Radiotherapy machine including magnetic resonance imaging system
First Claim
1. In combination, a radiotherapy machine for deriving a radiotherapy bear for a region of a subject on a treatment couch, and a magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging the region and volumes abutting the region substantially simultaneously with the region being irradiated by the beam, the imaging system including a magnetic excitation coil assembly, the magnetic excitation coil assembly including first and second spaced segments on opposite sides of the region so an axis of the beam is between the first and second segments, the beam being arranged to be propagated along a beam axis, the beam axis being arranged to turn about another axis arranged to approximately extend through the region and approximately intersect the beam axis, the magnetic excitation coil assembly being mounted independently of movement of the beam axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radiotherapy machine beam treats a region of a subject while the region and volumes abutting the region are imaged by a magnetic resonance imaging system. The beam and an excitation coil assembly of the imaging system are arranged so the beam is not incident on the coil assembly and magnetic fields derived from the coil assembly do not interact with the beam. The excitation coil assembly includes two spaced winding segments for producing a main DC magnetic field; the segments are located on opposite sides of the region. In one embodiment, wherein the excitation coil assembly is mounted independently of movement of an axis of the beam, the winding segments have a common axis generally aligned with an axis about which the beam axis turns. A treatment couch for the subject fits within aligned central openings of the winding segments. The coil produces main magnetic field lines that extend generally in the same direction as the axis about which the beam turns. In other embodiments, the coil assembly moves with the beam axis and the treatment couch is between the coil segments. In one such embodiment, each winding segment includes a central opening (1) through which the beam axis extends; and (2) generally aligned with magnetic field lines established by and extending between the segments. In another such embodiment, the beam axis extends through a space between the segments, being generally orthogonal to magnetic field lines established by and extending between the segments.
329 Citations
28 Claims
- 1. In combination, a radiotherapy machine for deriving a radiotherapy bear for a region of a subject on a treatment couch, and a magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging the region and volumes abutting the region substantially simultaneously with the region being irradiated by the beam, the imaging system including a magnetic excitation coil assembly, the magnetic excitation coil assembly including first and second spaced segments on opposite sides of the region so an axis of the beam is between the first and second segments, the beam being arranged to be propagated along a beam axis, the beam axis being arranged to turn about another axis arranged to approximately extend through the region and approximately intersect the beam axis, the magnetic excitation coil assembly being mounted independently of movement of the beam axis.
- 25. In combination, a radiotherapy machine for deriving a radiotherapy beam for a region of a subject on a treatment couch, and a magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging the reaction and volumes abutting the region substantially simultaneously with the region being irradiated by the beam, the imaging system including a magnetic excitation coil assembly, the magnetic excitation coil assembly including first and second spaced segments on opposite sides of the region so an axis of the beam is between the first and second segments, the beam being arrange to be propagated along a beam axis, the beam axis being arranged to turn about another axis arranged to approximately extend through the region and approximately intersect the beam axis, the magnetic excitation coil assembly being mounted so it moves with movement of the beam axis.
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27. In combination, a radiotherapy machine for deriving a radiotherapy electron beam for a region of a subject on a treatment couch, and a magnetic resonance imaging system, including a magnetic excitation coil assembly, for imaging the region and volumes abutting the region substantially simultaneously with the reaction being irradiated by the beam, the substantially simultaneous imaging and beam irradiation being each that the radiotherapy electron beam is arranged to be alternately applied to and removed from the region while a magnetic field from the coil assembly is respectively removed from and applied to the region.
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28. In combination, a radiotherapy machine for deriving a radiotherapy electron beam for a region of a subject on a treatment couch, and a magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging the region and volumes abutting the region substantially simultaneously with the region being irradiated by the beam, the magnetic resonance imaging system including a superconductor coil for deriving a main DC magnetic field, a liquid helium source for cooling the superconductor coil to a liquid helium temperature, the substantially simultaneous imaging and beam irradiation being such that the radiotherapy electron beam is alternately applied to and removed from the region while current applied to the coil is arranged to be alternately turned off and on, respectively, and further including superconducting leads for applying current pulses to the coil, the superconducting leads being leads having a high superconducting temperature compared to the temperature of liquid helium.
Specification