Method and apparatus for performing radiation treatment

• US 7,820,989 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbH & Company KG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Sommer, Andres
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanore; David A
• Application Number:
  US11/200,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,904 Days
• Field of Search: 250/493.1, 250/505.1, 128/897, 378/4, 378/65
• US Class Current: 250/493.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1061 using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/103 Treatment planning systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1038 taking into account previously administered plans applied to the same patient, i.e. adaptive radiotherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1065 Beam adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1069 Target adjustment, e.g. moving the patient support

Abstract

A method is provided for determining and monitoring parameters of a radiation treatment. The method comprises producing a first image of a region of a patient body to be radiated using a medical imaging process, determining a parameter setting of a radiation system using the first image, and providing the radiation treatment to the body region to be radiated using the radiation system with the determined parameter setting. The method further comprises producing a second image of the body region radiated with the parameter setting, automatically comparing the first image and the second image, and generating a deviation signal when a difference between the first image and the second image exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Claims

1. A method for determining or monitoring parameters of a radiation treatment, the method comprising:

producing, using a medical imaging process, a first image of a patient body region to be radiated;

determining a parameter setting of a radiation system using the first image;

treating with radiation the body region to be radiated using the radiation system with the determined parameter setting;

producing a second image of the body region, the second image being produced after the radiation treatment;

automatically comparing the first image and the second image, a shape of tissue in the first image being compared to a shape of tissue in the second image to determine a difference between the shape of the tissue to be radiated and the shape of the tissue that was radiated;

generating a deviation signal when the difference exceeds a threshold value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value is adjustable.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second image is stored.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatic comparison of the first and second images corresponds to properties of a body region located in a direction of the radiation treatment and outside the body region.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatic comparison of the first and second images corresponds to beam-influencing properties of the body region.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating planning instructions for the parameter setting of the radiation system as a function of the deviation signal.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

automatically changing the parameter setting of the radiation system as a function of the deviation signal.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatic comparison of the first and second images corresponds to properties of a body region located in a direction of the radiation treatment and outside the body region.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising:

generating planning instructions for the parameter setting of the radiation system as a function of the deviation signal.

10. A method for determining or monitoring parameters of a radiation treatment, the method comprising:

producing, using a medical imaging process, a first image of a patient body region to be radiated;

determining a parameter setting of a radiation system using the first image;

treating with radiation the body region to be radiated using the radiation system with the determined parameter setting;

producing a second image of the body region;

automatically comparing a volume of tissue to be radiated in the first image and a volume of radiated tissue in the second image;

generating a deviation signal when a difference between the first image and the second image exceeds a threshold value.