LINAC QUALITY CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract

A quality control device which enables all the routine quality controls of linear particle accelerators (LINACs), which are used in radiation oncology, to be performed automatically. The quality control device includes a sensor panel having at least twenty one first optical sensors, at least two laser distance sensors, at least two g-sensors, at least one second optical sensor disposed at a depth of 1 mm from a surface of the sensor panel, and a 2 mm diameter hole located on the surface of the sensor panel above the at least one second sensor; a measurement panel including at least one linear light detector and at least one linear radiation detector for determining an isocenter that receives light and a possible cross-wire angle by performing a light area scanning; an inclinometer providing an angle correction by obtaining angle information from each position of the measurement panel; and a motorized system.

Claims

1. A quality control device for automatically performing all routine mechanical quality controls of linear particle accelerators (LINC) used in radiation oncology, comprising: a sensor panel positioned inside a case when not being used and enters an operational mode by exiting out of an end section of the case during a control process; wherein, the sensor panel comprises at least twenty one first optical sensors, at least two laser distance sensors, at least two g-sensors, at least one second optical sensor disposed at a depth of 1 mm from a surface of the sensor panel, and a 2 mm diameter hole opened at a portion located on the surface of the sensor panel above a section where the at least one second sensor is disposed in order to provide a clear field of view of the at least one second optical sensor; a measurement panel comprising at least one linear light detector and at least one linear radiation detector for determining an isocenter that receives light and a possible cross-wire angle by performing a light area scanning, an inclinometer providing an angle correction by obtaining angle information from each position of the measurement panel; and a motorized system configured to move the sensor panel located inside the case along three axes; the movement along three axes being back- and forth, horizontal and rotational; wherein, the motorized system comprises at least one rotational movement motor providing the rotational movement of the sensor panel, at least one horizontal movement motor providing the horizontal movement of the sensor panel on a horizontal plane, at least one back and forth movement motor providing the back and forth movement of the sensor panel, at least one back and forth movement gear transferring a drive of the back and forth movement motor to the sensor panel, at least one horizontal movement gear transferring a drive of the horizontal movement motor to the sensor panel, a back-and-forth movement motor bearing system accommodating the back-and-forth movement motor, a horizontal movement motor bearing system accommodating the horizontal movement motor, a horizontal movement motor linear bearing system accommodating the horizontal movement motor), a back-and-forth movement motor linear bearing system accommodating the back-and-forth movement motor, and at least one belt and pulley mechanism of rotational movement for transferring a drive of the rotational movement motor to the sensor panel; wherein, the case serves as a shell providing protection against impacts and the motorized system is disposed in the case.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] The drawings illustrating the LINAC quality control device developed with the present invention are given below for a better understanding of the invention.

[0064] FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of the LINAC device and the treatment table of the LINAC device.

[0065] FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of the treatment head at 90°.

[0066] FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of the treatment head at 180°.

[0067] FIG. 1D shows a perspective view of the treatment head at 270°.

[0068] FIG. 1E shows a perspective view of the treatment table at 90°.

[0069] FIG. 1F shows a perspective view of the treatment table at −90°.

[0070] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the LINAC quality control device according to the invention.

[0071] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the sensor panel in the LINAC quality control device according to the invention.

[0072] FIG. 4 shows perspective view of the motorized systems moving the sensor panel in the LINAC quality control device according to the invention.

[0073] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the optical sensor system which is located at a certain depth from the surface of the sensor panel in the LINAC quality control device according to the invention.

[0074] FIG. 6A shows a top left view of a UFC device.

[0075] FIG. 6B shows a top view of the UFC device.

[0076] FIG. 6C shows a top right view of the UFC device.

[0077] FIG. 6D shows a left view of the UFC device.

[0078] FIG. 6E shows a back view of the UFC device.

[0079] FIG. 6F shows a right view of the UFC device.

[0080] FIG. 6G shows a bottom left view of the UFC device.

[0081] FIG. 6H shows a bottom view of the UFC device.

[0082] FIG. 6I shows a bottom right view of the UFC device.

[0083] FIG. 7A shows a top left view of a measurement panel.

[0084] FIG. 7B shows a top view of the measurement panel.

[0085] FIG. 7C shows a top right view of the measurement panel.

[0086] FIG. 7D shows a left view of the measurement panel.

[0087] FIG. 7E shows a back view of the measurement panel.

[0088] FIG. 7F shows a right view of the measurement panel.

[0089] FIG. 8 shows positions and locations of photodiodes.

[0090] FIG. 9 shows Detector Positions.

[0091] FIG. 10 shows X-Ray Detector Position and Size (Measurement Panel Cross Section).

[0092] FIG. 11 shows X-Ray Detector Position (Measurement Panel Vertical Section).

[0093] FIG. 12 shows directions of UFC Measurement Panel Movements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PART REFERENCES

[0094] The parts/portions/components which are shown in the drawings illustrating the LINAC quality control device developed with the present invention for a better understanding of the invention are enumerated individually and the reference numbers corresponding thereto are given below. [0095] 1. LINAC quality control device [0096] 2. Collimator [0097] 2.1 Cross-wire (isocenter) Central axis of the area in which treatment will be made [0098] 3. LINAC treatment head rotatable 360° around the patient [0099] 4. Portal imaging system which allows taking images of the patient before and during the treatment [0100] 5. Treatment table capable of moving at 6 axes (back-and-forth, up-and-down, horizontal, rotational, angular, pitch) on which the patient lies during the treatment [0101] 6. Sensor panel. [0102] 6.1. Back-and-forth movement of the panel [0103] 6.2. Horizontal movement of the panel [0104] 6.3. Rotational movement of the panel [0105] 7. Motorized system capable of moving the sensor panel at 3 axes [0106] 8. Impact-resistant casing of the LINAC quality control device [0107] 9.1. Optical sensor 1 [0108] 9.2. Optical sensor 2 [0109] 9.3. Optical sensor 3 [0110] 9.4. Optical sensor 4 [0111] 9.5. Optical sensor 5 [0112] 9.6. Optical sensor 6 [0113] 9.7. Optical sensor 7 [0114] 9.8. Optical sensor 8 [0115] 9.9. Optical sensor 9 [0116] 9.10. Optical sensor 10 [0117] 9.11. Central optical sensor 11 [0118] 9.12. Optical sensor 12 [0119] 9.13. Optical sensor 13 [0120] 9.14. Optical sensor 14 [0121] 9.15. Optical sensor 15 [0122] 9.16. Optical sensor 16 [0123] 9.17. Optical sensor 17 [0124] 9.18. Optical sensor 18 [0125] 9.19. Optical sensor 19 [0126] 9.20. Optical sensor 20 [0127] 9.21. Optical sensor 21 [0128] 10.1. Laser distance sensor 1 [0129] 10.2. Laser distance sensor 2 [0130] 11.1. G-sensor 1 [0131] 11.2. G-sensor 2 [0132] 12.1. Rotational movement motor [0133] 12.2. Horizontal movement motor [0134] 12.3. Back-and-forth movement motor [0135] 13.1. Back-and-forth movement gear [0136] 13.2. Horizontal movement gear [0137] 14.1. Back-and-forth movement motor bearing system [0138] 14.2. Horizontal movement motor bearing system [0139] 15.1. Linear bearing system accommodating the horizontal movement motor [0140] 15.2. Linear bearing system accommodating the back-and-forth movement motor [0141] 16. Belt and pulley mechanism of rotational movement [0142] 17. Optical sensor [0143] 18. 2 mm diameter hole opened on the optical sensor. [0144] 19.1 UFC Device Top Left View [0145] 19.2 UFC Device Top View [0146] 19.3 UFC Device Top Right View [0147] 19.4 UFC Device Left View [0148] 19.5 UFC Device Back View [0149] 19.6 UFC Device Right View [0150] 19.7 UFC Device Top Left View [0151] 19.8 UFC Device Bottom View [0152] 19.9 UFC Device Bottom Right View [0153] 20 Measurement Panel [0154] 20.1 Measurement Panel Top Left View [0155] 20.2 Measurement Panel Top View [0156] 20.3 Measurement Panel Top Right View [0157] 20.4 Measurement Panel Left View [0158] 20.5 Measurement Panel Back View [0159] 20.6 Measurement Panel Right View [0160] 21.1 Linear Light Photodiodes [0161] 21.2 Center top Photodiode [0162] 21.3 Center Left Photodiode [0163] 21.4 Center Photodiode [0164] 21.5 Center Right Photodiode [0165] 21.6 Center Bottom Photodiode [0166] 21.7 Inclinometer [0167] 22 Radiation Detector [0168] A. Outward Movement of the Measurement Panel [0169] B. Inward Movement of the Measurement Panel

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0170] Sensor Panel (6): The sensor panel (6) which may be positioned in the casing (8) of the quality control device (1) when not in use and which, during the controlling process, can be made to assume its operational position by protruding from the end portion of the casing (8), is provided thereon with the following such that the required measurements will be performed: [0171] At least 21 optical sensors (9.1-9.21), [0172] At least 2 laser distance sensors (10.1 and 10.2), [0173] At least 2 G-sensors (11.1 and 11.2), [0174] At least one optical sensor (17) which is located at a depth of 1 mm from the surface of the panel (6), and [0175] A 2 mm hole (18) made in the portion of the panel (6) surface coming over the optical sensor (17) in order to provide the viewpoint of the sensor (17).
All of said sensors are disposed on one surface of the panel (6) and the panel (6) surface on which such sensors are located is entirely flat.
The positioning of the sensors is as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 in the primary embodiment of the invention; however, they may be positioned differently in different embodiments of the invention.
Thanks to the motorized system (7) to which the sensor panel (6) is connected, the latter is capable of moving at 3 axes: back-and-forth (6.1), horizontal (6.2) and rotational (6.3).
Motorized System (7): The motorized system (7), which is the mechanism that enables the sensor panel (6) to move at 3 axes, i.e. back-and-forth, horizontal and rotational axes, further allows the panel (6) to be introduced into and protrude from the casing (8) (6.1), and when in protruded position, to move in horizontal direction (6.2) and rotationally (6.3).
The motorized system (7) within the casing (8) comprises: [0176] At least 1 rotational movement motor (12.1) allowing the rotational movement of the panel (6), [0177] At least 1 horizontal movement motor (12.2) allowing the movement of the panel (6) in horizontal plane, [0178] At least 1 back-and-forth movement motor (12.3) allowing the back-and-forth movement of the panel (6), [0179] At least 1 back-and-forth movement gear (13.1) transferring the drive of the back-and-forth movement motor (12.3) to the panel (6), [0180] At least 1 horizontal movement gear (13.2) transferring the drive of the horizontal movement motor (12.2) to the panel (6), [0181] Back-and-forth movement motor bearing system (14.1) accommodating the back-and-forth movement motor (12.3), [0182] Horizontal movement motor bearing system (14.2) accommodating the horizontal movement motor (12.2), [0183] Horizontal movement motor linear bearing system (15.1) accommodating the horizontal movement motor (12.2), [0184] Back-and-forth movement motor linear bearing system (15.2) accommodating the back-and-forth movement motor (12.3), and [0185] At least one belt and pulley mechanism (16) of rotational movement which transfers the drive of the rotational movement motor (12.1) to the panel (6).
Casing (8): It serves as a shell which provides protection against impacts, in which the motorized system (7) is disposed and the sensor panel (6), when not in use, is positioned.
In the primary embodiment of the invention, the casing (8) is made of any type of metal alloy, e.g. aluminium or steel; furthermore, it may as well be made of polymer material according to the application area.

[0186] Film for dosimetric tests, 2 dimensional measurement apparatus and water phantom equipment such as the field testing equipment that have been drawn and can be rotated by hand are used in the invention. The position of the equipment is determined by the user and the equipment is aligned and usually measurement is carried out by the sight of the user. The equipment used in mechanical quality controls of medical LINAC devices, are positioned by the user and the alignment is performed again by the user. Measurements carried out with said equipment can lead to uncertainty depending on the positioning of the user. Similarly the measurements carried out by such equipment are precise such that they can be determined by the eye of the user and their repeatability is low. As the measurements carried out during the tests are carried out by the sight of the user, the deviation amounts that occur at the end of the test are recorded by the user. Due to this reason measurements can be taken only at certain angles and distances.

[0187] Although equipment used for dosimetric quality control testing are digital, the initial positioning and alignment of said equipment are again performed by the user. Similar to mechanical testing uncertainty is again possible as mistakes can be made at the initial point of measurement. As the positions of detectors on the dosimetric quality control equipment are stable (except the water phantom) the resolution of the measurements carried out with these equipment are dependent on the number and size of the detectors used by the manufacturer. The quality control equipment (UFC) subject to the invention, first of all determines the light area isocenter and the possible cross-wire angle by scanning the light area with the measurement panel (20) after it is set on the treatment table. At the same time angle correction is carried out by using a software after obtaining the angle information of the measurement panel at each position of the measurement panel with the high precision inclinometer (21.7) located thereon. By this means, the UFC device becomes independent from the user during initial positioning and inclination and the uncertainty due to these actions are eliminated.

[0188] As a result of the scan carried out by means of the linear light photodiodes (21.1) that have been disposed on the measurement panel, light area and cross-wire position and sizes can be determined. By means of the light photodiodes (21.1, 21.2. 21.3, 21.4, 21.5, 21.6) positioned at the centre, the cross-wire position can be determined. By using these two detector groups at the same time, isocenter determination can be carried out for each angle of the cross-wire. Thereby measurements which can be performed only at certain angles using other equipments can be carried out in all angles, continuously.

[0189] By means of the linear radiation detectors (22) disposed in the measurement panel the position and size of the radiation field can be determined. The UFC device can, not only conduct dosimetric tests such as symmetry and smoothness tests using the field data red by these detectors, it can also compare the positions of the light field and the radiation area in comparison to each other.

[0190] The UFC device collects data with a scanning method by moving the linearly aligned detectors in order to read the light area and radiation areas. By means of the motor that can rotate angularly with high precision and the encoder that controls motor rotation, the positions on which position the measurement panel can carry out measurement shall be able to be adjusted by software. By this means the field reading resolution of the UFC device can be changed according to the preference of the user. The medical LINAC quality control equipment that is to be produced (UFC), can perform the task of several different measurement equipments used for mechanical and dosimetric tests on its own, with higher accuracy, higher precision and higher repeatability. The medical LINAC users that do not need to use a different equipment for each test, can perform quality controls in shorter periods of time and can store the results of the measurements carried out digitally.

[0191] By means of conducting the measurements carried out with a UFC device with higher precision, higher repeatability and higher accuracy, and by determining the possible medical LINAC device deviations easily and with precision, the patients will be able to receive accurate and precise treatment.

[0192] By being able to measure and compare the light area and radiation area with a single measurement system it is easier to determine the possible deviations in treatment techniques in which the light area is used as reference and to carry out the determinations of these deviations with higher accuracy and precision.

[0193] The tests that can be carried out only from the outside of the treatment room using radiation field, can be conducted from inside the treatment room using light area by being able to measure and compare the light area and radiation area with higher accuracy and precision. Due to this feature, the obligation of the service engineers to leave the treatment room during correction of possible deviations in the medical LINAC device is eliminated.

[0194] By means of the motion range of the adjustable measurement panel, the UFC device can reach very high resolutions, can be used for small area dosimetry which is challenging for the physicists.

[0195] Using the light detectors positioned at the center, the UFC device which can carry out cross-wire tracking, is able to receive the cross-wire position and angle not only at certain angles but continuously. As a result, it can determine the angle, the amount and the direction of the deviation. This information shows the exact position of the error for the service engineer who corrects the deviation that may occur in the medical LINAC device and it makes it much easier for the error to be corrected. The UFC device reads the field data by moving the light and radiation detectors positioned linearly thereon. By this means the resolution of the measurements carried out can be adjusted according to the preference of the user. Also, by means of this mobility, the number of detectors to be used in the measurement panel is significantly reduced and it has been enabled for the light and radiation detectors to be disposed on a single measurement panel.

[0196] By the aid of the high resolution inclinometer positioned on the measurement panel, the UFC device determined the angular errors of the measurement panel and it corrects them with software. The high resolution encoder connected to the motor system which moves the measurement panel determines the accuracy of the position of the measurement panel. Due to these features the UFC device can continuously test the accuracy of its own measurements.

[0197] The light detectors positioned at the center of the measurement panel, determine the cross-wire position and angle with high precision. By using the linear light detectors and the center detectors at the same time, the cross-wire position and each angle of the cross-wire can be read.