Treatment station for particle therapy

• US 7,812,326 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Use, Tim, Grozinger, Sven Oliver, Rietzel, Eike
• Primary Examiner(s): Wells; Nikita
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith; Johnnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/997,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20080191152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 250/492.3, 250/492.1, 250/492.22, 376/112, 600/443, 600/112
• US Class Current: 250/492.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1085 characterised by the type of particles applied to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/04 using variable diaphragms, shutters, choppers

Abstract

A treatment station for particle bombardment of a patient is provided. The treatment station includes an apparatus for adaptation of at least one particle beam parameter of a particle beam of a particle therapy installation. The treatment station operates in at least two operating modes, with the treatment station being operable in a first operating mode with a first particle type and in a second operating mode with a second particle type. The apparatus has at least one first beamforming element, which is held by a holding unit. The beamforming element is designed for adaptation of the particle beam parameter. The holding unit positions of the first beamforming element as a function of the operating mode, such that the first beamforming element can be arranged in the particle beam in the first operating mode, and cannot be arranged in the particle beam in the second operating mode.

Claims

1. A treatment station for particle therapy of a patient comprising:

an apparatus for adjusting a particle beam parameter of a particle beam of a particle therapy installation, the apparatus comprising;

a first beamforming element configured to adjust the particle beam parameter;

a holding unit that holds the first beamforming element and positions the first beamforming element as a function of an operating mode of the treatment station,

wherein the treatment station has a first operating mode with a first particle type and a second operating mode with a second particle type, and

wherein the holding unit positions the first beamforming element as a function of the operating mode of the treatment station, such that the first beamforming element is arranged in the particle beam in the first operating mode, and is not arranged in the particle beam in the second operating mode.

2. The treatment station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus for adjusting the particle beam parameter comprises an automatic drive unit configured to position the first beamforming element, the automatic drive unit communicating with position sensors for monitoring the position of the beamforming element.

3. The treatment station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus for adjusting the particle beam parameter comprises a second beamforming element, which is held by the holding unit and adjusts the particle beam parameter, another particle beam parameter, or the particle beam parameter and the another particle beam parameter,

wherein the second beamforming element is firmly connected to the first beamforming element and is configured to move independently of the first beamforming element, and

wherein the holding unit positions the second beamforming element as a function of the operating mode of the treatment station, such that the second beamforming element is arranged in the particle beam in the second operating mode, and is not arranged in the particle beam in the first operating mode.

4. The treatment station as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the first beamforming element and the second beamforming element is a ripple filter for widening of the particle energy distribution of the particle beam, a beam collimator, a range shifter, a bolus or a scattering element.

5. A particle therapy installation for acceleration of at least two particle types, comprising:

a treatment station for bombardment of a patient with particles, the treatment station including an apparatus for adjusting a beam parameter of a particle beam of the particle therapy installation,

wherein the apparatus for adjusting the beam parameter is configured to allow a first particle type for particle therapy to be supplied to the treatment station in a first operating mode and allow a second particle type for particle therapy to be supplied to the treatment station in a second operating mode.

6. The particle therapy installation as claimed in claim 5, wherein the apparatus for adjusting the beam parameter comprises:

a beamforming element held by a holding unit;

an automatic drive unit that positions the beamforming element, and

a position sensor communicating with the automatic drive unit for monitoring the position of the beamforming element.

7. The particle therapy installation as claimed in claim 6, comprising a first particle source and a second particle source for production of the at least two particle types, and a vacuum beam-guidance and acceleration system for particle acceleration,

wherein the apparatus for adjusting the beam parameter is arranged in a particle beam profile close to a patient after the emergence of the particle beam from the vacuum beam-guidance and acceleration system.

8. The particle therapy installation as claimed in claim 6, comprising a second beamforming element, which is held by the holding unit and adjusts the beam parameter, the another beam parameter, or the beam parameter and the another beam parameter,

wherein the second beamforming element is firmly connected to the first beamforming element or is moved independently of the first beamforming element, and

wherein the second beamforming element is positioned, such that particles pass through the second beamforming element in the second operating mode, but particles do not pass through the second beamforming element in the first operating mode.

9. The particle therapy installation as claimed in claim 6, wherein the beamforming element is a ripple filter for widening of the particle energy distribution of the particle beam, a beam collimator, a range shifter, a bolus or a scattering element.