Method and apparatus for positioning a body for radiation using a position sensor

• US 6,611,700 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Original Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Inventors: Vilsmeier, Stefan, Fröhlich, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US09/475,701
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/426, 600/427, 600/478, 600/424, 600/476, 378/65
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/101 for stereotaxic radiosurgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/08 Auxiliary means for directing the radiation beam to a particular spot, e.g. using light beams
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1051 using an active marker markers in general A61B90/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for positioning a body (1) for radiation comprising the steps: inserting a position sensor (6) into the body (1); detecting the position of the sensor (6) relative to a point or volume (2) to be irradiated, and positioning the body (1) using signals sensed by the position sensor (6) so that the point or volume (2) to be irradiated is located in a specific site circumscribing an isocenter (3). It also relates to an apparatus for positioning a body (1) including a position sensor (6), which may be placed into the body (1); a controllable patient bench (9) for moving the body (1); a controller (8) which controls the controllable patient bench (9) for moving the body (1) depending on the signals sensed by the position sensor (6).

Claims

1. A method for positioning a body for radiation comprising:

a) inserting a flexible position sensor into said body, the flexible position sensor including a plurality of fiducial points along a sensor length, wherein a curvature of the position sensor may be detected at a given point along the sensor length;

b) detecting (i) a position of at least one fiducial point of the position sensor relative to a point or volume to be irradiated and (ii) the curvature of the position sensor adjacent the at least one fiducial point,; and

c) responsive to step b), positioning said body so that said point or volume to be irradiated is located in a specific site relative to an isocenter of an irradiation device.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein more than one fiducial point of said position sensor are made use of to define the location of said position sensor relative to said point or volume to be irradiated.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein step b) includes detecting a locational relationship of said sensor by determining a spacing and a direction of at least one fiducial point relative to the point or the volume to be irradiated.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said position sensor is fixed in place relatively shift-proof in said body in relation to said point or volume to be irradiated.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the detection of said location of said position sensor is performed using a computer tomograph or nuclear spin tomograph.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein step a) includes inserting said position sensor using an endoscopic technique.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein step c) includes shifting said body using a controllable bench.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising interrupting radiation when the signals of said position sensor indicate that said location to be irradiated is outside of a defined site circumscribing said isocenter.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein a new positioning of said body occurs when said signals of said position sensor indicate that said point or volume to be irradiated is outside of the site circumscribing the isocenter.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said signals of said position sensor are used to control a radiation source.

11. An apparatus for positioning a body including:

a) a flexible position sensor, which can be placed into the body, said flexible position sensor including a plurality of fiducial points along a sensor length;

b) at least one detector for detecting signals indicative of (i) a position of at least one fiducial point of the sensor relative to a point or volume to be irradiated and (ii) a curvature of the position sensor adjacent the at least one fiducial point;

c) a controllable bench for moving the body; and

d) a controller which controls the controllable bench for moving the body depending on the signals detected by the at least one detector.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the flexible position sensor is an optical fiber.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the optical fiber position sensor is a glass fiber.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the position sensor includes incorporation aids.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the at least one detector includes an optical system for sensing the position of a fiducial point of the position sensor.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a radiation source which may be controlled depending on the signals sensed by the at least one detector.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the position sensor is an optical fiber for three-dimensionally detecting a position of a site to be irradiated in the body.