Energy application apparatus

摘要

An energy application apparatus applies energy to an object. The object (2), such as a tumor which has absorbed a radioisotope tracer, defines a location (3) of radioactive material. A location detection unit detects the location with the radioactive material. An x-ray unit applies x-rays to the detected location of the object. Since the location, to which energy should be applied, includes radioactive material, this location can be accurately detected by using the location detection unit. Moreover, since the application of the x-rays can be well controlled by controlling, for example, the intensity and the energy spectrum of the x-rays, energy can be accurately applied to the accurately detected location. The overall process of applying energy to the object can therefore be performed with increased accuracy.

主权项

1. An energy application apparatus for applying energy to a body of a patient, wherein the patient comprises a location with radioactive material and wherein the energy application apparatus comprises: a location detection unit being usable for detecting the location with the radioactive material, an x-ray unit for applying x-rays to the detected location of the patient, and an insertable interventional device configured for being inserted into the body of the patient, including at least a part of the location detection unit and at least a part of the x-ray unit such that the location with the radioactive material is detectable and x-rays are applicable to the detected location via the interventional device, and wherein the location detection unit comprises an array of detection elements for detecting radiation from the radioactive material and for generating a detection signal being indicative of the detected radiation, wherein the array of detection elements is adapted to generate a spatial detection signal depending on the location of the respective detection element, wherein the energy application apparatus comprises a direction determination unit for determining a direction of maximal radioactivity based on the spatial detection signal, and wherein the direction determination unit is adapted to differentiate the spatial detection signal and to determine the direction of maximal radioactivity based on the differentiated spatial detection signal.