Normalizing and calibrating therapeutic radiation delivery systems
First Claim
1. A method of treating a patient with proton radiation, comprising:
- (a) utilizing a first beam delivery system to emit a proton radiation beam having a standard beam configuration;
(b) detecting the radiation dose supplied by the beam of standard configuration;
(c) utilizing said first beam delivery system to emit a proton radiation beam having a beam configuration tailored for a specific treatment plan;
(d) detecting the radiation supplied by the beam configured for the specific treatment plan and producing a signal corresponding to the detected radiation;
(e) comparing the signal detected in step (d) with calibrated dose detection data to develop at least one treatment plan calibration factor;
(f) treating said patient with a proton radiation beam that has been calibrated with said treatment plan calibration factor and that is configured for the specific treatment plan;
(g) subsequent to steps (a)-(f), utilizing a second beam delivery system to emit another proton radiation beam having said standard beam configuration;
(h) detecting the radiation dose supplied by the subsequent proton radiation beam having the standard beam configuration;
(i) comparing the dose detected in step (h) with the dose detected in step (b) to develop at least one normalizing factor;
(j) utilizing said second beam delivery system to emit a normalized proton radiation beam tailored for said specific treatment plan by utilizing said normalizing factor; and
(k) treating said patient with the normalized proton radiation beam configured for said specific treatment plan.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method for radiation beam therapy delivery system normalization and dose calibration. A prescribed treatment plan is compared to a database of pre-existing and pre-calibrated treatment plans. Upon existence of a matching plan, appropriate calibration factors are assigned to the delivery system monitors according to the pre-existing plan. Variations in delivery system operation are corrected by independent correction of all delivery system monitors established by standard relative calibration taken prior to patient treatment. The advantages of the present invention are particularly significant for proton therapy facilities containing a plurality of delivery systems. The method permits a prescribed treatment to be administered with accuracy not only at the station associated with the initial treatment planning, but at any available delivery station.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of treating a patient with proton radiation, comprising:
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(a) utilizing a first beam delivery system to emit a proton radiation beam having a standard beam configuration; (b) detecting the radiation dose supplied by the beam of standard configuration; (c) utilizing said first beam delivery system to emit a proton radiation beam having a beam configuration tailored for a specific treatment plan; (d) detecting the radiation supplied by the beam configured for the specific treatment plan and producing a signal corresponding to the detected radiation; (e) comparing the signal detected in step (d) with calibrated dose detection data to develop at least one treatment plan calibration factor; (f) treating said patient with a proton radiation beam that has been calibrated with said treatment plan calibration factor and that is configured for the specific treatment plan; (g) subsequent to steps (a)-(f), utilizing a second beam delivery system to emit another proton radiation beam having said standard beam configuration; (h) detecting the radiation dose supplied by the subsequent proton radiation beam having the standard beam configuration; (i) comparing the dose detected in step (h) with the dose detected in step (b) to develop at least one normalizing factor; (j) utilizing said second beam delivery system to emit a normalized proton radiation beam tailored for said specific treatment plan by utilizing said normalizing factor; and (k) treating said patient with the normalized proton radiation beam configured for said specific treatment plan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification