Imaging method with a radiotherapy device and radiotherapy device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9282941-B2
Application number	US-201213671368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2012
Priority date	Nov 8, 2011
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

A method for imaging with a radiotherapy device is provided. The radiotherapy device includes a movably mounted imaging apparatus with an X-ray source and an oppositely disposed X-ray detector. The method includes preparing a first image with the imaging apparatus from a first imaging direction. The imaging apparatus is moved to a position that permits the preparation of a second image from a second imaging direction extending at an angle to the first imaging direction. The method also includes preparing the second image with the imaging apparatus from the second imaging direction, and verifying the position of an object to be irradiated using the first image and the second image.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for imaging with a radiotherapy device, the radiotherapy device comprising an imaging apparatus that is movably mounted, the imaging apparatus comprising an X-ray source and an oppositely disposed X-ray detector, the method comprising:
storing a plurality of different therapeutic beam directions in a treatment plan;
setting a first imaging direction based on the treatment plan such that the first imaging direction corresponds to a first therapeutic beam direction stored in the treatment plan;
preparing a first image with the imaging apparatus from the first imaging direction, the preparing of the first image being performed before a therapeutic beam application along the first therapeutic beam direction;
moving the imaging apparatus to a position that permits the preparation of a second image from a second imaging direction, which extends at an angle to the first imaging direction, and permits the therapeutic beam application along the first therapeutic beam direction;
preparing the second image with the imaging apparatus from the second imaging direction, the preparing of the second image being performed after the therapeutic beam application; and
verifying a position of an object to be irradiated using the first image and the second image.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
preparing a third image, moving the imaging apparatus into another position, and preparing a fourth image between two consecutive applications of the therapeutic beam along different therapeutic beam directions of the plurality of different therapeutic beam directions.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising determining a sequence of the plurality of different therapeutic beam directions such that, for a selected therapeutic beam direction of the plurality of different therapeutic beam directions, the therapeutic beam direction selected from the plurality of different therapeutic beam directions still to be used for a following therapeutic beam application, with a selected therapeutic beam application, encloses an angle closest to a system angle between a main direction of the imaging apparatus and a main direction of the therapeutic beam source.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
preparing a third image, moving the imaging apparatus to another position, and preparing a fourth image before the application of a therapeutic beam along another therapeutic beam direction of the plurality of different therapeutic beam directions.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting a subset from the plurality of different therapeutic beam directions; and
only performing preparing a third image, moving the imaging apparatus to another position, and preparing a fourth image before applications of a therapeutic beam along one of the therapeutic beam directions of the subset.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the radiotherapy device further comprises a rotation apparatus and a therapeutic beam source, the imaging apparatus and the therapeutic beam source being attached to the rotation apparatus so that a rotation of the imaging apparatus and a rotation of the therapeutic beam source about an object to be irradiated are interlinked.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising setting the second imaging direction based on the treatment plan.

8. A radiotherapy device comprising:
a therapeutic beam source;
an imaging apparatus that is movably mounted and comprises an X-ray source and an oppositely disposed X-ray detector;
a memory configured to store a plurality of different therapeutic beam directions in a treatment plan;
a control apparatus configured to:
control the therapeutic beam source and the imaging apparatus during a radiation therapy session in order to apply radiation stored in the treatment plan;
set a first imaging direction based on the treatment plan such that the first imaging direction corresponds to a first therapeutic beam direction stored in the treatment plan;
prepare a first image with the imaging apparatus from the first imaging direction, the preparation of the first image being performed before a therapeutic beam application along the first therapeutic beam direction;
move the imaging apparatus to a position that permits the preparation of a second image from a second imaging direction, which extends at an angle to the first imaging direction, and permits the therapeutic beam application along the first therapeutic beam direction;
prepare the second image with the imaging apparatus from the second imaging direction, the preparation of the second image being performed after the therapeutic beam application; and
verify a position of an object to be irradiated using the first image and the second image.

9. The radiotherapy device as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising a rotation apparatus, the therapeutic beam source and the imaging apparatus being attached to the rotation apparatus so that a rotation of the imaging apparatus and a rotation of the therapeutic beam source about an object to be irradiated are interlinked.

10. The radiotherapy device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the control apparatus is further configured to set the second imaging direction based on the treatment plan.

Assignees

• Grasruck Michael
• Heiter Robert
• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Grasruck Michael
• Heiter Robert

Classifications

• A61N2005/1061

  using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source · CPC title

• A61B6/48 Primary

  Diagnostic techniques (A61B6/022, A61B6/025 A61B6/032, A61B6/037 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B6/022 Primary

  Stereoscopic imaging · CPC title

• A61B6/032

  Transmission computed tomography [CT] · CPC title

• A61N5/1069

  Target adjustment, e.g. moving the patient support · CPC title