APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING PROMPT GAMMA AND OTHER BEAM-INDUCED RADIATION DURING HADRON THERAPY TREATMENTS FOR DOSE AND RANGE VERIFICATION PURPOSES USING IONIZATION RADIATION DETECTION

• US 20110284757A1
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hampton University
• Original Assignee: Hampton University
• Inventors: Baillie, Nathan, Butuceanu, Cornel, Keppel, Cynthia E.
• Application Number:
  US13/105,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20110284757A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/389
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1052 using positron emission tomography [PET] single photon emission computer tomography [SPECT] imaging
• 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 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/161 Applications in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting apparatus for radiation diagnosis A61B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/185 with ionisation chamber arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system for measurement of radiation during or directly following hadron therapy treatment for dose and range verification purposes accomplished through measurement of prompt gamma and other beam-induced radiation. One example includes the measurement of secondary prompt gamma radiation during proton and carbon ion beam irradiation. The measurement can also be made of other beam-induced radiation results. The measurement of gamma radiation or other beam-induced radiation allows for optimization of radiation dose disposition to the target tissue, with improved sparing of surrounding critical structures and normal tissue. Adjustments to a radiation treatment may be made as needed based on actual and measured applied dosages.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring beam-induced radiation in a target site of a patient undergoing radiation therapy during or directly following administration of hadronic particles in said patient, comprising at least one ion chamber type detector for obtaining a measurement of said beam-induced radiation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation therapy is proton therapy.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation therapy is Carbon or other heavy ion therapy.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said beam-induced radiation is prompt gamma.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said beam-induced radiation are photons from positron annhilation.

6. An apparatus for measuring beam-induced radiation in a target site of a patient undergoing radiation therapy during or directly following administration of hadronic particles in said patient, comprising at least one gas-electron-multipler-type detector for obtaining a measurement of said beam-induced radiation.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said radiation therapy is proton therapy.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said radiation therapy is Carbon or other heavy ion therapy.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said beam-induced radiation is prompt gamma.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said beam-induced radiation are photons from positron annhilation.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of spatial information.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of spatial information and particle track reconstruction.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of energy information.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of spatial information.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of spatial information and particle track reconstruction.

16. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of energy information.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of spatial information.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of spatial information and particle track reconstruction.

19. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of energy information.

20. A method for measuring beam-induced radiation in a target site of a patient undergoing radiation therapy during or directly following administration of hadronic particles in said patient, said method comprising:

obtaining a measurement of said beam-induced radiation from a least one ion chamber type detector; and

calculating at least one of the dose and the range of said hadronic particles within the target site of said patient based upon said measurement.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said radiation therapy is proton therapy.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said radiation therapy is Carbon or other heavy ion therapy.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said beam-induced radiation is prompt gamma.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of replanning or modifying said radiation therapy based upon said measurement.

25. A system configured to perform the steps according to method claim 20.

26. A method for measuring beam-induced radiation in a target site of a patient undergoing radiation therapy during or directly following administration of hadronic particles in said patient, said method comprising:

obtaining a measurement of said beam-induced radiation from at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector; and

calculating at least one of the dose and the range of said hadronic particles within the target site of said patient based upon said measurement.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said radiation therapy is proton therapy.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said beam-induced radiation is prompt gamma.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said beam-induced radiation are photons from positron annhilation.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of replanning or modifying said radiation therapy in real time based upon said measurement.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of spatial information.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of spatial information and particle track reconstruction.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of energy information.

34. A system configured to perform the steps according to method claim 26.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of spatial information.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein said at least one gas-electron-muitiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of spatial information and particle track reconstruction.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of energy information.

38. The method of claim 28, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of spatial information.

39. The method of claim 28, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of spatial information and particle track reconstruction.

40. The method of claim 28, wherein said at least one gas-electron-multiplier-type detector obtains a measurement of energy information.