Radiation detection system including radiation alignment means and isocentrically rotatable detectors
First Claim
1. An assembly for testing the alignment of a radiation source, comprising:
- a mounting fixture;
a detector assembly mounted to said mounting fixture, said detector assembly including an isocenter and radiation detection means responsive to radiation, said mounting fixture including means for supporting said detector assembly in such a manner that said detector assembly is rotatable about first and second axes, said first and second axes being arranged such that the isocentricity of the detector assembly is maintained in substantially all rotational positions about each of said axes.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly is provided which is capable of the multiple functions that are necessary for the quality control of teleradiotherapy machines such a high energy medical accelerators, cobalt 60 machines, and low energy x-ray machines. The assembly includes a detector which is isocentrically rotatable about a pair of horizontal axes. Photodetectors or a luminescent screen are provided within the detector for detecting light and/or radiation. Tests which may be performed with the assembly include determining the position and size of a light field, the mechanical isocentricity of the gantry and of the collimator, positioning of the lasers in the treatment room, the optical distance indicator, and coincidence, symmetry, flatness and uniformity of the radiation and light fields. The multifunctionality of the assembly is based upon the isocentricity of the detector, this invariant point in space being positioned to coincide with that of the treatment machine. A video system may be interfaced to an image processing unit to facilitate observation of the detector during its use and to perform analysis, recording and documenting.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An assembly for testing the alignment of a radiation source, comprising:
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a mounting fixture; a detector assembly mounted to said mounting fixture, said detector assembly including an isocenter and radiation detection means responsive to radiation, said mounting fixture including means for supporting said detector assembly in such a manner that said detector assembly is rotatable about first and second axes, said first and second axes being arranged such that the isocentricity of the detector assembly is maintained in substantially all rotational positions about each of said axes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An assembly for testing the alignment of a radiation therapy machine, comprising:
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a mounting fixture; a detector assembly mounted to said mounting fixture, said detector assembly including a substantially planar surface; a border, a pair of orthogonal lines, and a target marked upon said substantially planar surface; and means for supporting said detector assembly upon said mounting fixture in such a manner that said detector assembly is rotatable about first and second axes, said first and second axes being arranged such that the isocentricity of the detector assembly is maintained in substantially all rotational positions about each of said axes, the isocenter of said detector assembly being defined by said target. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of checking the alignment of a radiation head rotatably mounted to a gantry, said radiation head including means for generating a target shadow, comprising the steps of:
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providing a detector assembly and means for rotating said detector assembly about at least two substantially perpendicular axes while maintaining the isocentricity of said detector assembly, said detector assembly including a target at the isocenter thereof; positioning said detector assembly in a first rotational position in opposing relation t said radiation head while said gantry is in a first rotational position; causing said radiation head to generate a target shadow such that said target shadow appears upon said target; rotating said gantry a selected number of degrees about a horizontal axis to a second rotational position; rotating said detector assembly said selected number of degrees about an axis to a second rotational position such that said detector assembly remains in opposing relation to said radiation head; and observing the position of said target shadow with respect to said target in said second rotational position. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A method of determining the edge of a non-ionizing light or an ionizing radiation field generated by a radiation therapy machine, comprising:
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providing a detector assembly including a substantially flat, luminescent surface and a border marked upon said surface; causing said radiation therapy machine to sequentially generate non-ionizing light and ionizing radiation fields upon said substantially flat surface; and observing the peripheral edges of the respective fields and the luminescence of said surface with respect to the border. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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Specification