Hybrid charged particle / X-ray-imaging / treatment apparatus and method of use thereof
First Claim
1. A method for imaging a tumor of a patient using positively charged particles and X-rays, comprising the steps of:
- sequentially transporting the positively charged particles from an accelerator, through a beam transport line, and through an exit nozzle, to a patient position, said beam transport line comprising;
a positively charged particle beam path; and
an X-ray beam path;
detecting scintillation induced by the positively charged particles using a scintillation detector system;
detecting X-rays using an X-ray detector system;
positioning a mounting rail through linear extension/retraction to;
(1) at a first time and at a first extension position of said mounting rail, position said scintillation detector system opposite the patient position from said exit nozzle and (2) at a second time and at a second extension position of said mounting rail, position said X-ray detector system opposite the patient position from said exit nozzle; and
generating an image of the tumor using output of said scintillation detector system and said X-ray detector system.
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Abstract
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for imaging and treating a tumor of a patient using positively charged particles and X-rays. A mounting rail, supporting a scintillation detection system element and an X-ray detection system element, is alternatingly extended/retracted to position the required detection system element opposite a patient tumor position from an exit nozzle of a beam transport system connected to an accelerator of the positively charged particles, where the positively charged particles are alternatingly used to treat the tumor via irradiation. The mounting rail optionally rotates with rotation of the exit nozzle about the patient, such as with rotation of a support gantry.
384 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for imaging a tumor of a patient using positively charged particles and X-rays, comprising the steps of:
- sequentially transporting the positively charged particles from an accelerator, through a beam transport line, and through an exit nozzle, to a patient position, said beam transport line comprising;
a positively charged particle beam path; and
an X-ray beam path;
detecting scintillation induced by the positively charged particles using a scintillation detector system;
detecting X-rays using an X-ray detector system;
positioning a mounting rail through linear extension/retraction to;
(1) at a first time and at a first extension position of said mounting rail, position said scintillation detector system opposite the patient position from said exit nozzle and (2) at a second time and at a second extension position of said mounting rail, position said X-ray detector system opposite the patient position from said exit nozzle; and
generating an image of the tumor using output of said scintillation detector system and said X-ray detector system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- sequentially transporting the positively charged particles from an accelerator, through a beam transport line, and through an exit nozzle, to a patient position, said beam transport line comprising;
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4. The method of 3, further comprising the step of:
maintaining said rotation axis orthogonal to said positive charged beam path at both;
(1) a first rotation position of said rotatable gantry support and (2) a second rotation position of said rotatable gantry support rotated at least forty-five degrees from said first rotation position.
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12. An apparatus for imaging a tumor of a patient using positively charged particles and X-rays, comprising:
- a beam transport line sequentially transporting the positively charged particles from an accelerator, through the beam transport line, and through an exit nozzle, to a patient position, said beam transport line comprising;
a positively charged particle beam path; and
an X-ray beam path;
a scintillation detector system configured to detect scintillation induced by the positively charged particles during use;
an X-ray detector system configured to detect the X-rays during use;
a linearly extendable and retractable mounting rail configured to;
(1) at a first time and at a first extension position of said mounting rail, position said scintillation detector system opposite the patient position from said exit nozzle and (2) at a second time and at a second extension position of said mounting rail, position said X-ray detector system opposite the patient position from said exit nozzle, said apparatus configured to, during use, generate an image of the tumor using output of said scintillation detector system and said X-ray detector system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a beam transport line sequentially transporting the positively charged particles from an accelerator, through the beam transport line, and through an exit nozzle, to a patient position, said beam transport line comprising;
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20. A method for imaging a sample using positively charged particles and X-rays, comprising the steps of:
- sequentially transporting the positively charged particles from an accelerator, through a beam transport line, and through an exit nozzle, to a patient position, said beam transport line comprising;
a positively charged particle beam path; and
an X-ray beam path;
detecting scintillation induced by the positively charged particles using a scintillation detector system;
detecting X-rays using an X-ray detector system;
positioning a mounting rail through linear extension/retraction to;
(1) at a first time and at a first extension position of said mounting rail, position said scintillation detector system opposite the sample position from said exit nozzle and (2) at a second time and at a second extension position of said mounting rail, position said X-ray detector system opposite the sample position from said exit nozzle; and
generating an image of the sample using output of said scintillation detector system and said X-ray detector system.
- sequentially transporting the positively charged particles from an accelerator, through a beam transport line, and through an exit nozzle, to a patient position, said beam transport line comprising;
Specification