Arrangement for performing proton therapy

• US 7,348,579 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Scherrer-Institut (Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft)
• Original Assignee: Paul Scherrer-Institut (Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft)
• Inventors: Pedroni, Eros
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSTON, PHILLIP A
• Application Number:
  US11/086,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20050161618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 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 5/1081 Rotating beam systems with a specific mechanical construction, e.g. gantries

Abstract

A system for treating a patient by proton therapy, also called gantry, includes a proton beam guide involving, in particular, magnets, quadropoles, and the like and having an outlet aperture for guiding and directing the proton beam to the side in the patient that is to be treated. In addition, a patient table that cab en displaced in a controllable manner is provided for moving the patient into a desired position relative to the proton beam. The inventive proton beam guide and control device is mounted down from the patient table in the direction of the beam guide in a supported manner whereby being able to rotate or pivot about a horizontal axis.

Claims

1. An arrangement for treating a patient by means of proton therapy, comprising:

a proton beam delivery system including magnets, quadrupoles, and an exit window, the proton beam delivery system arranged to guide or direct a proton beam from a proton beam source to a location in the patient that is to be treated;

a radiation chamber;

a patient table within the radiation chamber, arranged, in a substantially horizontal plane and controllable so as to move the patient into a desired position relative to the proton beam entering the radiation chamber via the exit window, and

a proton beam guiding and controlling device mounted on a first support and a second support to pivot about a horizontal axis, wherein the radiation chamber is positioned between the first support and the second support, wherein the chamber floor is installed in a fixed manner without counter-rotation, and wherein the horizontal axis extends substantially within the horizontal plane in which the patient table is arranged.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first support is located proximal to the proton beam source, wherein the second support is located distal to the proton beam source, and wherein the second support includes a roller.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the proton beam guiding and controlling device is arranged so as to pivot up or down through at least 135°

from the horizontal plane.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the proton beam guiding and controlling device is arranged such that it can be rotated about an axis of rotation from a vertical plane through an angle of about 90°

, essentially running through an axis of rotation, from a side of the vertical plane on which the patient is disposed up to an angle of approximately 180°

on the opposite side of the vertical plane.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein radiation chamber has at least a semi-open space with at least one side wall extending away from a side from which the patient table is accessible.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the radiation chamber is arranged such that the magnet or a last magnet of the beam guide is not visible from the radiation chamber such that for the patient only a nozzle is visible by disposing a slit in the radiation chamber wall, the nozzle moving along a slit opening in the radiation chamber wall, and a bilateral cover is provided on the slit, the cover being a rolling cover.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the patient table is arranged so as to be rotationally and translationally movable such that when combined with rotation of the proton beam guiding and controlling device any site in the patient'"'"'s body can be irradiated.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein mechanics for moving the patient table are not disposed in a region of the proton beam.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising cabling for at least one of measurements signals sensors for monitoring the patient'"'"'s condition, at least part of the cabling being routed or connected from a front through an area of a roller of the first support in order to allow local separation from a magnetic feed.