Patient motion monitoring system for proton therapy
First Claim
1. A patient motion monitoring system for use with a particle beam therapy system, the system comprising:
- a first energy source adapted to direct energy towards a surface of a patient substantially positioned in a desired orientation;
a first sensor that receives reflected energy from the first energy source that is reflecting off of the surface of the patient wherein the sensor provides a first signal indicative thereof;
at least one positioning mechanism that allows for the first energy source and the first sensor to be positioned at a selected distance from the surface of the patient;
a controller that receives the first signal from the first sensor and determines the location of the patient based upon the first signal from the sensor, wherein the controller evaluates the first signal to determine if the patient has moved more than a selected threshold amount from the desired orientation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A patient motion monitoring system (102) for use in a proton therapy center (100) is disclosed. The patient monitoring system (102) includes a plurality of position detector assemblies (162) with each position detector assembly (162) being constructed of a flexibly rigid support arm (132) attached to a position sensor (130). Each support arm (132) of the plurality of position detector assemblies (162) is detachably mounted to a supporting structure so as to allow the corresponding position sensor (130) to be positioned adjacent a patient (104) who is receiving proton therapy. Furthermore, each position sensor (130) of the plurality of position detector assemblies (162) generates a position signal that is indicative of the distance between a front surface of the position sensor, and an adjacent surface of the patient. The patient motion monitoring system (102) further includes a controller (160) which is adapted to receive each position signal from the plurality of position detector assemblies (162), a display (144), and an alarm (148) to indicate if a patient has moved out of position.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A patient motion monitoring system for use with a particle beam therapy system, the system comprising:
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a first energy source adapted to direct energy towards a surface of a patient substantially positioned in a desired orientation;
a first sensor that receives reflected energy from the first energy source that is reflecting off of the surface of the patient wherein the sensor provides a first signal indicative thereof;
at least one positioning mechanism that allows for the first energy source and the first sensor to be positioned at a selected distance from the surface of the patient;
a controller that receives the first signal from the first sensor and determines the location of the patient based upon the first signal from the sensor, wherein the controller evaluates the first signal to determine if the patient has moved more than a selected threshold amount from the desired orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A patient motion monitoring system for use with a particle beam therapy system the monitoring system comprising:
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a first non-contact sensor that shines a first signal against a first surface of a patient substantially positioned in a desired orientation and obtains a reflected signal, wherein the first non-contact sensor provides a first output signal indicative of the distance between the first sensor and the first surface;
a second non-contact sensor that shines a second signal against a second surface of the patient and obtains a reflected signal, wherein the second non-contact sensor provides a second output signal indicative of the distance between the second sensor and the second surface;
a controller that receives the first and second output signal, wherein the controller uses the first and second output signals to evaluate whether the patient has moved more than a selected threshold amount from the desired location and provides a patient movement signal indicative thereof upon determining that the patient has moved more than the selected threshold amount. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A particle beam delivery system comprising:
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a particle beam delivery system for delivering a therapeutic particle beam to a targeted region within a patient; and
a non-contact patient motion monitoring system having a first non-contact sensor that directs a beam towards a first surface of the patient positioned so that the first surface is disposed at a desired location and receives a reflected beam therefrom, wherein the first non-contact sensor provides a first output signal indicative of the distance of the first surface from the first non-contact sensor and wherein the non-contact patient motion monitoring system further includes a controller that receives the first output signal and evaluates the first output signal to determine if the first surface of the patient has moved more than a selected threshold amount from the desired location and wherein the controller provides a patient movement signal adapted to allow for interruption of delivery of the therapeutic particle beam upon determining that the first surface of the patient has moved more than the selected threshold amount from the desired location. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of monitoring a position of a patient, the method comprising:
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directing a first non-contact beam from a first location towards a first surface of a the patient;
receiving a first reflected beam from the first surface of the patient;
evaluating the first reflected beam to measure a first distance between the first surface and the first location; and
providing a signal when the first measured distance is greater than a first threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
directing a second non-contact beam from a second location towards a second surface of the patient;
receiving a second reflected beam from the second surface of the patient; and
evaluating the second reflected beam to measure a second distance between the second surface of the patient and the second location.
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42. The method of claim 41, wherein said providing a signal further comprises providing the signal when the second measured distance is greater than a second threshold value.
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43. The method of claim 42, wherein the first and second threshold values are approximately equal to 1 mm.
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44. The method of claim 38, wherein said providing a signal further comprises providing a signal only if the first measured distance is greater than the first threshold value for a pre-selected period of time to permit the first surface of the patient to return to a desired location.
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45. The method of claim 44, wherein the pre-selected time period is approximately 2 seconds.
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46. The method of claim 45, wherein the signal is adapted to allow for interruption of delivery of a therapeutic particle beam to the patient.
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47. The method of claim 44, wherein the signal is adapted to warn a user that the location of the patient is outside of an acceptable range.
Specification