Multi-mode cone beam CT radiotherapy simulator and treatment machine with a flat panel imager

• US 8,116,430 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2007
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Shapiro, Edward G., Seppi, Edward J., Pavkovich, John M., Munro, Peter, Johnsen, Stanley W., Colbeth, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Allen C.
• Application Number:
  US11/891,505
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 378/9, 378/19, 378/65, 378/20
• US Class Current: 378/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/035 Mechanical aspects of CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/04 Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like operating tables A61G13/00; operating chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0407 Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0487 Motor-assisted positioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4085 Cone-beams
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/42 Arrangements for detecting radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4208 characterised by using a particular type of detector
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4241 using energy resolving detectors, e.g. photon counting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/44 Constructional features of apparatus for radiation diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4429 related to the mounting of source units and detector units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4435 the source unit and the detector unit being coupled by a rigid structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4447 Tiltable gantries
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/487 involving fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1054 using a portal imaging system
• 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 5/103 Treatment planning systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1031 : using a specific method of dose optimization
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1039 : using functional images, e.g. PET or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1042 : with spatial modulation of the radiation beam within the treatment head
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1045 : using a multi-leaf collimator, e.g. for intensity modulated radiation therapy or IMRT
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1047 : with movement of the radiation head during application of radiation, e.g. for intensity modulated arc therapy or IMAT
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 : Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 : for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1064 : for adjusting radiation treatment in response to monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/202 : the detector being a crystal

Abstract

A multi-mode cone beam computed tomography radiotherapy simulator and treatment machine is disclosed. The radiotherapy simulator and treatment machine both include a rotatable gantry on which is positioned a cone-beam radiation source and a flat panel imager. The flat panel imager captures x-ray image data to generate cone-beam CT volumetric images used to generate a therapy patient position setup and a treatment plan.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

logic configured to modify a treatment plan for a target volume, the logic comprising at least one of hardwired logic and a programmable computer component;

a rotatable gantry;

a cone-beam radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry; and

a flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, wherein the flat-panel imager is operable to capture image projection data to generate cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data capable of being used by the logic to modify a treatment plan for a target volume.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flat-panel imager includes an amorphous silicon sensor array capable of fluoroscopic imaging, radiographic imaging, and cone-beam CT imaging.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cone-beam CT radiation source is a kilovoltage radiation source, and the flat-panel imager includes a cesium iodide scintillator for kilovoltage imaging.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the scintillator includes cesium iodide crystals coated with a reflective powder and epoxy mixture in a large matrix for megavoltage imaging.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a computing unit, coupled to the rotatable gantry via a communications network, to store the image projection data captured by the flat-panel imager, wherein the computing unit generates the treatment plan based on the image projection data.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a translatable treatment couch coupled to the rotatable gantry via a communications network, wherein the translatable treatment couch is capable of movement in three planes plus angulation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable gantry continues to rotate while capturing image projection data.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a megavoltage radiation source to radiate the target volume with between 4 and 25 mega-volts of radiation.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a radiation simulation system comprising said gantry, said radiation simulation system comprising logic configured to determine a patient position or a radiation treatment system comprising said gantry, said radiation treatment system comprising logic configured to implement a treatment plan.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising logic configured to generate fluoroscopic or cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data, wherein the imager captures fluoroscopic or cone-beam CT imaging image projection data be used by the logic configured to generate fluoroscopic or cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a computing unit coupled to the rotatable gantry to generate a treatment plan for a clinical treatment machine based on the cone-beam volumetric image data, and to transfer the treatment plan to the clinical treatment machine, wherein the clinical treatment machine implements the treatment plan.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the programmable computer component comprises a processor.

13. A method to perform a clinical treatment, comprising:

using a clinical simulator machine to capture image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data capable of being used by logic of the clinical simulator machine configured to modify a treatment plan for a clinical treatment machine;

emitting a cone-beam from a radiation source;

transmitting at least a portion of the cone-beam through a target volume;

providing a treatment plan;

modifying said treatment plan for a clinical treatment machine using said logic and based on the cone-beam volumetric image data;

transferring the treatment plan to the clinical treatment machine, wherein the clinical treatment machine implements the treatment plan; and

treating a patient according to the treatment plan including providing synchronization and gate control between the imager and a therapeutic radiation beam during treatment, wherein treating includes coordinating acquisition by the flat panel imager and pulsing by a therapeutic radiation source.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the clinical simulator machine includes the cone-beam radiation source, the cone-beam radiation source including a kilovoltage radiation source at a position opposed to the imager, and further comprising:

using the treatment plan to instruct the clinical treatment machine to at least adjust a megavoltage therapeutic radiation source into position to align the target volume with a therapeutic radiation beam, and

radiating the target volume with a megavoltage radiation source of the clinical treatment machine.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

deriving a master clock signal from a synchronization signal of the cone-beam radiation source;

using the master clock to generate a first control pulse to gate the cone-beam radiation source on and off and a second control pulse to trigger reading of an image from the imager;

selecting a timing of the first control pulse as compared to the second control pulse to read out the image while the cone-beam radiation source is off.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the image projection data is generated from the flat-panel imager capturing radiation from a cone-beam computed tomography radiation source passing through a target volume, and capturing comprises capturing the image projection data at a frame rate in the range of 15-30 frames per second.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the image projection data is fluoroscopic image projection data or cone-beam CT imaging image projection data.

18. A method to perform a clinical treatment, comprising:

using a clinical simulator machine to capture image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data capable of being used by logic of the clinical simulator machine configured to modify a treatment plan for a clinical treatment machine;

emitting a cone-beam from a radiation source;

transmitting at least a portion of the cone-beam through a target volume;

providing a treatment plan;

modifying said treatment plan using said logic;

continuing to rotate a gantry on which the imager is mounted while capturing image projection data; and

one of capturing radiation at non-uniformly spaced angles with respect to a rotation, and changing the speed of rotation of the gantry during a rotation.

19. A method to perform a clinical treatment, comprising:

using a clinical simulator machine to capture first image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data capable of being used by logic of the clinical simulator machine configured to modify a treatment plan for clinical treatment of a target volume;

radiating a target volume with a megavoltage radiation source;

capturing second image projection data produced using the megavoltage radiation source; and

,

providing a treatment plan;

modifying said treatment plan using said logic.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the megavoltage radiation source radiates the target volume with a cone beam, and the second image projection data produced using the megavoltage radiation source comprises data produced using cone beam CT volumetric data.