Guided radiation therapy system

摘要

A system and method for accurately locating and tracking the position of a target, such as a tumor or the like, within a body. In one embodiment, the system is a target locating and monitoring system usable with a radiation delivery source that delivers a selected doses of radiation to a target in a body. The system includes one or more excitable beacons positionable in or near the target, an external excitation source that remotely excites the beacons to produce an identifiable signal, and a plurality of sensors spaced apart in a known geometry relative to each other. A computer is coupled to the sensors and configured to use the beacon measurements to identify a target isocenter within the target. The computer compares the position of the target isocenter with the location of the machine isocenter. The computer also controls movement of the patient and a patient support device so the target isocenter is coincident with the machine isocenter before and during radiation therapy.

主权项

1. A method for providing radiation treatment for a patient during a radiation treatment session, comprising:
during the radiation treatment session, initially delivering therapeutic radiation energy to a machine isocenter in accordance with initial radiation energy delivery parameters; throughout the radiation treatment session, tracking the location of a predefined treatment site of the patient relative to the machine isocenter by energizing or exciting a marker implanted in the patient's body via an excitation source positioned exterior to the patient to determine the location of the marker, wherein the marker resonates at a unique frequency to produce an identifiable signal when energized or excited by the excitation source; and altering the radiation energy delivery parameters in accordance with which radiation energy is delivered in the radiation treatment session in a manner responsive to the location tracking.