Radiation systems with minimal or no shielding requirement on building

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9308395-B2
Application number	US-201113310582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2011
Priority date	Dec 2, 2011
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A radiation system includes a support, a capsule rotatably coupled to the support, a radiation source movably coupled to the capsule, wherein the radiation source is configured to provide a treatment radiation beam, and is capable of being turned on or off in response to a control signal, and a collimator located next to the radiation source, wherein the capsule defines a space for accommodating a portion of a patient, and includes a shielding material for attenuating radiation resulted from an operation of the radiation source, and wherein the shielding material is configured to limit a radiation exposure level to 5 mR/hr or less within 3 meters from an isocenter.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A radiation system, comprising:
a support;
a capsule rotatably coupled to the support;
a radiation source movably coupled to the capsule, wherein the radiation source is configured to provide a treatment radiation beam, and the radiation source is configured to be turned on or off in response to a control signal; and
a collimator located at an operative position relative to the radiation source;
wherein the capsule includes a shielding material for attenuating radiation resulting from an operation of the radiation source, and wherein the shielding material is configured to limit a radiation exposure level to 5mR/hr or less within 3 meters from an isocenter; and
wherein the capsule has a first capsule portion defining a first space, and a second capsule portion coupled to the first capsule portion, the second capsule portion defining a second space, the first space and the second space together forming a spatial region, the spatial region configured for accommodating a portion of a patient,
the spatial region configured to accommodate a portion of a patient,
wherein the capsule includes an opening configured to permit entry of the portion of the patient into the spatial region and located on a first side of the capsule,
wherein the first capsule portion and the second capsule portion are connected to each other via a connection,
wherein the capsule also includes a cover on a second side of the capsule opposite from the first side, the cover covering a part of the spatial region and configured to prevent the portion of the patient from exiting the spatial region, and
wherein the second capsule portion is rotatable relative to the first capsule portion and has a rigid configuration.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation source comprises a linear accelerator.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation source is configured to provide radiation having an energy range that is anywhere between 0.2 MV to 8 MV.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation source and the capsule are configured to provide a source to isocenter distance (SID) that is less than 800 mm.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the space has a cross sectional width that is wide enough to accommodate a head of the patient, but not a body of the patient.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a patient support for supporting the patient.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the capsule comprises an opening, and the patient support is configured to translate the patient to insert the portion of the patient into the capsule through the opening.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a shield coupled to the patient support for blocking at least some radiation that comes from within the space and exits through the opening of the capsule.

9. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a base, wherein the support and the patient support is coupled to the base to thereby allow the system as a whole to be transported in one unit.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the shielding material is configured to obviate a need to provide shielding at a building.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the capsule is rotatable relative to the support about a first axis that is approximately parallel to a plane of a floor.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first capsule portion and the second capsule portion together defines a partial spherical wall.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation source is coupled to the second capsule portion, and the radiation source is oriented such that an axis of the radiation beam from the radiation source forms a non-zero acute angle with an axis that is at 90° with respect to a plane of a floor.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the capsule together with the shielding material is rotatable about an axis that is not at 90° with respect to a plane of a floor.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation source is titlable relative to the capsule.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an imager located at an operative position relative to the radiation source.

17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more diagnostic radiation sources coupled to the capsule, and one or more imagers that correspond with the respective one or more diagnostic radiation sources.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system has a total weight that is less than 20k lbs.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cover is integrally formed with a wall of the capsule.

Assignees

• Adler Jr John R
• Whittum David H
• Prince Steven W
• Clayton James E
• Varian Med Sys Inc

Inventors

• Adler Jr John R
• Whittum David H
• Prince Steven W
• Clayton James E

Classifications

• G21F7/00

  Shielded cells or rooms · CPC title

• G21F3/00

  Shielding characterised by its physical form, e.g. granules, or shape of the material · CPC title

• A61B6/107

  Protection against radiation, e.g. shielding · CPC title

• A61N2005/1095

  Elements inserted into the radiation path within the system, e.g. filters or wedges · CPC title

• G21F5/02

  with provision for restricted exposure of a radiation source within the container · CPC title