Water phantom type dose distribution determining apparatus

• US 6,207,952 B1
• Filed: 08/10/1998
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Limited
• Inventors: Nonaka, Hideki, Kan, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gabor, Otilia
• Application Number:
  US09/131,874
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 250/370.07, 250/252.1
• US Class Current: 250/252.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1076 using a dummy object placed in the radiation field, e.g. phantom
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/169 Exploration, location of contaminated surface areas

Abstract

A sensor is inserted into a closed water tank filled with water to the brim and the closed water tank is fixed directly to a radiation beam irradiating section, and the sensor is moved freely with respect to a mounted frame used for fixation. Therefore, a rapid and accurate prediction of the actual dose distribution of radiation beam prior to radiation therapy can be conducted, even when the irradiating section is attached to a rotation gantry.

Claims

1. A water phantom type dose distribution determining apparatus for determining the dose distribution in water in a radiation beam irradiated from an irradiating section using a sensor placed in water, comprising:

a closed water tank filled with water to brim and having the sensor inserted thereinto;

a mount means to attach the closed water tank to the irradiation section, the irradiation section being located outside of the closed water tank;

a moving means to move at least the sensor with respect to the mount means wherein the distance between the water surface and the sensor can be adjusted by the moving means.

2. The dose distribution determining apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the closed water tank is attached to tip of the irradiation section, and the sensor is inserted into the closed water tank from opposite side.

3. The dose distribution determining apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which further comprises a cylinder to adjust volume of water which varies according to insertion depth of the sensor.

4. The dose distribution determining apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mount means has a positioning means.

5. The dose distribution determining apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mount means further comprises a clamping mechanism having one-touch levers.

6. A water phantom type dose distribution determining apparatus for determining the dose distribution in water of a radiation beam irradiated from an irradiating section using a sensor placed in water, comprising:

a closed water tank filled with water to brim and having the sensor inserted thereinto;

a mount means to attach the closed water tank to the irradiation section, the irradiation section being located outside of the closed water tank;

a moving means to move at least the sensor with respect to the mount means;

wherein the moving means moves the sensor together with the closed water tank in directions vertical to the radiation direction of the radiation beam, and moves the sensor alone in directions in parallel with the radiation direction of the radiation beam.

7. The dose distribution determining apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the moving means moves the closed water tank in two dimensional directions vertical to the radiation direction of the radiation beams.