Radiation Therapy Techniques Using Targeted Wave Superposition, Magnetic Field Direction and Real-Time Sensory Feedback

• US 20130208867A1
• Filed: 02/12/2012
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher V. Beckman
• Original Assignee: Christopher V. Beckman
• Inventors: Beckman, Christopher V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,948,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0481 against EM radiation, e.g. microwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1094 Shielding, protecting against radiation
• 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

New techniques for radiotherapy and radiosurgery are provided. In one aspect of the invention, multiple sources of radiation are provided in a planned frequency and in the same superposable period and polarization, from the same side of a treatment target, focused on a leading structure in the target. In another aspect, refractive models, updated by live feedback, are used to improve dosage distribution by, among other things, optimizing the number, angle and nature of radiation beams. Interstitial beacons and radiation path diversion structures are inserted to improve dosage distribution to a target and avoid critical neighboring structures. In particle therapy, regionally actuable external magnetic fields are used as well, to improve dosage accuracy and avoid collateral damage.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic radiation-based treatment system comprising hardware that may cause multiple beams comprising radiation waves in each beam of substantially the same period, and/or of a harmonic or otherwise related frequency, when said waves converge to converge on, superpose and perform treatment with a superposed waveform on a treatment target.

2. The electromagnetic radiation-based treatment system of claim 1, in which said comprised radiation waves in each beam share the same or a constructively matched polarity.

3. The electromagnetic radiation-based treatment system of claim 2, in which said comprised radiation waves in each beam constructively interfere.

4. The electromagnetic radiation-based treatment system of claim 3, in which said constructive interference results from said comprised waves in each beam being in the same phase as they converge upon a treatment target volume.

5. The electromagnetic radiation-based treatment system of claim 1, in which said comprised waves in each beam interfere to produce a superposition of higher frequency than said comprised waves in each beam, as they converge upon a target volume.

6. The electromagnetic radiation-based treatment system of claim 1, in which said comprised waves in each beam converge on leading portions or the leading volume of the treatment target.

7. The electromagnetic radiation-based treatment system of claim 1, in which said comprised waves in each beam originate from the same side of said treatment target.

8. A method for treating an electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment target, comprising the following steps:

employing location information concerning a group of material, such as a living tissue, or matter or the space, point(s) or region(s) occupied by and/or surrounding the material, or co-locatable with it, to define the location of a treatment target;

aiming multiple beams of radiation or paths or instances of wave phenomenon at said treatment target from the same side of said treatment target, which beams of radiation or paths or instances wave phenomenon are in the same polarization, phase, and period when they converge, such that their paths converge at or near and before leading structures of said treatment target.

9. The method for treating an electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment target of claim 8, comprising the following additional step:

inserting a beacon within material collateral to a treatment target, in such a way that it remains against, near, within or otherwise substantially locatable in relation with a treatment target, to aid in location of the treatment target during treatment.

10. The method for treating an electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment target of claim 8, comprising the following additional step:

inserting a lens or other radiation path diversion device that focuses more diffuse radiation within material collateral to a treatment target onto the treatment target and/or around critical collateral matter structure(s).

11. The method for treating an electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment target of claim 8, comprising the following additional step:

inserting a lens or other radiation path diversion device with a location and orientation that may be determined by a beacon or reflective characteristic or structural element, which device focuses diffuse radiation within material collateral to a treatment target onto the treatment target and/or around critical collateral matter structure(s).

12. The method for treating an electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment target of claim 11, comprising the following additional step:

determining the location and/or orientation of said lens or other radiation path diversion device;

adjusting the location and/or orientation of said lens or other radiation path diversion device.

13. The method for treating an electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment target of claim 8, comprising the following additional step:

using a locally-actuated, regionally changing magnetic field to alter the path of a particle-based radiation beam, such that it circumvents a critical structure and enters the treatment target;

using a locally-actuated, regionally changing magnetic field to alter the path of a particle-based radiation beam such that it turns once within the treatment target.

14. An electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment system comprising hardware that may cause multiple beams comprising radiation or other waves in each beam of substantially the same period, and/or of a harmonic or otherwise related frequency, when said radiation or other waves converge to converge on, to superpose and perform Protection with a superposed waveform on an area collateral to a treatment target.

15. The electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment system of claim 14, in which said comprised radiation or other waves in each beam originate at least partially from opposite directions, from at least partially opposite sides of the target, as such sides are defined by 180-degree sections of any 360 degrees of any plane bisecting the target.

16. The electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment system of claim 14, in which magneto optic effects are used to cause protection by anti-phase superposition between said comprised radiation waves, if present, as they converge in collateral areas, but cause no protection, or cause treatment in, a target volume.

17. The electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment system of claim 14, in which at least one of said beams comprising radiation or other waves is used to perform treatment on a target volume and at least one of said beams comprising waves is used to perform protection.

18. The electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment system of claim 17, in which the at least one of said beams comprising radiation or other waves that is used to perform protection eliminates fringe radiation or emergent-slit radiation or other radiation within areas collateral to the treatment target that is at least partially from one other of said beams comprising radiation or other waves.

19. The electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment system of claim 18, in which refraction models are used by the system and/or user to achieve optimized protection of collateral material or media and/or treatment of a target volume.

20. The electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment system of claim 19, in which said refraction models are corrected by live data, and additional or changed beam(s) comprising radiation or other waves in each beam, or paths, angles or instances thereof, may be introduced based on that live data to optimize a radiation dosage distribution in both a treatment target and across its collateral material and media.

21. The electromagnetic radiation-based or other wave phenomenon-based treatment system of claim 20, in which treatment target size-related pulse lengths of radiation or other waves are caused to overlap in a dispersed manner across regions collateral to the treatment target only.