X-ray target assembly and radiation therapy systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A target assembly, comprising:
- a target having a surface exposed to receive an excitation beam along an expected beam path including at least first and second non-overlapping beam path portions, a first region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the first beam path portion, and a second region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a second energy distribution different from the first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the second beam path portion; and
a cooling mechanism coupled to the first and second regions of the target.
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Abstract
A multi-region target that is configured to selectively generate two different energy distributions when exposed to an excitation electron beam is described. The multi-region target includes multiple regions with different x-ray generating characteristics. Thus, the interaction between an excitation electron beam and the target generates an x-ray beam with an energy distribution that depends upon which target region is exposed to the excitation electron beam. The different x-ray spectra may be used to produce an enhanced contrast x-ray image. A method of detecting the rotational position of the multi-region target based upon the contrast level of the resulting images also is described.
124 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A target assembly, comprising:
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a target having a surface exposed to receive an excitation beam along an expected beam path including at least first and second non-overlapping beam path portions, a first region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the first beam path portion, and a second region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a second energy distribution different from the first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the second beam path portion; and
a cooling mechanism coupled to the first and second regions of the target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A target assembly, comprising:
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a target having an exposed surface, a first region comprising a first x-ray generating characteristic, and a second region laterally displaced from the first region with respect to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface and comprising a second x-ray generating characteristic that is different from the first x-ray generating characteristic; and
a cooling mechanism coupled to the first and second regions of the target, wherein the cooling mechanism includes a target holder configured to support the target for rotation and to expose the target to a cooling fluid stream, whereby the target rotates about an axis of rotation upon exposure to the cooling fluid stream.
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10. A radiation therapy system, comprising:
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a source of an electron beam; and
a target positioned to intercept the electron beam and having a surface exposed to receive an excitation beam along an expected beam path including at least first and second non-overlapping beam path portions, a first region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the first beam path portion, and a second region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a second energy distribution different from the first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the second beam path portion. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A radiation therapy system, comprising:
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a source of an electron beam;
a target positioned to intercept the electron beam and having an exposed surface, a first region comprising a first x-ray generating characteristic, and a second region laterally displaced from the first region with respect to an electron beam incident upon the exposed surface and comprising a second x-ray generating characteristic that is different from the first x-ray generating characteristic; and
a computer configured to identify images produced from x-rays generated by the first target region and to identify images produced from x-rays generated by the second target region, wherein the computer is configured to identify images based upon image contrast. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A radiation therapy method, comprising:
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generating an electron beam; and
positioning to intercept the electron beam a target having a surface exposed to receive an excitation beam along an expected beam path including at least first and second non-overlapping beam path portions, a first region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the first beam path portion, and a second region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a second energy distribution different from the first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the second beam path portion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
generating images from x-rays generated by exposing the target to the electron beam;
identifying images produced from x-rays generated by the first target region; and
identifying images produced from x-rays generated by the second target region.
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20. The radiation therapy method of claim 18, further comprising producing an enhanced image by combining image data produced from x-rays generated by the second target region with image data produced from x-rays generated by the first target region.
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21. The radiation therapy method of claim 18, wherein an electron beam of 1 MeV or greater is produced.
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22. A radiation therapy method, comprising:
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generating an electron beam;
positioning to intercept the electron beam a target having an exposed surface, a first region comprising a first x-ray generating characteristic, and a second region laterally displaced from the first region with respect to an electron beam incident upon the exposed surface and comprising a second x-ray generating characteristic that is different from the first x-ray generating characteristic;
generating images from x-rays generated by exposing the target to the electron beam;
identifying images produced from x-rays generated by the first target region; and
identifying images produced from x-rays generated by the second target region, wherein images are identified based upon image contrast.
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Specification