Integrated control of portal imaging device

• US 6,519,316 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Collins, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Church; Craig E.
• Application Number:
  US10/053,414
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 378/65
• US Class Current: 378/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam

Abstract

A system, method, apparatus, and means for controlling a portal imager includes operating a radiation therapy device to identify segment data defining a radiation therapy segment, identifying (from the segment data) portal position information, and positioning a portal imaging device based on the portal position information. The radiation therapy device may be further operated to identify field information identifying a radiation field to be delivered, position elements of the radiation therapy device to deliver the field, deliver the field, and capture a portal image on the portal imaging device.

Claims

1. A method for operating a radiation therapy device, comprising:

identifying segment information defining a radiation therapy treatment segment;

identifying, from said segment information, portal position information; and

positioning a portal imaging device based on said portal position information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, from said segment information, field information defining a radiation field to be delivered;

positioning elements of said radiation therapy device to deliver said radiation field defined by said field information;

delivering said radiation field; and

capturing a portal image of said radiation field on said portal imaging device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said portal imaging device is a flat panel detector movably coupled to a gantry of said radiation therapy device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said positioning of said portal imaging device includes providing control signals from an operator console to a drive motor coupled to said portal imaging device.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said portal imaging device comprises a plurality of solid state sensors.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting said portal image to a treatment unit.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

repeating said identifying segment information, identifying portal position information, and positioning said portal imaging device for each segment in a radiation therapy treatment.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

further positioning, based at least in part on said portal image, elements of said radiation therapy device.

9. A computer-operated method for capturing portal images in a radiation therapy device, comprising:

retrieving first data identifying a first therapy segment;

identifying, from said first data, position data defining a position for a portal imaging device;

generating signal data causing a drive device to place said portal imaging device in said position; and

verifying that said portal imaging device is in said position.

10. The computer-operated method of claim 9, further comprising:

identifying, from said first data, field data defining a radiation field to be delivered by said radiation therapy device;

generating signal data to position elements of said radiation therapy device to deliver said radiation field defined by said field data;

generating signal data to cause said radiation therapy device to deliver said radiation field; and

operating said portal imaging device to capture a portal image.

11. The computer-operated method of claim 10, wherein said radiation field is a diagnostic field and said portal image is a pre-treatment image captured before a dose of therapeutic radiation is delivered to a patient.

12. The computer-operated method of claim 10, wherein said radiation field is a diagnostic field and said portal image is a post-treatment image captured after a dose of therapeutic radiation has been delivered to a patient.

13. The computer-operated method of claim 10, wherein said portal image is captured during said delivery of said radiation field.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

forwarding said portal image to a treatment unit.

15. A radiation therapy device, comprising:

a radiation source, configured to deliver a beam of radiation along a target path toward a treatment zone;

a gantry, configured to rotate said radiation source about a first axis of rotation, said gantry further configured to rotate an imaging system about said first axis;

a drive device, coupled to said imaging system, to selectively extend and retract said imaging system across said target path; and

a control computer configured to position said drive device, said gantry and said radiation source based on data defining a radiation therapy treatment.

16. The radiation therapy device of claim 15, wherein said imaging system is a flat panel imaging device comprising a plurality of solid state sensors.

17. The radiation therapy device of claim 15, wherein said control computer is further configured to operate said imaging system to capture a portal image.

18. An imaging system used in conjunction with a radiation therapy device, comprising:

a drive device, coupled to a computer system of said radiation therapy device,

an imaging panel having a plurality of sensors adapted to detect radiation; and

an arm assembly, attached to said imaging panel and to said drive device;

wherein said drive device selectively positions said imaging panel in one of an extended or retracted position based on data received from said computer system.

19. A radiation therapy device, comprising:

means for identifying segment data identifying a radiation therapy treatment segment;

means for identifying, from said segment data, portal position data; and

means for positioning a portal imaging device based on said portal position data.

20. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for operating a radiation therapy device, comprising:

first instructions for identifying segment data identifying a radiation therapy treatment segment;

second instructions for identifying, from said segment data, portal position data; and

third instructions for positioning a portal imaging device based on said portal position data.