Method and apparatus for shielding a linear accelerator and a magnetic resonance imaging device from each other
First Claim
1. A shielded linear particle accelerator (linac) system comprising:
- one or more magnets positioned along a longitudinal axis and configured to generate a magnetic field, at least a portion of the magnetic field extending along the longitudinal axis;
a linear particle accelerator configured to direct a radiation beam towards the longitudinal axis; and
a shield configured to shield the linac from the magnetic field, the shield comprising at least a first shell and a second shell, the first shell and the second shell at least partially surrounding the linac, the second shell separate from and nested within the first shell.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A radiation therapy system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system combined with an irradiation system, which can include one or more linear accelerators (linacs) that can emit respective radiation beams suitable for radiation therapy. The MRI system includes a split magnet system, comprising first and second main magnets separated by gap. A gantry is positioned in the gap between the main MRI magnets and supports the linac(s) of the irradiation system. The gantry is rotatable independently of the MRI system and can angularly reposition the linac(s). Shielding can also be provided in the form of magnetic and/or RF shielding. Magnetic shielding can be provided for shielding the linac(s) from the magnetic field generated by the MRI magnets. RF shielding can be provided for shielding the MRI system from RF radiation from the linac.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A shielded linear particle accelerator (linac) system comprising:
-
one or more magnets positioned along a longitudinal axis and configured to generate a magnetic field, at least a portion of the magnetic field extending along the longitudinal axis; a linear particle accelerator configured to direct a radiation beam towards the longitudinal axis; and a shield configured to shield the linac from the magnetic field, the shield comprising at least a first shell and a second shell, the first shell and the second shell at least partially surrounding the linac, the second shell separate from and nested within the first shell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A linear particle accelerator (linac) shielding method comprising:
-
generating, with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, a magnetic field by one or more magnets positioned along a longitudinal axis of the MRI system, at least a portion of the magnetic field extending along the longitudinal axis of the MRI system; and shielding a linear particle accelerator (linac) from the magnetic field using a shield, wherein the shield comprises at least a first shell and a second shell, the first shell and the second shell at least partially surrounding the linac, the second shell separate from and nested within the first shell. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification