Method and apparatus for irradiating a target

1. A method for irradiating a target, comprising:

establishing a relationship of the at least one marker relative to the target by determining a relative position between the at least one marker and the target;

generating an image signal of the at least one marker;

generating a tracking signal in response to the image signal; and

adjusting a radiation beam in response to the tracking signal to track the target;

wherein the target is tracked while performing an intensity modulated radiotherapy using a first multi-leaf collimator, and wherein in the intensity modulated radiotherapy, a leaf of the first multi-leaf collimator is adjusted such that a first portion of the target receives more radiation than a second portion of the target.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

the step of generating an image signal includes generating an X-ray image of the at least one marker; and

the step of generating a tracking signal includes generating the tracking signal to track a movement of the target.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of generating an image signal includes generating the image signal regarding an anatomy of a patient having a tumor as the target.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of generating an image signal further includes the steps of:

illuminating the target and an area near the target with a first beam; and

detecting a first image of the at least one marker found by the first image beam.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the step of generating an image signal further includes the steps of:

illuminating the target and the area near the target with a second image beam unparallel to the first image bean; and

detecting a second image of the at least one marker formed by the second image beam.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of adjusting a radiation beam further includes the steps of:

superposing the tracking signal on a radiation treatment plan; and

generating a beam adjustment signal using the treatment plan with the tracking signal superimposed thereon.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first multi-leaf collimator has a plurality of movable leaves arranged in two rows opposite to each other.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the step of adjusting a radiation beam further includes adjusting the radiation beam using a second multi-leaf collimator having a plurality of movable leaves arranged in two rows opposite to each other and unparallel to the plurality of leaves of the first multi-leaf collimator.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of adjusting a radiation beam further includes temporarily switching off the radiation beam in response to the tracking signal having a value indicating the target being outside an area.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target is located beyond a head region of a patient.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the leaf of the first multi-leaf collimator is adjusted for a first field.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising further adjusting the leaf of the first multi-leaf collimator for a second field.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises healthy tissue.

14. A method for irradiating a target in an animal body, comprising:

establishing a relationship of at least one marker relative to the target by determining a relative position between the at least one marker and the target, the at least one marker being placed internally in the animal body;

generating an image signal of the at least one marker;

generating a tracking signal in response to the image signal; and

adjusting a radiation beam in response to the tracking signal to track the target;

wherein the target is tracked while performing an intensity modulated radiotherapy using a first multi-leaf collimator, and wherein the intensity modulated radiotherapy, a leaf of the first multi-leaf collimator is adjusted such that a first portion of the target receives more radiation than a second portion of the target.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of generating the image signal includes:

illuminating the target and an area near the target with a first image beam; and

detecting a first image of the at least one marker formed by the first image beam.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the step of generating the image signal further includes:

illuminating the target and the area near the target with a second image beam unparallel to the first image beam; and

detecting a second image of the at least one marker formed by the second image beam.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of adjusting the radiation beam includes:

superimposing the tracking signal on a radiation treatment plan; and

generating a beam adjustment signal using the treatment plan with the tracking signal superimposed thereon.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first multi-leaf collimator has a plurality of movable leaves arranged in two rows opposite each other.

19. An apparatus for irradiating a target, comprising:

a platform for supporting an object having a marker indicating a position of the target;

a radiation source, said radiation source generating a radiation beam toward said platform;

a beam adjuster between said radiation source and said platform, said beam adjuster comprising a first multiple leaf collimator;

a first image detector, said first image detector generating a first image signal of the marker; and

a control module coupled to said image detector to said beam adjuster, said control module generating a beam adjustment signal for controlling said first multiple leaf collimator to track a movement of the target in response to the first image signal;

wherein said control module is configured to control said first multiple leaf collimator to perform an intensity modulated radiotherapy, and wherein in the intensity modulated radiotherapy, a leaf of the first multiple leaf collimator is adjusted such that a first portion of the target receives more radiation than a second portion of the target.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , said control module being further coupled to said platform and generating a control signal to move said platform in response to the first image signal.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 , said first image detector including at least one device selected from a group of devices consisting of a video camera, an X-ray imager, a magnetic field detector, an ultrasound sensor, a computed tomography imager, a single photon emission computed tomography imager, a magnetic resonance imager, a magnetic resonance spectroscopy imager, and a positron emission tomography imager.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a gantry, said gantry housing said radiation source and said beam adjuster.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , said control module being further coupled to said gantry and generating a control signal to move said gantry in response to the first image signal.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a first image beam source generating a first image beam toward said platform, said first image detector generating the first image signal by detecting the first image beam.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 , further comprising:

a second image beam source, said second image beam source generating a second image beam toward said platform and unparallel to the first image beam; and

a second image detector coupled to said control module, said second image detector generating a second image signal by detecting the second image beam.

26. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein said first multiple leaf collimator comprised of a first row of movable leaves and a second row of movable leaves opposite to each other.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 , said beam adjuster further including a second multiple leaf collimator between said first multiple leaf collimator and said platform and comprised of a plurality of movable leaves unparallel to said first row and said second row of movable leaves in said first multiple leaf collimator.

28. A method for irradiating a target, comprising the steps of:

using an internal anatomy of a patient as a marker;

establishing a relationship of the marker relative to the target;

generating an image signal of the marker;

generating a tracking signal in response to the image signal; and

adjusting a radiation beam in response to the tracking signal to track the target;

wherein the target is tracked while performing an intensity modulated radiotherapy using a first multi-leaf collimator, and wherein in the intensity modulated radiotherapy, a leaf of the first multi-leaf collimator is adjusted such that a first portion of the target receives more radiation than a second portion of the target.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the image signal is generated using a camera.

30. A process for irradiating a target in an animal body, comprising the steps of:

collecting a plurality of images at a plurality of phases in a same physiological cycle, said plurality of images providing an indication of a location of the target relative to an internal marker;

creating a treatment plan based at least in part on the plurality of images collected at the plurality of phases in the cycle; and

delivering a radiation beam to the animal body according to said treatment plan;

wherein the radiation beam is delivered to perform an intensity modulated radiation therapy on a target of the animal body in which a first region of the target receives more radiation than a second region of the target while the target is being tracked, the target being tracked and the radiation beam being delivered by adjusting one or more leaves of a multi-leaf collimator.

31. The process of claim 30 , wherein said internal marker comprises an anatomical structure.

32. The process of claim 30 , wherein said internal marker is implanted in the animal body.

33. A method for irradiating a target, comprising:

determining a position of the target;

tracking the target based on the determined position; and

delivering radiation to perform an intensity modulated radiation therapy on the target while the target is being tracked;

wherein the target is tracked by adjusting one or more leaves of a multi-leaf collimator, and wherein the radiation is delivered by further adjusting one of the one or more leaves of the multi-leaf collimator to modulate an intensity of the radiation delivered to the target such that a first region of the target receives more radiation that a second region of the target.

34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the target is tracked using an anatomical structure of a patient.

35. The method of claim 33 , wherein the target is tracked using a marker externally placed on a patient.

36. The method of claim 33 , wherein the target is tracked using a marker implanted within a patient.

37. The method of claim 33 , wherein the position is determined using a camera.