IP Library Granted Patent US 10,751,014
Granted Patent B2
US 10,751,014 · App. 15/862,497 · Granted Aug 25, 2020

Using a rotating 2D X-ray imager as an imaging device to perform target tracking during radiation treatment delivery

Inventors: Michael P. Naylor (Sunnyvale, CA); Matthew Core (San Jose, CA); Petr Jordan (Redwood City, CA); Calvin R. Maurer, Jr. (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Accuray Incorporated
A61B6/4458A61B6/032A61B6/102A61B6/4007A61B6/4014A61B6/4266A61B6/4435A61B6/4476A61B6/486A61B6/5235A61N5/1049A61N5/1067A61N5/1083B25J9/04G02B30/54G21K1/025A61B6/4085A61B6/4464A61B6/466A61B6/5264A61B8/5276A61B2034/2065A61N5/1037A61N5/1081A61N2005/1054A61N2005/1061A61N2005/1072H05H9/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,751,014
App. No.
15/862,497
Granted
Aug 25, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes receiving, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient. The method further includes receiving a second image including the target of the patient. The method further includes tracking, by a processing device, a position of the target using the first image and the second image.

Claims (71)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient;

receiving a second image including the target of the patient; and

tracking, by a processing device, a position of the target using the first image and the second image, wherein performing the tracking comprises: maintaining an orthogonal alignment between a treatment beam of a linear accelerator (LINAC) and a source and detector pair of the volumetric imager during a radiation treatment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first image is a three-dimensional (3D) intrafraction image, and wherein the 3D intrafraction image is one of: a kilovoltage cone beam computed tomography (kV-CBCT) image, a megavoltage cone beam computed tomography (MV-CBCT) image, or a megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) image.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second image is received from one of: the volumetric imager or a static x-ray imager.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

retracting the volumetric imager to a retracted position while the treatment beam is active;

maintaining the orthogonal alignment between the LINAC and the volumetric imager while the volumetric imager is in the retracted position; and

extending the volumetric imager to an extended position while the treatment beam is inactive.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: maintaining the orthogonal alignment between the LINAC and the volumetric imager while the volumetric imager is in an extended position and the treatment beam is active.

6. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient;

receiving a second image including the target of the patient;

tracking, by a processing device, a position of the target using the first image and the second image, and

delivering a radiation treatment according to a radiation treatment plan, wherein the radiation treatment plan identifies a set of positions for a linear accelerator (LINAC) during the radiation treatment delivery, and wherein the set of positions for the LINAC is a filtered set of positions comprising positions that are equal to or greater than an imaging flexibility threshold.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient;

receiving a second image including the target of the patient; and tracking, by a processing device, a position of the target using the first image and the second image, wherein the first image is a megavoltage (MV) portal image.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising: maintaining a direct alignment between a treatment beam of a linear accelerator (LINAC) and a detector of the volumetric imager, such that the treatment beam is to hit an approximately center position of the detector.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the volumetric imager comprises a source and the detector and wherein the method further comprises modifying a position of the source of the volumetric imager to avoid contact between the LINAC and the source, and the treatment beam and the source.

10. A radiation treatment delivery system comprising:

a volumetric imager to acquire a first image of a target within a patient;

a linear accelerator (LINAC) to deliver a radiation treatment; and

a processing device, operatively coupled with the volumetric imager and the LINAC, to:

receive, from the volumetric imager, the first image;

receive a second image including the target; and

track a position of the target using the first image and the second image, wherein to

track the position of the target, the processing device is to:

maintain an orthogonal alignment between a treatment beam of the LINAC and a source and detector pair of the volumetric imager during a radiation treatment.

11. The system of claim 10 , the processing device further to:

retract the volumetric imager to a retracted position while the treatment beam is active;

maintain the orthogonal alignment between the LINAC and the volumetric imager while the volumetric imager is in the retracted position; and

extend the volumetric imager to an extended position while the treatment beam is inactive.

12. The system of claim 10 , the processing device further to: maintain the orthogonal alignment between the LINAC and the volumetric imager while the volumetric imager is in an extended position and the treatment beam is active.

13. A radiation treatment delivery system comprising:

a volumetric imager to acquire a first image of a target within a patient;

a linear accelerator (LINAC) to deliver a radiation treatment; and

a processing device, operatively coupled with the volumetric imager and the LINAC, to:

receive, from the volumetric imager, the first image;

receive a second image including the target; and

track a position of the target using the first image and the second image; and

a static x-ray imager, wherein the second image is received from the static x-ray imager.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first image is a three-dimensional (3D) intrafraction image, and wherein the 3D intrafraction image is one of: a kilovoltage cone beam computed tomography (kV-CBCT) image, a megavoltage cone beam computed tomography (MV-CBCT) image, or a megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) image.

15. A radiation treatment delivery system comprising:

a volumetric imager to acquire a first image of a target within a patient, wherein the first image is a megavoltage (MV) portal image;

a linear accelerator (LINAC) to deliver a radiation treatment; and

a processing device, operatively coupled with the volumetric imager and the LINAC, to:

receive, from the volumetric imager, the first image;

receive a second image including the target; and

track a position of the target using the first image and the second image.

16. The system of claim 15 , the processing device further to: maintain a direct alignment between a treatment beam of the LINAC and a detector of the volumetric imager, such that the treatment beam is to hit an approximately center position of the detector.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the volumetric imager comprises a source and the detector and wherein the processing device is further to modify a position of the source of the volumetric imager to avoid contact between the LINAC and the source, and the treatment beam and the source.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

receive, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient;

receive a second image including the target of the patient;

track, by the processing device, a position of the target using the first image and the second image; and

deliver a radiation treatment according to a radiation treatment plan, wherein the radiation treatment plan identifies a set of positions for a linear accelerator (LINAC) during the radiation treatment delivery, and wherein the set of positions for the LINAC is a filtered set of positions comprising positions that are equal to or greater than an imaging flexibility threshold.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

receive, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient;

receive a second image including the target of the patient; and

track, by the processing device, a position of the target using the first image and the second image, wherein the first image is a megavoltage (MV) portal image.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the second image is received from one of: the volumetric imager or a static x-ray imager.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein to track the position of the target, the processing device is to: maintain an orthogonal alignment between a treatment beam of a linear accelerator (LINAC) and a source and detector pair of the volumetric imager during a radiation treatment.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21 , the processing device further to:

retract the volumetric imager to a retracted position while the treatment beam is active;

maintain the orthogonal alignment between the LINAC and the volumetric imager while the volumetric imager is in the retracted position; and

extend the volumetric imager to an extended position while the treatment beam is inactive.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21 , the processing device further to: maintain the orthogonal alignment between the LINAC and the volumetric imager while the volumetric imager is in an extended position and the treatment beam is active.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , the processing device further to: maintain a direct alignment between a treatment beam of a linear accelerator (LINAC) and a detector of the volumetric imager, such that the treatment beam is to hit an approximately center position of the detector.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 24 , wherein the volumetric imager comprises a source and the detector and wherein the processing device is further to modify a position of the source of the volumetric imager to avoid contact between the LINAC and the source, and the treatment beam and the source.

Assignments (9)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2025
From: ACCURAY INCORPORATED
To: ACCURAY LLC
Reel/Frame 072421/0584 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2025
From: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
To: ACCURAY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 071638/0034 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2021
From: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST
To: ACCURAY INCORPORATED; TOMOTHERAPY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 056301/0491 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2021
From: MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST (AS SUCCESSOR BY ASSIGNMENT FROM MIDCAP FUNDING X TRUST, AS SUCCESSOR BY ASSIGNMENT FROM MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST, AS SUCCESSOR BY ASSIGNMENT FROM MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST)
To: ACCURAY INCORPORATED; TOMOTHERAPY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 056301/0432 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2021
From: ACCURAY INCORPORATED; TOMOTHERAPY INCORPORATED
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056247/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Mar 1, 2019
From: MIDCAP FUNDING X TRUST (AS SUCCESSOR BY ASSIGNMENT FROM MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST, AS SUCCESSOR BY ASSIGNMENT FROM MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST), AS EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST, AS SUCCESSOR TO EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 048481/0804 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2018
From: ACCURAY INCORPORATED; TOMOTHERAPY INCORPORATED
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST
Reel/Frame 046337/0107 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2018
From: ACCURAY INCORPORATED; TOMOTHERAPY INCORPORATED
To: MIDCAP FUNDING X TRUST (AS SUCCESSOR BY ASSIGNMENT FROM MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST, AS SUCCESSOR BY ASSIGNMENT FROM MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST)
Reel/Frame 046336/0932 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2018
From: NAYLOR, MICHAEL P.; CORE, MATTHEW; JORDAN, PETR; MAURER, CALVIN R., JR.
To: ACCURAY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 046004/0708 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62443582 · Jan 6, 2017
Related Publication 20180192976A1 · Jul 12, 2018