Multi-mode cone beam CT radiotherapy simulator and treatment machine with a flat panel imager
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
a rotatable gantry coupled to the frame, the rotatable gantry capable of changing the speed of rotation during a continuous rotation;
a high-energy radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry and configured to emit therapeutic radiation;
a cone-beam radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry and configured to emit cone-beam radiation;
a flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, the flat-panel imager being operable to capture image projection data of a patient by capturing at least a portion of the cone-beam radiation from the cone-beam radiation source while changing the speed of rotation of the rotatable gantry during a continuous rotation;
a cone-beam computed tomography (CT) reconstruction computer coupled to the rotatable gantry via a communications network, the cone-beam computed tomography (CT) reconstruction computer is operable to use the image projection data captured by the flat-panel imager to generate cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data of the patient; and
a separate workstation computer coupled to the cone-beam computed tomography (CT) reconstruction computer via the communications network, said separate workstation computer configured to receive and store a treatment plan.
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Abstract
A multi-mode cone beam computed tomography radiotherapy simulator and radiotherapy treatment machine is disclosed. The radiotherapy simulator and radiotherapy 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.
162 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a frame; a rotatable gantry coupled to the frame, the rotatable gantry capable of changing the speed of rotation during a continuous rotation; a high-energy radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry and configured to emit therapeutic radiation; a cone-beam radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry and configured to emit cone-beam radiation; a flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, the flat-panel imager being operable to capture image projection data of a patient by capturing at least a portion of the cone-beam radiation from the cone-beam radiation source while changing the speed of rotation of the rotatable gantry during a continuous rotation; a cone-beam computed tomography (CT) reconstruction computer coupled to the rotatable gantry via a communications network, the cone-beam computed tomography (CT) reconstruction computer is operable to use the image projection data captured by the flat-panel imager to generate cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data of the patient; and a separate workstation computer coupled to the cone-beam computed tomography (CT) reconstruction computer via the communications network, said separate workstation computer configured to receive and store a treatment plan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus, comprising:
a radiation treatment system capable of implementing a treatment plan, the radiation treatment system comprising; a rotatable gantry capable of changing the speed of rotation during a continuous rotation; a high-energy radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate a patient with therapeutic radiation; a cone-beam radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate the patient with cone-beam radiation; a kV flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, wherein the kV flat-panel imager is operable to capture image projection data of the patient by capturing at least a portion of the cone-beam radiation from the cone-beam radiation source; a cone-beam computed tomography (CT) reconstruction computer coupled to the rotatable gantry via a communications network, wherein the cone-beam computed tomography (CT) reconstruction computer is operable to use the image projection data captured by the kV flat panel imager to generate cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data of the patient; an MV flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, wherein the MV flat-panel imager is operable to capture image projection data of the patient by capturing at least a portion of the therapeutic radiation from the high-energy radiation source at non-uniformly spaced angles with respect to the rotation of the rotatable gantry while changing the speed of rotation of the rotatable gantry during a continuous rotation; and a separate workstation computer coupled to the cone-beam computed tomography (CT) reconstruction computer via the communications network, wherein said separate workstation computer receives and stores the image projection data captured by the kV flat-panel imager and stores the treatment plan. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method, comprising:
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receiving data for providing therapeutic radiation to a target volume at a computer, the data comprising a treatment plan and reference image data; emitting cone-beam radiation from a radiation source coupled to a rotatable gantry, the rotatable gantry and the radiation source being coupled to a frame; capturing first image projection data using a flat-panel kV imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, the first image projection data includes at least a portion of the cone-beam radiation transmitted through a patient; registering cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data with the reference image data stored on the computer, the cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data being associated with the first image projection data; applying with the radiation source therapeutic radiation to the target volume based on the treatment plan stored on the computer; capturing second image projection data of the target volume using the flat-panel kV imager coupled to the rotatable gantry while changing a speed of the rotatable gantry during a continuous rotation; and supporting the patient on a treatment couch in a first position before the applying, the treatment couch being in a second position during the applying, wherein capturing the second image projection data includes capturing the second image projection data at non-uniformly spaced angles with respect to rotation of the rotatable gantry. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method to perform a treatment, comprising:
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emitting a cone-beam from a radiation source; capturing first image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data capable of being used to reposition a treatment couch; transmitting at least a portion of the cone-beam through a target volume; receiving a treatment plan; continuing to rotate a rotatable gantry on which the flat-panel imager is mounted while capturing second image projection data; and capturing the second image projection data at non-uniformly spaced angles with respect to a rotation while changing the speed of rotation of the rotatable gantry during a continuous rotation. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification