Device for performing and verifying a therapeutic treatment and corresponding computer program and control method

• US 6,993,112 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Stiftung des Offentlichen Rechts
• Original Assignee: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Stiftung Des Oeffentlichen Rechts
• Inventors: Hesse, Bernd-Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruce, David V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SONG, HOON K
• Application Number:
  US10/506,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20050152495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 378 64- 65, 250/492.2, 250/492.22, 250/492.3, 600/427
• US Class Current: 378/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1054 using a portal imaging system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1042 with spatial modulation of the radiation beam within the treatment head
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for performing and verifying therapeutic radiation. An x-ray beam (4) is arranged across from a target volume (3) of the beam source (11) for the high-energy beam (1) in such a way that the beams (1, 4) run in essentially opposite directions (5, 6). The invention also relates to a computer program and a control method for operating said device. The inventive device makes it possible to exactly verify areas (16, 16′, 16″) that are subjected to different levels of radiation, the entire anatomy of the target volume (3), and the surroundings thereof in addition to the contour of the therapy beam (1). The x-ray beam (4) detects the anatomy and position of the patient (21) within the range of the target volume (3) before the high-energy beam (1) is applied and the shape of the applied high-energy beam (1) is then detected and areas (16, 16′, 16″) that are subjected to different levels of radiation as well as at least one partial segment of the target volume (3) during the emission breaks of the high-energy beam (1). The detected data is used for correcting the treatment plan.

Claims

1. A device for performing and verifying therapeutic irradiation, the device having a radiation source for a high-energy beam and means for modulating the high-energy beam on a gantry of an irradiation device, wherein, for verification, a radiation source of an X-ray beam is disposed on a side of a target volume opposite to the radiation source for the high-energy beam such that a direction of the X-ray beam is substantially opposite to a direction of the high-energy beam, wherein a medium for detecting the X-ray beam and for detecting the high-energy beam is disposed between the radiation source for the high-energy beam and the target volume, the medium being designed to detect regions of different radiation doses of the high-energy beam, the device also having a controller connected to the medium for detecting the high-energy and X-ray beams, to the modulating means for the high-energy beam, to a drive for adjusting a position of a patient table, and to the radiation sources for the X-ray and high-energy beams, wherein the controller can be loaded with a treatment plan to control the device, the device comprising:

means for detecting an anatomy and a position of the patient in a region of the target volume via the X-ray beam by directing the X-ray beam onto the region from various directions before application of the high-energy beam;

means for comparing the detected anatomy and position of the patient to the treatment plan and for correcting the patient position and/or treatment plan, if necessary;

means for applying the high-energy beam from a radiation direction and for detecting a shape and area of various radiation doses thereof;

means for detecting at least one partial region of the target volume including an immediate vicinity thereof using the X-ray beam during an irradiation pause of the high-energy beam;

means for comparing an X-ray recording with a detected applied high-energy beam and for correcting the treatment plan, if necessary;

means for iterative repetition until a process prescribed by the treatment plan is completed for said radiation direction; and

means for repeatedly changing said radiation direction as prescribed by the treatment plan.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for directing the X-ray beam, during irradiation pauses of the high-energy beam, onto at least one partial region of the target volume, including an immediate vicinity thereof, from various directions and within a region which is sufficiently small to remain substantially opposite to a direction of the high-energy beam in order to examine a detection region in three dimensions using data detected from various directions and for verification in real time.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the radiation source for the X-ray beam is designed to describe a circular motion in a plane which is disposed about an axis extending through the target volume towards the radiation source of the high-energy beam.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is designed to consider a shape and position of endangered organs during verification and correction of modulation of the high-energy beam.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the X-ray beam can detect a partial region of the target volume together with an adjacent region of an endangered organ during irradiation pauses of the high-energy beam for verification in real time.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is structured to establish a protocol of applied radiation.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the controller is structured to establish a protocol in three-dimensional space.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is structured to establish a protocol concerning corrections of the treatment plan for performed irradiation.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the medium comprises a first medium for detecting the high-energy beam and a second medium for detecting the X-ray beam.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein at least one of said first medium and said second medium comprises an array of photo diodes which consist essentially of amorphous material.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said photo diodes are disposed in a housing which only slightly attenuates the high-energy beam.

12. A computer program for controlling a device for carrying out and verifying therapeutic irradiation using a high-energy beam, the high-energy beam being modulated by a means for radiation modulation, wherein, for verification, an X-ray beam is directed onto a target volume in a direction substantially opposite to that of the high-energy beam in order to detect the target volume, and the X-ray beam, is detected, relative to its direction, behind the target volume to produce an image thereof, wherein the high-energy beam is detected in front of the target volume, the program being structured to control the device using a continuer executing the following steps:

a) spatially detecting an anatomy and position of a patient in a region of the target volume via the X-ray beam by directing same onto said region from various directions before application of the high-energy beam;

b) comparing the detected anatomy and position of the patient with a treatment plan and correcting the patient position and/or treatment plan if necessary;

c) applying the high-energy beam from a first direction and detecting a shape and area of various radiation doses thereof;

d) detecting at least one partial region of the target volume, including a direct vicinity thereof, using the X-ray beam during an irradiation pause of the high-energy beam;

e) comparing an X-ray recording extracted in step d) with detection of the applied high-energy beam extracted in step c) and correcting the treatment plan, if necessary;

f) repeating steps c), d), and e) until an application prescribed by the treatment plan is completed for the first radiation direction; and

g) repeating steps c) through f) for all radiation directions prescribed by the treatment plan.

13. The computer program of claim 12, wherein the program is designed to control the X-ray beam from different directions during irradiation pauses of the high-energy beam, wherein these directions move within a range which is sufficiently small that the X-ray beam direction is still substantially opposite to a direction of the high-energy beam and impinges on at least one partial region of the target volume including an immediate vicinity thereof for verification in three dimensions and in real time using data detected from different directions.

14. The computer program of claim 12, wherein data is obtained by causing a radiation source for the X-ray beam to describe a circular motion in a plane which is disposed about an axis extending through the target volume and towards a radiation source of the high-energy beam.

15. The computer program of claim 12, wherein the program is designed to analyse a shape and position of endangered organs for verification and correction of modulation of the high-energy beam.

16. The computer program of claim 12, wherein a partial region of the target volume, including a bordering region of an endangered organ, is detected by the X-ray beam in irradiation pauses of the high-energy beam and taken into consideration for verification in real time.

17. The computer program of claim 12, wherein the program is structured to establish a protocol concerning applied radiation.

18. The computer program of claim 12, wherein the program is structured to establish a protocol concerning corrections to the treatment plan for performed irradiation.

19. A control method to operate a device for carrying out and verifying therapeutic irradiation using a high-energy beam modulated by a means for radiation modulation, wherein, for verification, an X-ray beam is directed onto a target volume in a substantially opposite direction with respect to that of the high-energy beam to detect the target volume, wherein the X-ray beam is detected behind the target volume to effect an image thereof and the high-energy beam is detected in front of the target volume, the method comprising the following steps:

a) spatially detecting an anatomy and position of the patient in a region of the target volume using the X-ray beam by directing same onto said region from various directions and before application of the high-energy beam;

b) comparing a detected anatomy and position of a patient with a treatment plan and correcting the patient position and/or the treatment plan, if necessary;

c) applying the high-energy beam from a first direction to detect a shape a thereof and regions of various radiation dosage;

d) detecting at least one partial region of the target volume, including its direct vicinity, using the X-ray beam and during an irradiation pause of the high-energy beam;

e) comparing an X-ray recording of step d) with a detected applied high-energy beam of step c) to correct the treatment plan, if necessary;

f) repeating steps c), d), and e) until an application prescribed by the treatment plan is completed for the first radiation direction;

g) repeating steps c) through f) for all radiation directions prescribed by the treatment plan.

20. The control method of claim 19, wherein the X-ray beam is directed, from different directions within a region which is sufficiently small that it is still substantially opposite to a direction of the high-energy beam, onto at least one partial region of the target volume including an immediate vicinity thereof and during irradiation pauses of the high-energy beam to detect parameters in three dimensions for verification in real time using data detected from various directions.

21. The control method of claim 20, wherein the data is obtained by causing a radiation source for the X-ray beam to describe a circular motion in a plane which is disposed about an axis which extends through the target volume and towards a radiation source for the high-energy beam.

22. The control method of claim 19, wherein a shape and position of endangered organs are taken into consideration for verification and correction of modulation of the high-energy beam.

23. The control of claim 19, wherein the X-ray beam can detect a partial region of the target volume having a bordering region of an endangered organ during irradiation pauses of the high-energy beam for verification in real time.

24. The control method of claim 19, wherein a protocol is established of applied radiation.

25. The control method of claim 19, wherein a protocol is established concerning corrections to the treatment plan for performed radiation application.