Phantoms and methods for verification in radiotherapy systems

• US 8,039,790 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University Health Network
• Original Assignee: University Health Network
• Inventors: Islam, Mohammad, Jaffray, David, Cho, Young-Bin, Taylor, Mark, van Prooijen, Monique
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Kiho
• Application Number:
  US12/780,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20100288916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 250/252.1, 25037001-37016, 25036301-3631, 250/393, 378/207
• US Class Current: 250/252.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1076 using a dummy object placed in the radiation field, e.g. phantom
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1071 for verifying the dose delivered by the treatment plan
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/00 Measuring arrangements giving results other than momentary value of variable, of general application G01D3/00 takes precedence; in tariff metering apparatus G01D4/00; transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable G01D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 15/00 Component parts of recorders for measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable

Abstract

Methods and phantoms for verification in radiotherapy systems. A phantom for verification in a radiotherapy system may include a body to support a detector surface for obtaining a panoramic image of individual radiation beams in the radiotherapy system. The detector surface may be positioned in an intermediate region between the one or more sources and a target isocenter of the radiotherapy system. The detector surface may at least partially surround the target isocenter.

Claims

1. A phantom for verification in a radiotherapy system comprising:

a hollow body configured to support a detector surface for obtaining a panoramic image of individual radiation beams produced by one or more sources in the radiotherapy system; and

at least one of;

an outer sleeve positionable about an outer surface of the body, for conforming the detector surface to an outer geometry of the body; and

a solid inner core positionable inside the body, for conforming the detector surface to an inner geometry of the body;

wherein the body is configured to position the detector surface for obtaining the panoramic image in an intermediate region between the one or more sources and a target isocenter of the radiotherapy system.

2. The phantom of claim 1 wherein the body is configured to support the detector surface for obtaining the panoramic image of all radiation beams produced by one or more sources in the radiotherapy system.

3. The phantom of claim 1 wherein the body is configured to support the detector surface in at least partially a substantially cylindrical, conical, cubical or spherical geometry.

4. The phantom of claim 1 wherein the body is configured to a support the detector surface that is one of:

a radiation detecting film, a fluorescent screen and a solid state screen.

5. The phantom of claim 1 comprising a plurality of nesting outer sleeves.

6. The phantom of claim 1 wherein the body has a cylindrical, conical, cubical or spherical geometry.

7. The phantom of claim 1 comprising an insert for depth-helmet measurements.

8. The phantom of claim 1 wherein the panoramic image is produced by at least one of individual entrance beams towards the phantom and individual exit beams away from the phantom.

9. The phantom of claim 1 wherein the body is configured to position the detector surface to at least partially surround the target isocenter.

10. A method of verification in a radiotherapy system, the method comprising:

obtaining a panoramic image of individual radiation beams in the radiotherapy system, the panoramic image being indicative of locations of individual beams produced by one or more sources in the radiotherapy system; and

calculating source configuration of the one or more sources, based on the beam images of the panoramic image, for verification with a pre-determined target configuration.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the panoramic image is obtained in an intermediate region between the one or more sources and a target isocenter of the radiotherapy system.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the panoramic image is obtained from a surface at least partially surrounding the target isocenter.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the calculated radiation dosage comprises at least one of:

an isocenter dosage, a peripheral dosage, and a surface dosage.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the calculated source configuration comprises at least one of:

source location and collimator configuration.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising obtaining a dosage measurement at a target isocenter of the radiotherapy system.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the panoramic image is obtained for a surface having at least partially a substantially cylindrical, conical, cubical or spherical geometry.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the radiotherapy system comprises a single movable radiation source.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the panoramic image is obtained using a detector surface.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the detector surface is one of:

a radiation detecting film, a fluorescent screen and a solid state screen.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein calculating the source configuration is carried out substantially in real-time with obtaining the panoramic image.

21. The method of claim 10 wherein the panoramic image is produced by at least one of individual entrance beams towards a target isocenter of the radiotherapy system and individual exit beams away from the target isocenter.

22. The method of claim 10 wherein obtaining the panoramic image comprises:

providing a phantom and a detector surface in a treatment area of the radiotherapy system;

wherein the phantom comprises;

a body configured to support the detector surface for obtaining a panoramic image of individual radiation beams produced by the one or more sources in the radiotherapy system;

wherein the body is configured to position the detector surface for obtaining the panoramic image in an intermediate region between the one or more sources and a target isocenter of the radiotherapy system; and

applying radiation beams to the detector surface.

23. The method of claim 10 further comprising calculating radiation dosage based on the beam images of the panoramic image, for verification with a pre-determined target dosage.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein calculating the radiation dosage is carried out substantially in real-time with obtaining the panoramic image.