Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2003-08-26
Smith, Ruth S. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C600S424000, C600S426000, C600S427000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06611700
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for positioning a body to carry out radiation as well as to an apparatus with which such a positioning can be effectuated, the invention also relating to the use of a position sensor in radiosurgery and radiotherapy.
2. Description of Related Art
Radiation finds application in particular in the treatment of tumors in the human body. This involves the use of very high radiation doses, e.g. in radiosurgery, so that a precise positioning of the tissue to be irradiated is vital to preventing destroying surrounding healthy tissue.
Up until now, the location of a tumor is detected e.g. by a computer tomograph of the body, after which fiducial or marker points are applied to the skin surface of the patient to be irradiated. For positioning, the location of the tumor is determined exclusively by the markers applied to the surface of the body, after which radiation is performed. In this arrangement, the tumor of the patient is required to be located in the isocenter e.g. of a linear accelerator for radiation. The term isocenter defines the point in space through which all rays of the linear accelerator pass, irrespective of the location of a table resting the patient, and the gantry angle. When irradiation is carried out from several directions the dose accumulates in the isocenter, the tissue located further away from the isocenter receiving a smaller dose of radiation.
However, using markers arranged on the skin surface to determine the location of the tumor involves problems. For instance, markers attached to the skin surface of the patient to be irradiated may shift out of place so that an incorrect positioning of the isocenter is caused outside of a tumor to be irradiated. The location of the tumor itself may also shift after the markers have been positioned, when e.g. the patient has an a stomach tumor and drinks something after positioning of the markers and prior to irradiation, resulting in the stomach being dilated. In the case of lung tumors, the location of a tumor may be shifted out of place by as much as 2 centimeters due to respiration. These examples make it clear that after the location of a tumor has been detected, e.g. by a computer tomograph, the tissue to be irradiated or the markers may move out of place so that, incorrectly, the isocenter no longer lies in the tissue to be irradiated. This results in healthy tissue being irradiated and destroyed, and the tissue to be irradiated being located only in the border region of the radiation beam or even being no longer exposed thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to propose a method and an apparatus for positioning a body for radiation with which a point or site to be irradiated is may be precisely positioned in or surrounding the isocenter so that radiation can be performed which is exact and right on target.
This object is achieved by a method and an apparatus comprising the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments read from the sub-claims.
The advantages to be gained from the invention are based on a position sensor being inserted in the site of a position in the body to be irradiated and the detection of the location of the sensor relative to the point or volume to be irradiated, the body then being positioned using the signals of the position sensor so that the point or site to be irradiated is located in the isocenter or in a pre-given area surrounding it. Actual radiation is then carried out using the position of the tumor determined by the position sensor. A position sensor inserted in the body and positioned relatively shift-proof relative to the site to be irradiated, such as e.g. a tumor, may be anchored e.g. directly in a tumor or in a defined position relative thereto so that any movement of the position sensor relative to the tumor due to e.g. respiration of the patient is now no longer possible. In this arrangement, the position sensor is able to output signals indicating its position from which its three-dimensional location can be definitely determined which can serve to precisely position the body or also to control the radiation beam. In principle, any sensor may be used as the position sensor enabling the three-dimensional location, i.e. for example, the coordinates of a specific point of the sensor in space to be clearly determined. Flexible cable or tape-type sensors are available with the aid of which it is possible to detect the run of the sensor cable three-dimensionally on the basis of the signals output by the sensor. Thus, e.g. the curvature of the sensor at any desired point along its contour may be detected so that one or more fiducial points on the sensor can be easily detected which can be brought into a position relative to a tissue to be irradiated which does not shift out of place or only negligibly so. Once such a position sensor has been inserted in the body in the target site to be irradiated and suitably positioned, precise irradiation of the desired location can be performed using the position signals of the sensor which, preferably, are capable of detecting the precise position of the tissue to be irradiated at any point in time.
Preferably, the position sensor is inserted into the body with the aid of the information obtained from a computer tomograph or nuclear spin tomograph or some other diagnostic examination, such as e.g. palpation, and its end or a defined point on the sensor is positioned in the vicinity of the tumor. Subsequently, the position sensor may be firmly anchored or fixed in place e.g. in the tumor or in the tissue bordering the tumor or in or on a bone. This may be done e.g. by means of supporting or clamping elements externally movable at the inserted position sensor. Afterwards, the location of the position sensor relative to the target point in the target volume, e.g. spacing and directional vector, is determined by means of a suitable technique, e.g. with a second computer tomograph, thus enabling the location of the position sensor relative to the target point to be defined.
It may be necessary to reposition the end or other location of the position sensor should the distance between sensor and target point seem too large or if it cannot be assured that tumor and sensor move in the same way in the body, i.e. not stationary relative to each other.
However, it is also possible to insert the position sensor by means of some other method into the body in the site of the location to be irradiated and to fix it in place there by suitable means such as e.g. using an endoscope advantageously connected to the position sensor so that it can be tracked from outside of the body whether the position sensor is located suitably in the site of the tissue to be irradiated or whether it may require shifting still further which, of course, may also be checked by means of the method as, for example, as described above.
It is likewise possible to combine the two methods just described for positioning the position sensor.
The position sensor may remain in the body for the full duration of treatment or, alternatively, may also be newly inserted and positioned, where necessary, for each treatment session.
Radiating the body tissue marked by the position sensor may be carried out e.g. so that a lung tissue, moving due to respiration, is only radiated when the signals of the position sensor indicate that, at this time, the tumor is in a defined site circumscribing the isocenter. If the tumor wanders outside of this site due to a respiratory movement, the radiation source is simply signaled OFF until the site to be irradiated is again within the permitted site. Radiation of this kind is also termed “gated radiotherapy ” and may be precisely performed in particular using the method in accordance with the invention. It is likewise possible that the position of the site to be irradiated changes due to the body being shifted out of place to such an extent that the site is again in a permitted site circumscribing the isocenter.
The apparatus for radiat
Fröhlich Stephan
Vilsmeier Stefan
BrainLAB AG
Renner , Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
Smith Ruth S.
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