Single-pass imaging and radiation treatment delivery via an extended rotation gantry
An example method of radiation therapy in a radiation therapy system that includes a gantry with a treatment-delivering X-ray source and an imaging X-ray source mounted thereon is described. The method includes rotating the gantry in a first direction at a first rotational velocity about an open bore and concurrently rotating an annular support structure at a second rotational velocity about the open bore, wherein the second rotational velocity is less than the first rotational velocity. While continuing to rotate the gantry in the first direction about the open bore from a first position to a treatment position, the method also includes generating multiple images of a target volume disposed in the bore using the imaging X-ray source. Upon rotating the gantry to the treatment position, the method includes initiating delivery of a treatment beam to the target volume with the treatment-delivering X-ray source.
1. A computer-implemented method of radiation therapy in a radiation therapy system that includes a gantry with a treatment-delivering X-ray source and an imaging X-ray source mounted thereon, the method comprising:
rotating the gantry in a first direction at a first rotational velocity about an open bore of the radiation therapy system;
while continuing to rotate the gantry in the first direction about the open bore from a first position to a treatment position, generating multiple images of a target volume disposed in the open bore using the imaging X-ray source; and
upon rotating the gantry to the treatment position:
initiating delivery of a treatment beam to the target volume with the treatment-delivering X-ray source; and
continuing to rotate the gantry a complete revolution in the first direction from the treatment position to the treatment position while a first end of a flexible utility conduit is coupled to the treatment-delivering X-ray source and a second end of the flexible utility conduit is coupled to a connector mounted on a stationary drive stand rotatably coupled to the gantry.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising, while rotating the gantry in the first direction at the first rotational velocity about the open bore, energizing an electromagnet that is coupled to a non-rotating surface of the stationary drive stand and is configured to separate a first portion of the flexible utility conduit from a second portion of the flexible utility conduit during rotation of the gantry.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation therapy system includes a conduit management cylinder that is configured to guide the flexible utility conduit from the treatment-delivering X-ray source to the connector mounted on the stationary drive stand.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the radiation therapy system includes an annular support structure that rotates about the open bore and on which the conduit management cylinder is mounted, the method further comprising, while rotating the gantry in the first direction at the first rotational velocity, rotating the annular support structure about the open bore in the first direction at a second rotational velocity that is less than the first rotational velocity.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the second rotational velocity is one half of the first rotational velocity.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising, while continuing to rotate the gantry in the first direction from the treatment position, interleaving an imaging process with the delivery of the treatment beam.
7. A radiation treatment system comprising:
a stationary drive stand;
a gantry with a treatment-delivering X-ray source mounted thereon, wherein the gantry is rotatably coupled to the stationary drive stand and is configured to rotate in a first direction about a bore of the radiation treatment system at a first rotational velocity; and
a processor configured to:
cause the gantry to rotate in the first direction about the bore from a first position to a treatment position at the first rotational velocity while a first end of a flexible utility conduit is coupled to the treatment-delivering X-ray source and a second end of the flexible utility conduit is coupled to a connector mounted on the stationary drive stand; and
causing the gantry to continue to rotate a complete revolution in the first direction about the bore from the treatment position to the treatment position while the first end of the flexible utility conduit is coupled to the treatment-delivering X-ray source and the second end of the flexible utility conduit is coupled to the connector mounted on the stationary drive stand.
8. The radiation treatment system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to initiate delivery of a treatment beam to a target volume disposed in the bore using the treatment-delivering X-ray source.
9. The radiation treatment system of claim 7 , further comprising a conduit management cylinder that is configured to guide the flexible utility conduit from the treatment-delivering X-ray source to the connector mounted on the stationary drive stand.
10. The radiation treatment system of claim 9 , further comprising an annular support structure that rotates about the bore, wherein the conduit management cylinder is coupled to the annular support structure.
11. The radiation treatment system of claim 10 , wherein the annular support structure is rotatably coupled to the stationary drive stand.
12. The radiation treatment system of claim 10 , wherein the conduit management cylinder is rotatably coupled to the annular support structure.
13. The radiation treatment system of claim 10 , wherein the conduit management cylinder is configured to guide the flexible utility conduit from the connector mounted on the stationary drive stand to the treatment-delivering X-ray source during rotation of the annular support structure.
14. The radiation treatment system of claim 10 , further comprising at least one cable separator that is coupled to the annular support structure and is configured to separate a first portion of the flexible utility conduit from a second portion of the flexible utility conduit during rotation of the gantry.
15. The radiation treatment system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one cable separator is rotatably coupled to the annular support structure.
16. The radiation treatment system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one cable separator is positioned between a first portion of the flexible utility conduit that leads from a conduit management cylinder coupled to the annular support structure to the fixed connection on the stationary drive stand and a second portion of a flexible utility conduit that is disposed against a conduit management surface of the conduit management cylinder.
17. The radiation treatment system of claim 9 , wherein the flexible utility conduit is routed for one-half turn around the conduit management cylinder.
18. The radiation treatment system of claim 7 , further comprising at least one cable separator that is coupled to a non-rotating surface of the stationary drive stand and is configured to separate a first portion of the flexible utility conduit from a second portion of the flexible utility conduit during rotation of the gantry.
19. The radiation treatment system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one cable separator includes an electromagnet that is configured to, when energized, attract a ferromagnetic plate that is coupled to the flexible utility conduit and separate a first portion of the flexible utility conduit from a second portion of the flexible utility conduit during rotation of the gantry.
20. The radiation treatment system of claim 19 , wherein the electromagnet is positioned on the non-rotating surface of the stationary drive stand to align with the ferromagnetic plate coupled to the flexible utility conduit during rotation of the gantry.