Radiation systems having tiltable gantry

• US 7,848,488 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mansfield, Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiknadze; Irakli
• Application Number:
  US11/852,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20090067579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 378/11, 378/15, 378/17, 378/65, 378/189, 378/197, 378/20, 378/208
• US Class Current: 378/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1061 using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1082 having multiple beam rotation axes

Abstract

A radiation system includes a gantry having an opening and a first axis associated with the opening, a radiation source coupled to the gantry, a first bearing located adjacent a left side of the gantry, and a second bearing located adjacent a right side of the gantry, wherein the gantry is tiltable about the first and second bearings, the first and second bearings forming a second axis that is at a first angle relative to the first axis. A radiation system includes a gantry having an opening and a first axis associated with the opening, a radiation source coupled to the gantry, and a base to which the gantry is rotatably coupled, wherein the gantry is tiltable relative to the base about a second axis that forms an angle relative to the first axis, wherein an uppermost portion of the gantry is not coupled to a support frame of the gantry.

Claims

1. A radiation system, comprising:

a gantry having an opening and a first axis associated with the opening, the opening having a width that is at least 24 inches;

a radiation source coupled to the gantry;

a first bearing located adjacent a left side of the gantry;

a second bearing located adjacent a right side of the gantry; and

an imager coupled to the gantry, wherein a first line extending from the imager to the first axis forms an angle with a second line extending from the radiation source to the first axis, the angle being a value that is less than 180°

;

wherein the gantry is tiltable about the first and second bearings, the first and second bearings forming a second axis that is at a first angle relative to the first axis.

2. The radiation system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source is capable of providing radiation suitable for treating at least a portion of a patient

3. The radiation system of claim 1, wherein the radiation source is capable of providing radiation suitable for imaging at least a portion of a patient.

4. The radiation system of claim 1, further comprising a collimator located adjacent to the radiation source.

5. The radiation system of claim 1, further comprising an additional radiation source, wherein the imager is in operative association with the additional radiation source.

6. The radiation system of claim 1, wherein the angle is a value that is between 80°

and 100°

.

7. The radiation system of claim 1, wherein the second axis is horizontal.

8. The radiation system of claim 1, further comprising a base to which the gantry is rotatably coupled, wherein the gantry is tiltable relative to the base about a third axis.

9. The radiation system of claim 8, wherein an uppermost portion of the gantry is not coupled to a support frame of the gantry.

10. The radiation system of claim 8, wherein the third axis is vertical.

11. The radiation system of claim 1, wherein the opening is wide enough to accommodate shoulders of a patient.

12. The radiation system of claim 1, further comprising a x-ray source in operative association with the imager.

13. The radiation system of claim 1, wherein the gantry comprises a ring gantry.

14. The radiation system of claim 1, wherein the gantry comprises a C-arm configuration.

15. The radiation system of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to generate a signal to cause a tilting of the gantry in accordance with a treatment plan.

16. A radiation system, comprising:

a gantry having an opening and a first axis associated with the opening, the opening having a width that is at least 24 inches;

a radiation source coupled to the gantry, wherein the radiation source is capable of providing radiation suitable for treating at least a portion of a patient; and

a base to which the gantry is rotatably coupled, wherein the gantry is tiltable relative to the base about a second axis that forms an angle relative to the first axis;

wherein the gantry comprises a C-arm configuration.

17. The radiation system of claim 16, further comprising an imager in operative association with the radiation source.

18. The radiation system of claim 16, wherein the angle is a value that is between 80°

and 100°

.

19. The radiation system of claim 16, wherein the second axis is vertical.

20. The radiation system of claim 16, wherein the opening is wide enough to accommodate shoulders of a patient.

21. The radiation system of claim 16, further comprising a support frame, wherein the gantry is rotatably coupled to the support frame.

22. The radiation system of claim 16, wherein the radiation source is tiltable about a third axis that forms a second angle relative to the first axis.

23. The radiation system of claim 16, wherein the gantry is tiltable relative to the base about a third axis.

24. A radiation system, comprising:

a gantry having an opening and a first axis associated with the opening, the opening having a width that is at least 24 inches;

a radiation source coupled to the gantry;

a base to which the gantry is rotatably coupled, wherein the gantry is tiltable relative to the base about a second axis that forms an angle relative to the first axis; and

a collimator located adjacent to the radiation sources;

wherein the gantry comprises a C-arm configuration.

25. A radiation system, comprising:

a gantry having an opening and a first axis associated with the opening, the opening having a width that is at least 24 inches;

a radiation source coupled to the gantry;

a base to which the gantry is rotatably coupled, wherein the gantry is tiltable relative to the base about a second axis that forms an angle relative to the first axis;

an imager coupled to the gantry, wherein a first line extending from the imager to the first axis forms an angle with a second line extending from the radiation source to the first axis, the angle being a value that is less than 180°

; and

a x-ray source in operative association with the imager;

wherein the gantry comprises a C-arm configuration.

26. A radiation system, comprising:

a gantry having an opening and a first axis associated with the opening;

a treatment radiation source coupled to the gantry;

a diagnostic radiation source coupled to the gantry; and

an imager in operative position relative to the diagnostic radiation source;

wherein the treatment radiation source tiltable about a second axis that forms a first angle relative to the first axis.

27. The radiation system of claim 26, wherein the second axis is horizontal.

28. The radiation system of claim 26, further comprising a first bearing located adjacent a left side of the gantry, and a second bearing located adjacent a right side of the gantry, the first and second bearings forming the second axis.

29. The radiation system of claim 26, wherein the second axis is vertical.

30. The radiation system of claim 26, further comprising a base to which the gantry is rotatably coupled, wherein the gantry has a C-arm configuration.

31. The radiation system of claim 26, wherein the treatment radiation source is also tiltable about a third axis that forms a second angle relative to the first axis.

32. The radiation system of claim 31, wherein the second axis is horizontal and the first axis is vertical.

33. The radiation system of claim 26, wherein a first line extending from the imager to the first axis forms an angle with a second line extending from the treatment radiation source to the first axis, the angle being a value that is less than 180°

.

34. A radiation system, comprising:

a gantry having an opening and a first axis associated with the opening, the opening having a width that is at least 24 inches;

a radiation source coupled to the gantry;

a first bearing located adjacent a left side of the gantry;

a second bearing located adjacent a right side of the gantry;

a collimator located adjacent to the radiation source; and

an imager coupled to the gantry;

wherein the gantry is tiltable about the first and second bearings, the first and second bearings forming a second axis that is at a first angle relative to the first axis; and

wherein the radiation source is tiltable about a third axis that forms a second angle relative to the first axis.

35. The radiation system of claim 34, wherein a first line extending from the imager to the first axis forms an angle with a second line extending from the radiation source to the first axis, the angle being a value that is less than 180°

.

36. The radiation system of claim 34, wherein the gantry comprises a C-arm configuration.

37. A radiation system, comprising:

a gantry having an opening and a first axis associated with the opening, the opening having a width that is at least 24 inches;

a radiation source coupled to the gantry;

a first bearing located adjacent a left side of the gantry;

a second bearing located adjacent a right side of the gantry; and

an imager coupled to the gantry, wherein a first line extending from the imager to the first axis forms an angle with a second line extending from the radiation source to the first axis, the angle being a value that is less than 180°

;

wherein the gantry is tiltable about the first and second bearings, the first and second bearings forming a second axis that is at a first angle relative to the first axis; and

wherein the radiation source is tiltable about a third axis that forms a second angle relative to the first axis.

38. The radiation system of claim 37, further comprising a collimator located adjacent to the radiation source.

39. The radiation system of claim 37, further comprising an additional radiation source, wherein the imager is in operative association with the additional radiation source.

40. A radiation system, comprising:

a gantry having an opening and a first axis associated with the opening, the opening having a width that is at least 24 inches, wherein the gantry comprises a C-arm configuration;

a radiation source coupled to the gantry;

a first bearing located adjacent a left side of the gantry;

a second bearing located adjacent a right side of the gantry;

wherein the gantry is tiltable about the first and second bearings, the first and second bearings forming a second axis that is at a first angle relative to the first axis; and

wherein the radiation source is tiltable about a third axis that forms a second angle relative to the first axis.

41. The radiation system of claim 40, further comprising a collimator located adjacent to the radiation source.

42. The radiation system of claim 40, further comprising an imager, wherein a first line extending from the imager to the first axis forms an angle with a second line extending from the radiation source to the first axis, the angle being a value that is less than 180°

.