CN206792814U - External beam radiotherapy system - Google Patents

Abstract

An external beam radiotherapy system includes a plurality of compartments separated from each other by a radiation shield. Each compartment includes a patient support system including a support member and a fixation member for supporting and spatially fixing a target portion of a patient for irradiation. The radiation source housing includes at least one radiation source operable to emit a beam of radiation into the compartments towards the target portion in each compartment. Each compartment comprises a beam shaper for shaping a radiation beam emitted into the compartment. The radiation shield is configured to provide sufficient shielding in each compartment from radiation generated in other compartments according to a safety standard.

Description

An external beam radiotherapy system

technical field

The present invention relates generally to radiation therapy and radiation systems, and in particular to systems and methods for external beam radiation therapy, especially for the treatment of multiple patients.

Background technique

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) involves irradiating a target within a patient with an external beam of typically megavolt photons. Historically, this beam has been generated by radioactive cobalt teletherapy devices using a Co ⁶⁰ isotope radioactive source. The radiation source is shielded and mounted on a gantry that rotates in a vertical plane and emits a beam towards a horizontally positioned patient.

Linear accelerators (linear accelerators) have been preferred for cobalt irradiators due to their higher energy (which has the advantage of deeper penetration), higher intensity (which has the advantage of shorter treatment time), and lower Penumbra (which has the advantage of higher quality dose delivery). Linac radiation beams are generated by accelerating electrons in a vacuum towards a target. Linear accelerators are generally more expensive and require more complex maintenance than Co-60 irradiators.

Turning off the radiation beam, ie so that the system does not emit the radiation beam at the target, is accomplished electronically at the linac and mechanically at the radiocobalt teletherapy device, such as by moving the source away from the primary collimator to a shielded position. This can also be achieved by blocking the beam using an attenuating shutter.

EBRT shielding of the inside and outside of the treatment room or treatment area. To the inside of the treatment room, the source enclosure (which substantially surrounds the source, except where the beam is emitted) provides shielding from unwanted radiation. To the outside of the treatment room, the system enclosure (eg, dome) provides protection. Adequate shielding is based on international and local standards.

The source enclosure typically consists of an attenuating vessel surrounding the source and a fixed primary collimator as the only passage for the radiation beam. Additional collimators may be provided for shaping the beam aperture.

The vault protects not only from the direct (primary) beam but also from secondary radiation resulting from leakage from the radiation device and its beam shaper, as well as radiation scattered from the treated patient, room walls, etc.

Typical EBRT treatments are sequenced as multiple time fractions. Fractional radiation times are in the range of minutes. Increasing the delivered dose rate reduces fractional radiation time and can increase EBRT system throughput.

In arc radiation therapy, the patient is continuously irradiated as the beam rotates around the patient in a plane generally perpendicular to the patient. The ability to deliver complete sections through an arc subtending a full circle reduces treatment time. Although additional sequentially delivered conical arcs (ie, beams not perpendicular to the patient) would increase dose delivery, such additional arcs are generally not implemented for body radiation therapy.

Contents of the invention

The present invention seeks to provide a novel system and method for external beam radiation therapy, as described hereinafter.

Embodiments according to the present invention thus provide an external beam radiation therapy system comprising a plurality of compartments spaced from one another by radiation shielding, each compartment comprising a patient support system comprising a support member and a fixation member for for supporting and spatially fixing a target portion of a patient to be irradiated, and a radiation source housing including at least one radiation source operable to emit a beam of radiation toward the target portion in each compartment, wherein each compartment comprising a beam shaper for shaping the radiation beam emitted into the compartment, and wherein the radiation shields are configured to provide adequate shielding in each compartment from radiation generated in the other compartments in accordance with safety standards, and at least one of the Radiation sources emit radiation beams omnidirectionally through different channels towards each compartment, wherein at least one radiation source comprises a linear accelerator operable to sequentially deflect a beam of accelerated electrons in vacuum toward radiation generating targets, wherein each radiation generating target configured to allow radiation to be directed towards a particular one of the compartments.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the beam is generally horizontal, and wherein for at least one compartment, the patient support system is operable to rotate about a generally vertical axis of rotation.

In one non-limiting embodiment, said at least one radiation source comprises a linear accelerator operable to sequentially deflect a beam of accelerated electrons in vacuum towards radiation generating targets, wherein each radiation generating target is directed into a respective compartment specific compartment.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the at least one radiation source is rotatable about an axis of rotation and is configured to emit a radiation beam towards a particular compartment during rotation of the at least one radiation source.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the at least one radiation source emits beams omnidirectionally, thereby emitting radiation beams to each compartment simultaneously.

In one non-limiting embodiment, a radiation interceptor is provided to selectively block said at least one radiation beam from being emitted into at least one compartment.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the at least one support member is configured to support a patient in one compartment in a different orientation than another support member in another compartment.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the system is used in a method of EBRT to irradiate patients in different compartments, patients may be irradiated substantially simultaneously or sequentially.

Description of drawings

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated through the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of an extracorporeal beam therapy system constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

2 is a simplified schematic diagram of a compartment in the EBRT system of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

detailed description

Reference will now be made to FIG. 1 , which illustrates an external beam therapy system 10 constructed and operative in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

EBRT system 10 includes a plurality of compartments 12 spaced apart from one another by radiation shields 14 . The radiation shield 14 is configured to provide adequate shielding in each compartment from radiation generated in other compartments according to safety standards. Each compartment is adequately shielded 14 from secondary radiation generated in other compartments. In each compartment 12 there is a patient support system 16 comprising a support member and a fixation member 20 for supporting and spatially fixing an irradiation target portion 22 of the patient. The support member may be a horizontally rotatable bed 18A on which the patient can sit, or a standing turntable 18B on which the patient can stand or a sitting turntable 18C on which the patient can sit. In all of these examples, the patient is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis of rotation 23 (FIG. 2). The axis of rotation 23 is generally transverse to the radiation beam associated with the compartment.

As can be seen in Figure 1, each bay 12 of the EBRT system 10 may include a different support member (18A-18C) for use in a different orientation (e.g., lying down, standing, sitting, or leaning on) to support the patient. This increases the system's versatility and broadens its ability to handle different medical applications.

The fixation member 20 may be a standard fixation component of a stereotaxic radiosurgery system, such as clips, nails, screws or the like.

EBRT system 10 includes a radiation source housing 24 having one or more radiation sources 26 (eg, Co ⁶⁰ isotope) capable of emitting a radiation beam into each compartment 12 towards a target portion 22 within each compartment 12 . Any radiation may be used, such as but not limited to heavy particle radiation or photon radiation (gamma radiation).

Each compartment 12 includes one or more beam shapers 28 (eg, cylindrical collimators, multi-leaf collimators, physical compensators, etc.) for shaping the radiation beam emitted to that compartment. All collimators within the compartment are operable to respectively direct respective beams to a common location within the compartment, where the target to be treated is located. Patient support and collimators within the compartment can be customized for specific applications where the patient can stand, sit, lean or lie down. The resolution and field size of the collimator can also be optimized for the application, as can the position of the axis of rotation 23 relative to the source housing 24 . Optimizing the respective compartments for a specific application allows simultaneous treatment of, for example, prostate, lung and chest.

In one embodiment, radiation source 26 is a radioactive source (eg, a cobalt-60 source) that emits radiation in a variety of orientations (eg, omnidirectional). In another embodiment, the radiation source 26 may be a linear collimator that emits beams sequentially in a desired direction. For example, a radiation beam may be generated by an electron gun, accelerated by an accelerating structure with microwave pulses from a magnetron, and then electron optics deflect the accelerated electrons in vacuum towards a radiation generating target. The impinging electrons on each target generate corresponding radiation beams that are directed to different compartments. Quick sequencing of these radiation beams is practically equivalent to simultaneous radiation from omnidirectional radiation sources. In another embodiment, the radiation source housing 24 is rotated such that the radiation beam is directed to the different compartments sequentially.

In another embodiment, one or more radiation interceptors 30 are provided for selectively blocking radiation beams emitted to the compartment. Interceptor 30 may be a shutter that selectively blocks the beam. Alternatively, the beam can be occluded by moving the radiation source away from the beam shaper 28 as in prior art teletherapy cobalt 60 devices.

Imaging equipment (not shown) may be provided, such as, for example, fluorescence imaging or ultrasound equipment, for imaging the target irradiated by the beam.

Claims (6)

1. a kind of external beam radiotherapy system, it includes：

The multiple compartments being spaced apart from each other by radiation shield, each compartment include patient support system, it include supporting member and Fixing component, for the target moiety radiate of with supporting union space immobilized patients, and

Radiation source shell, it includes at least one radiation source, and the operable target moiety with the direction each compartment is launched Radiation beam is to the compartment, wherein each compartment includes beam shaper, for be emitted into the radiation beam of the compartment into Shape, and wherein described radiation shield is configured as the radiation according to safety standard in each compartment to being generated in other compartments Shielding enough is provided, and wherein described at least one radiation source is sent out in all directions towards each compartment by different passages Penetrate radiation beam,

Wherein described at least one radiation source includes linear accelerator, and its is operable with suitable in a vacuum towards generation target is radiated Accelerated electron beam is deflected to sequence, wherein each radiation generation target is configured to allow radiation by towards in the compartment Particular compartment guides.

2. external beam radiotherapy system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation beam is typically horizontal, and At least one compartment is wherein directed to, the patient support system is operable with around generally vertical rotary shaft rotation.

3. external beam radiotherapy system according to claim 1, wherein at least one radiation source can be around rotation Axle rotates and is configured as launching radiation towards the particular compartment in the compartment during at least one radiation source rotation Beam.

4. external beam radiotherapy system according to claim 1, wherein at least one radiation source is with diversity Orientation transmitting radiation beam, so as to launch radiation beam to each compartment simultaneously.

5. external beam radiotherapy system according to claim 1, in addition to radiation blocker, for selective shut-off At least one radiation beam is launched at least one compartment.

6. external beam radiotherapy system according to claim 1, wherein at least one supporting member is configured To support the patient in a compartment with the orientation different from another supporting member in another compartment.