Orthovoltage radiosurgery

• US 8,457,277 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec Incorporated (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Oraya Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Gertner, Michael, Hansen, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kao, Glen
• Application Number:
  US12/755,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20100239067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 378/65
• US Class Current: 378/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/506 for diagnosis of nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/508 for non-human patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1019 Sources therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1022 Generators, e.g. X-ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/105 using a laser alignment system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1051 using an active marker markers in general A61B90/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1059 using cameras imaging the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1091 Kilovoltage or orthovoltage range photons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1097 Means for immobilizing the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1001 using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1017 Treatment of the eye, e.g. for "macular degeneration"
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1045 using a multi-leaf collimator, e.g. for intensity modulated radiation therapy or IMRT
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 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: A61N 5/1065 Beam adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1067 in real time, i.e. during treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1077 Beam delivery systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1084 for delivering multiple intersecting beams at the same time, e.g. gamma knives

Abstract

A radiosurgery system is configured to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation to a target structure in a patient. The target tissues are placed in a global coordinate system based on ocular imaging. The target tissues inside the global coordinate system lead to direction of an automated positioning system that is directed based on the target tissues within the coordinate system. A treatment plan is utilized in which beam energy and direction and duration of time for treatment is determined for a specific disease to be treated and/or structures to be avoided. A fiducial marker is used to identify the location of the target tissues. The device automatically turns off with excessive movement outside of alignment along an axis of the eye. Radiodynamic therapy is described in which radiosurgery is used in combination with other treatments and can be delivered concomitant with, prior to, or following other treatments.

Claims

1. A system, for treating an eye with x-ray radiation, comprising:

an x-ray radiation source that emits x-ray radiation;

a collimator that collimates the emitted x-ray radiation into a beam;

a module that derives an eye model from anatomic data of the eye;

a planning module that determines, based on the eye model, at least two parameters of the beam for treatment;

an alignment system that aligns the beam with an axis traversing the eye;

a gating mechanism that reduces x-ray radiation emission from the radiation source when the beam is not aligned with the axis; and

a communication link between the alignment system and the gating mechanism that communicates data, regarding alignment of the beam with the axis, from the alignment system to the gating mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the alignment system comprises a light emitter that emits a light beam that is substantially aligned with a long axis of the collimator.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the light emitter comprises a laser.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a sensor that detects a reflection of the light beam.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an image detection system, in communication with the alignment system, that detects at least one of a fundus, a limbus, a cornea, an iris, and a reflection of light off the eye.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the reflection of light comprises a reflection off a lens positioned near or on the eye.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the alignment system is configured to adjust the beam in response to the reflection of light.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the reduction in radiation emission comprises a cessation of radiation emission.

9. An ocular system, for assisting treatment of an ocular structure with radiotherapy, comprising:

an eye contact member holder that contacts a surface of an eye during a treatment period, said holder adapted to be able to move the eye; and

a communication member that communicates information from the eye contact member holder to an x-ray system, the information being indicative of a position of the eye during the treatment period, and the information determining, at least in part, a characteristic of an x-ray beam that is emitted from the x-ray system during the treatment period.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the communication member comprises a flexible connector that couples the eye contact member with the x-ray system.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the communication member comprises an optical sensor that detects a position of the eye contact member with respect to the x-ray system.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the eye contact member is configured to contain a lubricant for contacting the surface of the eye.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the eye contact member is configured to hold open the eyelids of the eye.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the characteristic of the x-ray beam comprises at least one of a trajectory of the x-ray beam, a beam on-time, an emit/not-emit status of the x-ray system, and a target on the sclera of the eye.

15. A method, of assisting treatment of an ocular structure with radiotherapy, comprising:

positioning an eye contact member at an anterior structure of a patient'"'"'s eye, said member being capable of moving the eye and fixing the eye in a first position;

mapping a location of a portion of the eye contact member to a position in a virtual representation of an eye;

directing an x-ray beam toward the patient'"'"'s eye along a trajectory based on the mapped location of the portion of the eye contact member.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the eye contact member comprises a central portion.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the anterior structure of the eye comprises the cornea of the eye.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the anterior structure of the eye comprises the limbus of the eye.