IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,642,990
Granted Patent B2
US 12,642,990 · App. 18/243,656 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Radiation therapy arrangement and method for operating a radiation therapy arrangement

Inventor: Norman Roeder (Döbritschen, DE)
Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
A61N5/1048A61N5/1077
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,642,990
App. No.
18/243,656
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A radiation therapy arrangement includes a holding device, an x-ray source, on which an applicator can be arranged, wherein the x-ray source is arranged on the holding device and is held with the holding device so as to be positionable and orientable, a sensor system, which is configured to capture a pose and/or a pose change of the x-ray source and/or of the applicator at least during radiation, and a control device, wherein the control device is configured to evaluate the captured pose and/or the captured pose change and, proceeding from the captured pose and/or the captured and/or a determined pose change, to perform or initiate a shut-off of the x-ray source. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a method for operating a radiation therapy arrangement.

Claims (30)

1 . A radiation therapy arrangement, comprising:

a holding device;

an x-ray source, on which an applicator can be arranged, wherein, when an irradiation mode is activated, the applicator is positioned in or in contact with a patient, and wherein the x-ray source is arranged on the holding device and is held with the holding device so as to be positionable and orientable;

a sensor system configured to capture a pose and/or a pose change of the x-ray source and/or of the applicator during radiation;

a control device configured to evaluate the captured pose and/or the captured pose change and, proceeding from the captured pose and/or the captured and/or a determined pose change, to perform or initiate a shut-off of the x-ray source; and

an optical interlock system configured to detect and check for the presence of the applicator on the x-ray source,

wherein the optical interlock system includes an optical component arranged in the optical signal path, and

wherein the optical interlock system is configured such that the optical component in the optical signal path can be controlled such that the optical component interrupts the optical signal path.

2 . The radiation therapy arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control device is further configured to compare the captured and/or determined pose change with a specified threshold value and to perform or initiate the shut-off when a comparison result shows that the captured and/or determined pose change is larger than the specified threshold value.

3 . The radiation therapy arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is arranged in and/or on the holding device.

4 . The radiation therapy arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an interruption switch, which is or can be incorporated in a signal chain of a safety door switch, and wherein the control device is furthermore configured to control the interruption switch for shutting off the x-ray source.

5 . The radiation therapy arrangement as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the optical component is at least one mirror,

wherein the optical interlock system is further configured such that a position and/or a property of the at least one mirror in the optical signal path can be changed in a controlled manner such that the optical signal path is interrupted, and

wherein the control device is furthermore configured to control the at least one mirror for shutting off the x-ray source such that the optical signal path is interrupted.

6 . The radiation therapy arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the optical interlock system is configured such that an angular position of at least one partial area of the at least one mirror can be changed in a controlled manner in order to interrupt the optical signal path.

7 . The radiation therapy arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the optical interlock system is configured such that a reflectance of the at least one mirror can be changed in a controlled manner in order to interrupt the optical signal path.

8 . The radiation therapy arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a communication link to an operating apparatus with which the radiation therapy arrangement can be operated,

wherein the control device is configured to transmit at least one of the captured pose, the captured and/or determined pose change, and a shut-off signal to the operating apparatus via the communication link.

9 . A radiation therapy system comprising:

an operating apparatus; and

a radiation therapy arrangement as claimed in claim 1 .

10 . A method for operating a radiation therapy arrangement, the method comprising:

capturing at least one of a pose and a pose change of an x-ray source arranged on a holding device and/or of an applicator arranged on the x-ray source is captured with a sensor system at least during radiation; and

detecting and checking for, with an optical interlock system, the presence of the applicator on the x-ray source,

wherein the optical interlock system includes an optical component arranged in the optical signal path,

wherein the optical interlock system is configured such that the optical component in the optical signal path can be controlled such that the optical component interrupts the optical signal path,

wherein, when an irradiation mode is activated, the applicator is positioned in or in contact with a patient,

wherein the at least one of the captured pose and the captured pose change is evaluated with a control device, and

wherein a shut-off of the x-ray source is performed or initiated with the control device proceeding from the captured pose and/or the captured and/or a determined pose change.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2024
From: ROEDER, NORMAN
To: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
Reel/Frame 066552/0389 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2022 209 110.8 · Sep 1, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250082966A1 · Mar 13, 2025
References Cited (14)
US 10549122B2 · Cheng · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20040260142A1 · Lovoi · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20080242969A1 · Sayeh · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20130064346A1 · Ferren · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20140051904A1 · Solf et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150035942A1 · Hampton · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20160029981A1 · Van Dijk et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170239491A1 · Xia et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20200038691A1 · Fishman et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20250082504A1 · Donitzky · 2025 [cited by examiner]
DE 102020200400A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in German Patent Application No. DE 10 2022 209 110.8, dated Nov. 15, 2022 (to which this application claims priority), and English language translation thereof. [cited by applicant]
“Zeiss-Intrabeam 600”, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Brochure, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany, (2020). [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued in German Patent Application No. DE 10 2022 209 110.8, dated Dec. 19, 2025 (from which this application claims priority) and English language translation thereof. [cited by applicant]