a ion beam to a patient volume including the biocompatible housing.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a biocompatible housing; and

an electrical circuit disposed within the housing, the electrical circuit to emit a radiofrequency signal,

wherein the electrical circuit does not comprise a metal.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit comprises:

a carbon nanocoil; and

a capacitor electrically coupled to the carbon nanocoil.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the capacitor comprises carbon nanotubes.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a signal generator to generate a wireless signal to trigger the electrical circuit;

a receiver to receive a response signal generated by the triggered electrical circuit; and

a processor to determine a location of the biocompatible housing based on the response signal.

5. A system according to claim 4, the processor to determine that the location conforms to a treatment plan, the system further comprising:

a ion beam source to deliver a ion beam associated with the treatment plan.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the electrical circuit comprises:

a carbon nanocoil; and

a capacitor electrically coupled to the carbon nanocoil.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a signal generator to generate a wireless signal to trigger the electrical circuit;

a receiver to receive a wireless response signal generated by the triggered electrical circuit; and

a processor to determine a difference between the wireless response signal and a previous wireless response signal received from the electrical circuit.

8. A system according to claim 7, the processor to determine that the difference exceeds a threshold, the system further comprising:

an imaging system to generate an image of a patient volume in which the biocompatible housing is located in response to the determination; and

a positioning system to change a position of the patient volume with respect to a ion beam source based on the image.

9. A system according to claim 7, the processor to determine that the difference exceeds a threshold, the system further comprising:

an imaging system to generate an image of a patient volume in which the biocompatible housing is located in response to the determination; and

a positioning system to change one or more characteristics of a ion beam to be delivered by a ion beam source based on the image.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein the electrical circuit comprises:

a carbon nanocoil; and

a capacitor electrically coupled to the carbon nanocoil.

11. A method comprising:

generating a wireless signal to trigger an electrical circuit within a biocompatible housing disposed in a target volume; and

receiving a wireless response signal from the electrical circuit,

wherein the electrical circuit does not comprise a metal.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

determining a location of the biocompatible housing based on the wireless response signal.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

determining that the location conforms to a treatment plan; and

delivering a ion beam associated with the treatment plan to the target volume.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

determining that the location does not conform to a treatment plan;

changing a relative position between the target volume and a Bragg peak of a ion beam to be delivered to the target volume based on the location; and

delivering the ion beam to the target volume according to the treatment plan.

15. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

generating a second wireless signal to trigger a second electrical circuit within a second biocompatible housing disposed in the target volume, the second electrical circuit not comprising a metal;

receiving a second wireless response signal from the second electrical circuit;

determining a location of the biocompatible housing based on the wireless response signal;

determining a second location of the second biocompatible housing based on the second wireless response signal;

determining that the location and the second location conform to a treatment plan; and

delivering a ion beam associated with the treatment plan to the target volume.

16. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

generating a second wireless signal to trigger a second electrical circuit within a second biocompatible housing disposed in the target volume, the second electrical circuit not comprising a metal;

receiving a second wireless response signal from the second electrical circuit;

determining a location of the biocompatible housing based on the wireless response signal;

determining a second location of the second biocompatible housing based on the second wireless response signal;

determining that the location and the second location do not conform to a treatment plan;

changing a relative position between the target volume and a Bragg peak of a ion beam to be delivered to the target volume based on the location; and

delivering the ion beam to the target volume.

17. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

determining a difference between the wireless response signal and a previous wireless response signal received from the electrical circuit; and

determining whether the difference exceeds a threshold.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

delivering a ion beam to the target volume if the difference does not exceed the threshold.

19. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

if the difference exceeds the threshold, generating an image of the target volume;

changing a relative position between the target volume and a Bragg peak of a ion beam to be delivered to the target volume based on the image; and

delivering the ion beam to the target volume.

20. A method according to claim 17, the wireless signal to trigger a second electrical circuit within a second biocompatible housing disposed in the target volume,

wherein receiving the wireless response signal comprises receiving a wireless combined signal comprising the wireless response signal and a second wireless response signal generated by the second electrical circuit, and

wherein determining the difference comprises determining the difference between the wireless combined signal and a previously-received wireless combined signal.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising:

if the difference exceeds the threshold, generating an image of the target volume; and

changing a relative position between the target volume and a Bragg peak of a ion beam to be delivered to the target volume based on the image; and

delivering the ion beam to the target volume.

22. A particle therapy system comprising:

an output unit for inducing generation of a wireless signal to trigger an electrical circuit within a biocompatible housing disposed in a target volume;

an input unit for receiving a wireless response signal from the electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit does not comprise a metal;

an evaluation unit for determining a location of the biocompatible housing based on the wireless response signal;

an ion beam delivering unit for delivering a ion beam depending on the determined location of the biocompatible housing.

23. A particle therapy system according to claim 22, wherein the ion beam delivering unit is adapted to change a relative position between the target volume and a Bragg peak of the ion beam to be delivered to the target volume based on the location determined location of the biocompatible housing.

24. A particle therapy system according to claim 22, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to determine a difference between the wireless response signal and a previous wireless response signal received from the electrical circuit.

25. A particle therapy system according to claim 24, particle therapy system further comprising:

an imaging unit for generating an image of the target volume, wherein the particle therapy system is adapted to generate an image of the target volume if the difference exceeds a threshold.

26. A particle therapy system according to claim 22, particle therapy system further comprising:

an imaging unit for generating an image of the target volume, wherein imaging is performed depending on the determined location of the biocompatible housing.