초록 ▼

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for beamline security in radiation beam treatment facilities. The system monitors and controls the radiation beam steering system to safeguard against wrong-path and multiple-path conditions which could otherwise lead to accidental radiatio

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for beamline security in radiation beam treatment facilities. The system monitors and controls the radiation beam steering system to safeguard against wrong-path and multiple-path conditions which could otherwise lead to accidental radiation exposure. One aspect of the method involves comparing the beam path configuration signals to signals corresponding to a requested beam configuration to check for agreement, as well as singular path configuration. Controller checks are performed using complimentary-redundant logical communication paths applied to the state of the beam steering system. Upon detection of any one of several possible error conditions, such as over-heating, communication link failure, unauthorized personnel entry and multiple path condition, the beamline power supplies are disabled, preventing transfer of the radiation beam to the treatment room.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] In a radiation beam therapy system comprising a radiation beam source, a plurality of radiation beam treatment locations, and a multiplexed switchyard and beam transport system for directing the radiation beam to a selected one of the radiation beam treatment locations, a method of

[ We claim:] [1.] In a radiation beam therapy system comprising a radiation beam source, a plurality of radiation beam treatment locations, and a multiplexed switchyard and beam transport system for directing the radiation beam to a selected one of the radiation beam treatment locations, a method of radiation beam security comprising the steps of:(a) receiving a beam request signal from a selected treatment location;(b) deriving a beam path configuration signal from said beam request signal indicative of a selected beam path for said radiation beam from said source to said selected treatment location;(c) selecting the switchyard and beam transport system configuration in accordance with said beam path configuration signal by enabling a first set comprising of less than all of a plurality of switchyard and beam transport elements to provide a path for transport of said radiation beam to said selected treatment location;(d) sensing the configuration of the switchyard and beam transport system to verify that (i) all of said first set of elements of the switchyard and beam transport elements are enabled so that the switchyard and beam transport system configuration allows radiation beam transport to said selected treatment locations along said selected beam path and (ii) all of the elements of said plurality of elements not in said first set are not enabled so that the switchyard and the beam transport system configuration does not allow radiation beam transport along a non-selected beam path of said plurality of beam paths; and(e) in response to step (d), providing radiation beam transport to said selected treatment location.