초록 ▼

A proton beam digital imaging system comprising an X-ray source which is movable into the treatment beam line that can produce an X-ray beam through a region of the patient. An X-ray receiver receives the X-ray beam after it has passed through the patient and the X-ray receiver generates photons tha

A proton beam digital imaging system comprising an X-ray source which is movable into the treatment beam line that can produce an X-ray beam through a region of the patient. An X-ray receiver receives the X-ray beam after it has passed through the patient and the X-ray receiver generates photons that correspond to the X-ray image. The photons are directed to a TEC CCD camera to produce a patient orientation image which displays the orientation of the center of the beam relative to selected monuments in the patient's skeletal structure. The system also receives a master prescription image which displays the target isocenter with respect to the same selected monuments of the patient's skeletal structure. By comparison of the relative positions of the center of the beam in the patient orientation image and the isocenter in the master prescription image with respect to the selected monuments, the amount and direction of movement of the patient to make the beam center correspond to the target isocenter is determined.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An imaging system for a proton beam therapy system having a proton source, a beam delivery system with a nozzle that is mounted on a gantry so that said proton beam can be delivered to the patient from a plurality of angles, wherein said proton beam therapy system receive

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An imaging system for a proton beam therapy system having a proton source, a beam delivery system with a nozzle that is mounted on a gantry so that said proton beam can be delivered to the patient from a plurality of angles, wherein said proton beam therapy system receives a master prescription image of a region of a patient that is to be treated, said imaging system comprising:an imaging beam source mounted on said beam delivery system wherein said imaging beam source is movable between a first position, wherein said imaging source can project an imaging beam along a treatment beam path towards a first side of said patient, and a second position wherein said imaging source is removed from said beam path to thereby allow said proton beam to travel along said treatment path;an imaging beam receiver attached to said gantry so that said receiver is centered about said beam path throughout a plurality of angles of orientation of the gantry wherein said receiver receives said imaging beam after it has passed through a region of the patient that is positioned in said beam path;an image capture device proximate to said receiver, wherein said image capture device directly receives a non-intensified signal from said receiver and produces a patient orientation image of the region of the patient's body that is positioned in said beam path; anda controller which receives both said master prescription image and said patient orientation image, wherein said controller is configured so that one or more rigid structures can be designated on said master prescription image so as to define the relative position of an isocenter to be treated in the patient's body with respect to said one or more rigid structures and wherein said controller is also configured so that said one or more rigid structures can be designated on said patient orientation image so that said controller can determine the relative location of the center of said beam line with respect to said one or more rigid structures and wherein said controller using said relative position of said target isocenter and said beam line center with respect to said one or more rigid structures determine the relative movement between the patient and the gantry required so that the position of the center of the beam line with respect to the one or more rigid structures corresponds to the position of the target isocenter with respect to said one or more rigid structures.