Radiation delivery system in a medical apparatus for orthovoltage radiation therapy

Abstract

Radiation therapy delivery system, including X-ray source, magnetic body rotation fixation node and/or mechanical body rotation fixation node; filter unit with a plurality of filters and a plug that circle a cylindrical element; drive unit for rotating filter unit; collimation elements in a collimation unit body, that includes collimation element fixation device and collimation photoelectric identification system; and processor controlling the filter unit to adjust X-ray filtration characteristics. The filter unit includes filter photoelectric identification system, controller, and photoelectric sensors. The cylindrical element includes slits located on rings that run along outer surface. Photoelectric sensors are triggered by a light beam that passes through the slits to identify/position filters. First ring with first photoelectric sensor identifies zero position of the filter, second ring with second photoelectric sensor identifies filter working positions, and third ring with a set of slits for each filter, and third photoelectric sensor for filter identification.

Claims

1. A radiation delivery system in a medical apparatus for radiation therapy, comprising: an X-ray generator module; a filter unit with a plurality of filters arranged on a cylindrical element, wherein one of the filters is a lead X-ray blocker, wherein the X-ray generator module is inside the cylindrical element; a drive unit for rotating the filter unit; a removable collimator having a photoelectric identification encoding for identifying the collimator; and a processor producing control signals to the drive unit for rotating the filter unit, wherein the filter unit includes a filter photoelectric identification system and photoelectric sensors, wherein the cylindrical element includes slits located on rings that run along its outer surface, and wherein the photoelectric sensors are located so as to be triggered by a light beam that passes through the slits in order to identify and/or to position the filters, wherein a first ring with a first photoelectric sensor identifies a zero position of the filter in the filter unit, a second ring with a second photoelectric sensor identifies a working positions of the filters, and a third ring with a set of slits for each filter, and including a third photoelectric sensor, is used for filter type identification, wherein a number of ring combinations defines a maximum number of filters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the filters have spherical shapes, their segmented surface area is S.sub.s=2πRH from X to Y cm.sup.2.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical element is drum-shaped, and wherein the cylindrical element includes two rolling bearings and connected with a gear motor of the drive unit capable of rotating the filter unit via a gear train.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the X-ray generator includes a magnetic body rotation fixation node that comprises a clamping handle, a right drive axle with a handle rotation limiter, a left drive axle, a right clamp and a left clamp that come into contact with a braking surface of its body with an X-ray tube of the X-ray generator, and wherein the magnetic rotation fixation node comprises electromagnets and/or an electromagnetic clutch.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the collimator includes a lock fixed on a center axis of a filter that is currently aligned, and wherein the collimator also includes a conical guide and an eccentric mechanism with an eccentric located on a rotation handle axis.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the photoelectric identification encoding of the collimator has unique collimation element identification codes, and each collimation element has a unique set of cylindrical rings, which are functionally coupled with the photoelectric sensors via the processor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the photoelectric identification encoding is functionally coupled to the processor for displaying parameters of the system onto a monitor screen and is also adapted to provide the X-ray beam with a predetermined energy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a general view of the radiation delivery system in a medical apparatus.

(4) FIG. 2 shows a general view of the generator module.

(5) FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the generator module shown in FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 4 shows the assembly of the generator module shown in FIG. 2.

(7) FIG. 5 shows a cross-section fragment of the X-ray tube rotation fixation node.

(8) FIG. 6 shows a general view of the cylindrical element of the filter unit.

(9) FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section of the cylindrical element of the filter unit, shown in FIG. 6.

(10) FIG. 8 shows the assembly of the collimation element unit.

(11) FIG. 9 shows a general view of the collimation element unit.

(12) FIG. 10 shows the generator module (200 kV) with the collimation element unit and the X-ray tube rotation fixation node.

(13) FIG. 11 shows a longitudinal section of the generator module (200 kV).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(14) Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

(15) With reference to the figures, the radiation delivery system in the medical apparatus 1 comprises a generator unit 2 with an X-ray tube 26 as a source of radiation, installed in its body 21 equipped with a magnetic body rotation fixation node 22 and/or a mechanical body rotation fixation node 25; a filter unit 3 with filters (4) having segmented surface area of S.sub.s=2πRH from X to Y cm.sup.2 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 7) and a plug 5 that circle a drum-shaped cylindrical element 6 equipped with slits 14 located on rings 15 that run along its outer surface 16; a filter 4 photoelectric identification system 11, with photoelectric sensors 13, 132, 133 and a controller 12; a drive unit 7 for rotating the filter unit 3; collimation elements 8, each having a set of cylindrical rings 41 and a fixation device 18 installed in a collimation unit 17 body; a collimation element 8 photoelectric identification system 19 that uses the controller 12 to control photoelectric sensors 13a, 13b, 13c of the laser system 11; an LED lighting device 20; a screen 9; and a data processing and output module 10 that produces control signals to adjust X-ray filtration characteristics.

(16) During the assembly process of the medical apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1), the module 2 with an X-ray tube 26 as a source of radiation is installed into the body 21, which is then equipped with a magnetic body rotation fixation node 22 and/or a mechanical body rotation fixation node 25. The magnetic rotation fixation node 22 is equipped with an electromagnet 23 or an electromagnetic clutch 24, while the mechanical fixation node 25 is equipped with a clamping handle 34, a right drive axle 35 with a handle 34 rotation limiter 36, as well as a left drive axle 37, a right clamp 38 and a left clamp 39 that come into contact with the braking surface 40 of the body 21 with the X-ray tube 26.

(17) The filter unit 3 with a plurality of filters 4 and a plug 5 that circle the cylindrical element 6 is installed, wherein the cylindrical element 6 is drum-shaped; it is equipped with two rolling bearings and connected with a gear motor 28 of the drive unit 7 capable of rotating the filter unit 3 via a gear train 27. The outer surface 16 of the cylindrical element 6 has rings 15 with slits 14 used to identify the filters 4, and the filter unit 3 is equipped with a photoelectric identification system 11, which comprises a controller 12 and photoelectric sensors 13a, 13b, 13c that are located so as to be triggered by a light beam that passes through the slits 14 in order to identify or position the filters 4. One of the rings 15 with a separate photoelectric sensor 13a is set aside for the zero position of the filter 4 in the filter unit 3; another ring 15 with a separate photoelectric sensor 13b is set aside for the working positions of the filters 4; and yet another ring 15 with a unique set of slits for each filter, equipped with photoelectric sensors 13c, is set aside for filter type identification. The filters are made in a spherical shape with the segmented surface area of S.sub.s=2πRH from X to Y cm.sup.2 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 7), to provide for homogeneous filtering of X-ray radiation.

(18) Then the collimation element unit 17 is installed that is equipped with a collimation element fixation device 18 comprising a conical guide 30, a lock 28 fixed on an axis 33, an eccentric mechanism with an eccentric 32 located on the rotation handle 31 axis, a collimator 29 used to generate parallel X-ray beams, and an LED lighting device 20.

(19) Then the collimation element photoelectric identification system 19 is mounted, which has unique collimation element identification codes, and for that purpose, each collimation element 8 has a unique set of cylindrical rings 41, which are functionally coupled with photoelectric sensors of the filter 4 identification system 11 via the controller 12. Also, the collimation element identification system 19 and the filter 4 identification system 11 are functionally coupled with the module 10 for processing and outputting data onto the screen 9 and are adapted to provide the X-ray beam with a given energy.

(20) The radiation delivery system in the medical apparatus 1 works as follows. The operator selects an operation mode using the operator's workstation software, and then the required filter 4 is automatically selected by rotating the filter unit 3 by means of the gear train 27 that is connected to the gear motor 28 of the drive unit 7. The filter unit 3 is rotated so that its angle corresponds to the selected filter 4, while the zero position is determined with the help of the photoelectric sensor 13a. The positioning of the selected filter is checked with the help of the photoelectric sensor 13b. If necessary, the rotation angle is adjusted by rotating the filter unit 3 by means of the gear motor 28 that is controlled via the controller 12.

(21) Then the unique code of the selected filter 4 is additionally compared with the code received from the photoelectric sensors 13c. If these two codes match, the permission to start is issued, and if they do not, the operator's workstation software 9 issues an error message, and the start is blocked. Collimation elements 8 are set up manually, then they are centered with the focal point of the X-ray tube 26 by means of the conical guide 30, and then they are fixed with the lock 28 by rotating the handle 31 with the eccentric mechanism 32.

(22) Each collimation element has a unique code that corresponds to its unique set of cylindrical rings 41. The code is read by the collimation element 8 photoelectric identification system 19 during the collimation element 8 setup. If the received code of the collimation element 8 is among the whitelisted codes for the selected operation mode, the permission to start is issued, and if it is not, an error message is displayed on the screen 9, and the start is blocked. The working area is illuminated by an LED lighting device 20 that is turned on and off by a button located near the screen 9. In the operating position, the generator unit 1 is securely fixed by the mechanical fixation node 25 by turning the handle 34, wherein the braking surface 40 is grasped by the clamps 38, 39.

(23) As may be seen from the above description of the radiation delivery system in the medical apparatus 1 for orthovoltage radiation therapy, the invention disclosed herein provides higher precision of filter and collimation element identification than that of the prior art, by using the filter 4 and collimation element 8 photoelectric identification system 11 that comprises photoelectric sensors 13a, 13b, 13c controlled by the controller 12, which ensures the required safety of delivering the radiation to the target area of the patient's body.

(24) A number of identification methods can in theory be applied, such as contact identification, magnetic identification, or optical identification. Optical identification (via optoelectronic slit sensors) has been chosen because it has the following advantages:

(25) 1) Positioning accuracy (limited only by the precision with which the parts are manufactured);

(26) 2) Multiple radiation reflection resistance (since it works in the infrared range);

(27) 3) Wide product range and low price;

(28) 4) Minimum additional elements are required;

(29) 5) Works in a wide temperature range and a wide supply voltage range;

(30) 6) Can be enhanced with noise-proof coding (e.g., Gray code);

(31) 7) Resistance to contaminants (since the slit is located in the point of application only);

(32) 8) Its structure allows to place sensors in a convenient configuration depending on the filter (applicator) shape.

(33) Having thus described a preferred embodiment, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the described method and system have been achieved.

(34) It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The invention is further defined by the following claims.

(35) References (all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety): 1. X-ray therapy system XSTRAHL 150, **xstrahl.com/xstrahl-150/2. RU Patent No. 156568 U1, issued Nov. 10, 2015. 3. U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,940 B2, issued May 13, 2008. 4. U.S. Pat. No. 7,263,170 B2, issued Aug. 28, 2007.