Particle beam therapy system

• US 7,345,292 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakayama, Takahide, Moriyama, Kunio, Maeda, Akihiko, Yasue, Yoshikatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Wells; Nikita
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leybourne; James J
• Application Number:
  US11/327,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20060118736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 250/492.3
• US Class Current: 250/492.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1079 Sharing a beam by multiple treatment stations

Abstract

A first manual input device for inputting an irradiation ready state is provided in each treatment room or a control room formed corresponding to the treatment room. A safety device confirms that preparations for generation of an ion beam in an accelerator are completed and preparations for transport of the ion beam in a beam transport system for introducing the ion beam to an irradiation unit in the treatment room selected in response to a ready signal from the first manual input device are completed, followed by outputting ready information. A ready state display unit for displaying the ready information is provided. In the treatment room or the control room, a second manual input device is provided for inputting an irradiation start instruction when the ready information is displayed by the ready state display unit.

Claims

1. A particle beam therapy system comprising:

a charged particle beam generator for emitting a charged particle beam;

a plurality of irradiation units disposed in a plurality of treatment rooms, respectively, for irradiating the charged particle beam therein;

a plurality of beam transport systems in communication with said charged particle beam generator and transporting the charged particle beam emitted from said charged particle beam generator separately to respective said plurality of irradiation units in said plurality of treatment rooms;

first manual input devices provided respectively in said plurality of treatment rooms or a plurality, of control rooms formed corresponding to said plurality of treatment rooms for generating irradiation ready signals;

a treatment sequence deciding unit for deciding a sequence of introducing the charge particle beam to said plurality of treatment rooms in an order in which the irradiation ready signals have been outputted from said first manual input devices, and outputting treatment room information representing a selected treatment room with top priority, to which the charged particle beam is to be first introduced;

a preparation confirming unit for confirming that preparation for generation of the charged particle beam in said charged particle beam generator are completed and preparation for transport of the charged particle beam in the plurality of beam transport systems for introducing the charged particle beam to one of the plurality of irradiation units in the selected treatment room with top priority which said treatment room information from said treatment sequence deciding unit represents, followed by outputting machine ready information;

a display unit device for displaying the machine ready information for the irradiation unit in the selected treatment room with top priority;

a second manual input device provided in each of said plurality of treatment rooms or each of said plurality of control rooms, and generating an irradiation start signal; and

an emission start controller for outputting an emission start signal based on said machine ready information and said irradiation start signal outputted from said second manual input device in the selected treatment room with top priority.

2. A particle beam therapy system according to claim 1, wherein said first manual input device and said second manual input device comprise separate control buttons or switches disposed in positions different from each other.

3. A particle beam therapy system according to claim 1, further comprising:

first element groups disposed respectively in said plurality of beam transport systems, and a second element group disposed in said charged particle beam generator;

a control information forming unit for forming control command information, which includes control information for the first element group in the plurality of beam transport systems for introducing the charged particle beam to the selected treatment room and control information for said second element group, by using at least treatment room information representing the selected treatment room and treatment plan information specified depending on patient identification information; and

an information confirming unit for selecting, from among element information including detected status information of said first element groups and detected status information of said second element group, the status information of the first element group in the plurality of beam transport systems extended into the selected treatment room and the status information of the second element group, and confirming that the selected status information is matched with control information for the relevant element groups, which is included in said control command information.

4. A particle beam irradiating method for irradiating a charged particle beam emitted from a charged particle beam generator to a patient in selected one of a plurality of treatment rooms by an irradiation unit in the selected treatment room, the irradiating method comprising the steps of:

deciding, based on irradiation ready signal outputted from first manual input devices provided respectively in said plurality of treatment rooms or a plurality of control rooms a sequence of introducing the charged particle beam to said plurality of treatment rooms in an order in which the irradiation ready signals have been outputted from said first manual input devices, and outputting treatment room information representing the selected treatment room with top priority, to which the charged particle beam is to be first introduced;

confirming that preparation for generation of the charged particle beam in said charged particle beam generator is completed and preparation for transport of the charged particle beam in a beam transport system for introducing the charged particle beam to the irradiation unit in the selected treatment room with top priority which said treatment room information from said treatment sequence deciding unit represents, followed by outputting machine ready information;

displaying the machine ready information for the irradiation unit in the selected treatment room with top priority or a corresponding control room, with a display unit device; and

outputting an emission start signal based on said machine ready information and an irradiation start signal outputted from second manual input device in the selected treatment room with top priority or the corresponding control room.