Radiant energy – Irradiation of objects or material – Ion or electron beam irradiation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2003-01-21
Berman, Jack (Department: 2881)
Radiant energy
Irradiation of objects or material
Ion or electron beam irradiation
C709S251000, C700S001000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06509573
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for controlling a radiation device.
Such an arrangement is used in particular in a radiotherapy system for the treatment of tumours. Rays that come into consideration for use are particle rays, such as, for example, protons or heavy ions. In tumour therapy, particle rays offer special physical advantages over electromagnetic rays; for example, they have a so-called “inverted” dose profile, that is, the radiation dose deposited in the target volume—the tumour tissue—increases as the depth of penetration increases and has a sharp peak just before its maximum reach. With electromagnetic rays, on the other hand, the deposited radiation dose decreases as the depth of penetration increases, and a large part of the radiation dose is deposited in healthy tissue in front of and behind the tumour. In addition, particle rays are subject to substantially less deflection as they pass through thick tissue layers, and can be focussed extremely accurately on the tumour using magnetic lenses. Particle rays can therefore in principle be focussed on a target volume more effectively than electromagnetic rays. Moreover, heavy ions, for example, carbon or oxygen ions, additionally have significant biological benefits over protons in the destruction of tumour cells that are especially resistant to radiation.
For exact distribution of the heavy ion radiation dose over the target volume, it is known to proceed in accordance with the so-called raster scan method, used similarly in body-section radiography. A description of this method will be found in an article by Th. Haberer, W. Becher, D. Schardt and D. Kraft entitled “Magnetic scanning system for heavy ion therapy”, which appeared in “Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research” A330 (1993), p. 296-305. Here, the target volume is “separated” into individual slices of identical particle reach. In each slice, a grid pattern of points is defined, for each of which a number of particles to be deposited by the irradiation (radiation dose) is determined. The totality of the points and the particle numbers and particle energies allocated to them, that is, the distribution of the particle numbers over the total target volume, form a radiation plan. Starting with the rearmost slice, the particle ray, deflected by a pair of magnetic deflecting devices, scans each slice raster-fashion. The dose is varied from point to point in each slice, by directing the particle ray onto a point until the desired particle number value in accordance with the irradiation plan is reached.
It is difficult, however, to achieve an exact, reliable and sufficiently rapid control of the radiation device. Note that in the following text the term “control of a device” is used for the control and/or the monitoring of the same.
Up till now it has also been a problem to synchronise the control devices for beam deflection and particle number with one another such that during the course of irradiation they each relate at the same time to the same point in accordance with the irradiation plan. Otherwise, there is a risk that the patient will be harmed by an uncontrolled radiation process.
It is therefore the aim of the invention to produce an arrangement and a method for controlling a radiation device, which ensure an exact, rapid and reliable control of the beam.
According to the invention, the arrangement for controlling a radiation device comprises a chain of circuit modules, each circuit module having a separate communication connection to a preceding circuit module and a separate communication connection to a following circuit module.
In the method according to the invention for controlling a radiation device by means of control modules arranged in a chain, each control module communicates separately with a preceding control module and separately with a following control module.
The arrangement according to the invention and the method according to the invention are associated with a series of advantages. The provision of a separate communication connection to a preceding circuit module and a separate communication connection to a following circuit module allows reliable exchange of data between two circuit modules each time. Moreover, the communication of the other circuit module pairs is independent thereof, resulting in a separation of the data path and hence greater reliability of the arrangement.
According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the radiation device can be in the form of a heavy ion radiation device. Using this device, it is possible advantageously to carry out especially precise and effective tumour treatments.
According to a further aspect of the invention, in the arrangement at least one of the circuit modules can have a connection to an external memory facility. It is thus possible for data to be read out and monitored without influencing the operational sequence of the beam control.
According to a further aspect of the invention, in the arrangement all circuit modules can have a common trigger bus. Exact synchronisation of all circuit modules can therefore advantageously be achieved.
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“Systems for Overall Control and Beam Transport of the HIMAX,” Jun Mastsu'ura,Mitsubishi Electric Advance, Technical Reports, Sep. 1995, pp. 5-7.
“Control System for the Neutron Therapy Facility at Fermilab,” Shea et al.,Proceedings of the 1989 IEEE Particle Accelerator Conference, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, FN-512, Mar. 1989, pp. 1-3.
“Magnetic Scanning System for Heavy Ion Therapy,” Haberer et al.,Nuclear Instruments&Methods in Physics Research, Section A, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., 1993, pp. 296-305.
Badura Eugen
Brand Holger
Essel Hans-Georg
Haberer Thomas
Hoffmann Jan
Gesellschaft fuer Schwerionenforschung mbH
Marshall Gerstein & Borun
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