Radiotherapy device

• US 5,317,164 A
• Filed: 12/04/1992
• Issued: 05/31/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Kurokawa, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Paul M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIET TUAN
• Application Number:
  US07/985,920
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 250/492.3, 250/397, 250/492.1, 250/396 R, 378/10, 378/137, 378/138, 378/113
• US Class Current: 250/492.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1089 Electrons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1043 Scanning the radiation beam, e.g. spot scanning or raster scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods

Abstract

A radiotherapy device includes: a linac 1 for generating an electron beam 9, and a thin guide tube 2 for guiding the electron beam from the linac 1 to the affected part 7 within the body of the patient 6. The orbit of the electron beam 9 is controlled by means of the feedback circuit 8 in response to the output of the deviation detector 6 which detects the leakage of the electron beam outside of the guide tube 2. A high-level dosage can be accomplished without incurring danger of radiation exposure on the operator.

Claims

1. A radiotherapy device comprising:

radiation generation means for generating an electron beam;

a guide tube of a small diameter attached at one end thereof to said radiation generation means, wherein said guide tube is adapted to be inserted at another end thereof into a body of a patient, said guide tube guiding said electron beam from said radiation generation means to said body of said patient;

electron beam convergence means disposed along said guide tube, for converting said electron beam into a thin beam directed to an affected part of said body of said patient;

deviation detector means for detecting a deviation of said electron beam from a center of said guide tube; and

feedback control means coupled to said deviation detector means, for controlling said electron beam convergence means to adjust an orbit of said electron beam along a central axis of said guide tube in response to an output of said deviation detector means.

2. A radiotherapy device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electron beam convergence means includes a quadrupole magnet assembly.

3. A radiotherapy device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electron beam convergence means further includes a steering coil assembly, disposed near said quadrupole magnet assembly, for adjusting a direction of said electron beam.

4. A radiotherapy device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electron beam convergence means includes a quadrupole coil assembly.

5. A radiotherapy device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said electron beam convergence means further includes a steering coil assembly, disposed near said quadrupole coil assembly, for adjusting a direction of said electron beam.

6. A radiotherapy device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

rotation mechanism means for changing an incident angle of said electron beam into said body of said patient.

7. A radiotherapy device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said guide tube includes a joint at which said guide tube is deflectable, said electron beam convergence means including a dipolar coil assembly for deflecting said electron beam at said joint such that an orbit of said electron beam is aligned along a central axis of said guide tube.