Semi-vertical positioning method and apparatus used in conjunction with a charged particle cancer therapy system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for positioning a tumor of a patient for treatment with positively charged particles, comprising:
- a patient positioning system, comprising;
a rotatable platform configured to both support and rotate the patient during use;
an upper body support affixed to said rotatable platform, wherein said upper body support comprises;
a semi-upright patient support surface; and
a motorized head positioning system;
an upper support structure, said upper support structure configured to;
co-rotate with said rotatable platform;
hold a camera, both (1) said camera and (2) said upper support structure configured to rotate about an axis aligned with gravity during use; and
hold a video display screen, said video display screen configured to co-rotate, about the axis aligned with gravity, with said upper support structure in view of a patient viewing position;
means for recalling patient specific motor positions for;
said motorized head positioning system; and
a charged particle irradiation system comprising a charged particle beam path, said charged particle beam path passing within about six inches of said semi-upright patient support surface.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention comprises a semi-vertical patient positioning, alignment, and/or control method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Patient positioning constraints are used to maintain the patient in a treatment position, including one or more of: a seat support, a back support, a head support, an arm support, a knee support, and a foot support. One or more of the positioning constraints are movable and/or under computer control for rapid positioning and/or immobilization of the patient. The system optionally uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a proton beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The generated image is usable for: fine tuning body alignment relative to the proton beam path, to control the proton beam path to accurately and precisely target the tumor, and/or in system verification and validation.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for positioning a tumor of a patient for treatment with positively charged particles, comprising:
-
a patient positioning system, comprising; a rotatable platform configured to both support and rotate the patient during use; an upper body support affixed to said rotatable platform, wherein said upper body support comprises; a semi-upright patient support surface; and a motorized head positioning system; an upper support structure, said upper support structure configured to; co-rotate with said rotatable platform; hold a camera, both (1) said camera and (2) said upper support structure configured to rotate about an axis aligned with gravity during use; and hold a video display screen, said video display screen configured to co-rotate, about the axis aligned with gravity, with said upper support structure in view of a patient viewing position; means for recalling patient specific motor positions for; said motorized head positioning system; and a charged particle irradiation system comprising a charged particle beam path, said charged particle beam path passing within about six inches of said semi-upright patient support surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for positioning a tumor of a patient for treatment with positively charged particles, comprising the steps of:
-
positioning the patient with a patient positioning system, said patient positioning system comprising; a rotatable platform, wherein said rotatable platform comprises; a lower support structure, said lower support structure holding a portion of said patient positioning system; a rotatable upper support structure, said upper support structure; co-rotating with said rotatable platform; holding a camera, both (1) said camera and (2) said upper support structure co-rotating about an axis aligned with gravity; and holding a video display screen, said video screen co-rotating, about the axis aligned with gravity, with said upper support structure in view of a patient viewing position; an upper body support, wherein said upper body support comprises a semi-upright patient support surface; and irradiating the tumor of the patient with the positively charged particles from a charged particle system, said charged particle system comprising a charged particle beam path, said charge particle beam path passing within about six inches of said semi-upright patient support surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification