RADIATION THERAPY WITH ORTHOVOLTAGE X-RAY MINIBEAMS

摘要

A method for delivering therapeutic radiation to a target includes positioning a multi-aperture collimator on the skin within a trajectory of orthovoltage x-rays directed at the target, thus generating an array of minibeams, each of width between 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm. The skin is irradiated with the array. An effective beam of therapeutic radiation, which may be a solid beam, is delivered to the target at a predetermined tissue depth by merging adjacent orthovoltage x-ray minibeams sufficiently to form the effective beam. The effective beam may be formed proximal to the target. The depth at which the effective, preferably, solid, beam is formed is controlled by varying one or more of the spacing of the minibeams in the array, the minibeam width, the distance from the x-ray source to the collimator, and the x-ray source spot size. Planar minibeams can be arc-scanned while continuously modulating beam shape and intensity.

主权项

1. A method for delivering therapeutic radiation to a target within a subject, wherein the target is located at a predetermined depth, the predetermined depth being measured from an irradiated portion of a surface of the skin of the subject, the method comprising:
positioning a multi-aperture collimator within a trajectory of radiation produced by an x-ray source generating orthovoltage x-rays, the trajectory of orthovoltage x-rays being directed at the target, the multi-aperture collimator positioned and configured to generate an array of minibeams on the surface of the skin comprising slightly diverging spatially distinct minibeams having a predetermined center-center spacing between adjacent minibeams, and wherein a width of each minibeam is between about 0.1 mm and about 0.6 mm; irradiating the surface of the skin with the array of minibeams; and delivering an effective beam of therapeutic radiation to the target, said delivering including controlling a tissue depth from the irradiated surface of the skin at which adjacent orthovoltage x-ray minibeams merge sufficiently to form the effective beam of therapeutic radiation.