Multi-mode cone beam CT radiotherapy simulator and treatment machine with a flat panel imager
A multi-mode cone beam computed tomography radiotherapy simulator and treatment machine is disclosed. The radiotherapy simulator and treatment machine both include a rotatable gantry on which is positioned a cone-beam radiation source and a flat panel imager. The flat panel imager captures x-ray image data to generate cone-beam CT volumetric images used to generate a therapy patient position setup and a treatment plan.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a radiation treatment system capable of implementing a treatment plan, the system comprising:
a frame;
a rotatable gantry coupled to the frame;
a high-energy radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate a patient with therapeutic radiation;
a cone-beam radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate the patient;
a flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, wherein the flat-panel imager is operable to capture image projection data of the patient from the cone-beam radiation source to generate cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data of the patient; and
a computing unit, coupled to the rotatable gantry via a communications network, to store the image projection data captured by the flat-panel imager.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flat-panel imager is capable of fluoroscopic imaging, radiographic imaging, and cone-beam CT imaging.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computing unit generates a treatment plan based on the image projection data.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computing unit generates a three-dimensional image of a target volume based on the captured image projection data.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cone-beam CT radiation source is a kilovoltage radiation source and the high-energy radiation source is a megavoltage radiation source.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable gantry is capable of 360 degree rotation.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the high-energy source comprises a megavoltage radiation source to radiate a target volume with radiation.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a drive stand pivotably coupled to the rotatable gantry at a pivotable attachment at which the gantry pivots about an isocenter.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cone-beam source and high-energy radiation source are different from one another, and the cone-beam source comprises a KV source and wherein the high-energy radiation source comprises a MV source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate a patient with therapeutic radiation.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable gantry is coupled to the frame at a rotational axis of the gantry; wherein the cone-beam radiation source is a cone-beam imaging source coupled to a first end of a first arm, the first arm having a second end coupled to the gantry; wherein the flat-panel imager is coupled to a first end of a second arm, the second arm having a second end coupled to the gantry; and wherein the high-energy radiation source comprises a high-energy cone-beam source.
11. An apparatus, comprising:
a radiation treatment system capable of implementing a treatment plan, the system comprising:
a frame;
a rotatable gantry coupled to the frame;
a high-energy radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate a patient with therapeutic radiation;
a cone-beam radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate the patient; and
a flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, wherein the flat-panel imager is operable to capture image projection data of the patient from the cone-beam radiation source to generate cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data of the patient, wherein the flat-panel imager includes an amorphous silicon sensor array, and wherein the flat-panel imager includes a cesium iodide scintillator for kilovoltage imaging.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the scintillator includes cesium iodide crystals coated with a reflective powder and epoxy mixture in a large matrix for megavoltage imaging.
13. An apparatus, comprising:
a radiation treatment system capable of implementing a treatment plan, the system comprising:
a frame;
a rotatable gantry coupled to the frame;
a high-energy radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate a patient with therapeutic radiation;
a cone-beam radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate the patient; and
a flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, wherein the flat-panel imager is operable to capture image projection data of the patient from the cone-beam radiation source to generate cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data of the patient, wherein the flat-panel imager is capable of generating image projection data at 15 to 30 frames per second.
14. An apparatus, comprising:
a radiation treatment system capable of implementing a treatment plan, the system comprising:
a frame;
a rotatable gantry coupled to the frame;
a high-energy radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate a patient with therapeutic radiation;
a cone-beam radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate the patient;
a flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, wherein the flat-panel imager is operable to capture image projection data of the patient from the cone-beam radiation source to generate cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data of the patient; and
a translatable treatment couch coupled to the rotatable gantry via a communications network.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the translatable treatment couch is capable of movement in three planes plus angulation.
16. An apparatus, comprising:
a radiation treatment system capable of implementing a treatment plan, the system comprising:
a frame;
a rotatable gantry coupled to the frame;
a high-energy radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate a patient with therapeutic radiation;
a cone-beam radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate the patient;
a flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, wherein the flat-panel imager is operable to capture image projection data of the patient from the cone-beam radiation source to generate cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data of the patient, wherein the a flat-panel imager is a flat-panel KV imager; and
a flat-panel MV portal imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, wherein the MV imager is operable to capture image projection data of the patient produced by the high-energy MV radiation source.
17. A method to perform a clinical treatment, comprising:
rotating a gantry pivotably coupled at a pivot point to a frame of a clinical radiation treatment machine capable of implementing a treatment plan;
irradiating a patient with a radiation source;
using the clinical radiation treatment machine to capture image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data; and
modifying a treatment plan for the clinical treatment machine based on the cone-beam volumetric image data.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
generating a treatment plan for the clinical treatment machine based on the cone-beam volumetric image data; and
transferring the treatment plan to the clinical treatment machine, wherein the clinical treatment machine implements the treatment plan.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the radiation source is a cone-beam computed tomography radiation source, and wherein the image projection data is generated from a flat-panel imager capturing radiation from the cone-beam computed tomography radiation source passing through a target volume.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the radiation source is a kilovoltage radiation source.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the image projection data is fluoroscopic image projection data.
22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
generating a treatment plan for the clinical treatment machine based on the cone-beam volumetric image data; and
using the treatment plan to instruct the clinical treatment machine to at least adjust a therapeutic radiation source into position to align a treatment volume with the therapeutic radiation.
23. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
generating a treatment plan for the clinical treatment machine based on the cone-beam volumetric image data.
24. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
positioning a patient based on the cone-beam volumetric image data.
25. The method of claim 17 , wherein the clinical radiation treatment machine comprises a drive stand pivotably coupled to the rotatable gantry at a pivotable attachment at which the gantry pivots about an isocenter.
26. A method to perform a clinical treatment, comprising:
rotating a gantry pivotably coupled at a pivot point to a frame of a clinical radiation treatment machine capable of implementing a treatment plan;
irradiating a patient with a radiation source; and
capturing image projection data from a flat-panel imager using the clinical radiation treatment machine, the image projection data for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data, wherein capturing comprises capturing the image projection data at a frame rate in the range of 15-30 frames per second.
27. A method to perform a clinical treatment, comprising:
rotating a gantry pivotably coupled at a pivot point to a frame of a clinical radiation treatment machine capable of implementing a treatment plan;
irradiating a patient with a radiation source;
using the clinical radiation treatment machine to capture image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data, wherein the radiation source is a cone-beam computed tomography radiation source, wherein the image projection data is generated from a flat-panel imager capturing radiation from the cone-beam computed tomography radiation source passing through a target volume;
deriving a master clock signal from a synchronization signal of the radiation source;
using the master clock signal to generate a first control pulse to gate the radiation source on and off and a second control pulse to trigger reading of an image from the imager; and
selecting a timing of the first control pulse as compared to the second control pulse to read out the image while the radiation source is off.
28. A method to perform a clinical treatment, comprising:
rotating a gantry pivotably coupled at a pivot point to a frame of a clinical radiation treatment machine capable of implementing a treatment plan;
irradiating a patient with a radiation source;
using the clinical radiation treatment machine to capture image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data, wherein the radiation source is a cone-beam computed tomography radiation source, wherein the image projection data is generated from a tlat-panel imager capturing radiation from the cone-beam computed tomography radiation source passing through a target volume;
continuously rotating the radiation source about the target volume while capturing image projection data; and
one of capturing image projection data at non-uniformly spaced angles with respect to the rotation, and changing the speed of rotation of the gantry during a rotation.
29. A method to perform a clinical treatment, comprising:
rotating a gantry pivotably coupled at a pivot point to a frame of a clinical radiation treatment machine capable of implementing a treatment plan;
irradiating a patient with a radiation source;
using the clinical radiation treatment machine to capture image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data, wherein the radiation source is a cone-beam computed tomography radiation source, wherein the image projection data is generated from a flat-panel imager capturing radiation from the cone-beam computed tomography radiation source passing through a target volume; and
continuously rotating the radiation source about the target volume while capturing image projection data.
30. An apparatus, comprising:
one of a radiation simulation system comprising logic configured to determine a patient position relative to a high-energy radiation treatment beam and a radiation treatment system comprising logic configured to implement a treatment plan for a high-energy radiation treatment, the logic comprising at least one of hardwired logic and a programmable computer component, the system comprising:
a frame;
a rotatable gantry pivotably coupled to the frame at a pivot point;
means for applying a cone-beam computed tomography (CT) radiation beam coupled to the rotatable gantry; and
means for capturing image projection data with a flat-panel imager, coupled to the rotatable gantry, to generate cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data of a patient's anatomy.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the means for capturing includes an amorphous silicon sensor array.
32. The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the means for capturing includes a cesium iodide scintillator for kilovoltage imaging.
33. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the scintillator includes cesium iodide crystals coated with a reflective powder and epoxy mixture in a large matrix.
34. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the means for capturing is capable of fluoroscopic imaging, radiographic imaging, and cone-beam CT imaging.
35. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the means for capturing captures the image data at 15 to 30 frames per second.
36. The apparatus of claim 30 , further comprising:
means for storing the captured image projection data is coupled to the rotatable gantry via a communications network.
37. The apparatus of claim 30 , further comprising:
means for generating a treatment plan based on the image projection data coupled to the means for capturing via a communications network.
38. The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein the means for generating generates a three-dimensional age of a target volume based on the captured image projection data.
39. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the means for applying includes a kilovoltage radiation source.
40. The apparatus of claim 30 , further comprising a translatable treatment couch coupled to the rotatable gantry via a communications network.
41. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the translatable treatment couch is capable of movement in three planes plus angulation.
42. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the rotatable gantry is capable of 360-degree rotation.
43. The apparatus of claim 30 , further comprising:
means for generating a treatment plan for a clinical treatment machine based on the cone-beam volumetric image data; and
means for treating a patient according to the treatment plan including providing synchronization and gate control between the imager and the radiation beam during treatment.
44. The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein treating includes means for coordinating acquisition by the flat panel imager and pulsing by the radiation source.
45. The apparatus of claim 30 . wherein the radiation simulation system comprises logic configured to determine a patient position relative to a high-energy radiation treatment beam of a treatment machine to be simulated by the simulation system, the logic comprising at least one of hardwired logic and a programmable computer component; and wherein the radiation treatment system includes a high-energy radiation treatment beam source.
46. A machine-readable medium selected from the group consisting of solid-state memories, optical disks, and magnetic disks; the machine-readable medium having instructions to cause a machine to perform a method to perform a clinical treatment, the method comprising:
rotating a gantry pivotably coupled at a pivot point to a frame of a clinical radiation treatment machine capable of implementing a treatment plan;
irradiating a patient with a radiation source; and
instructing the clinical radiation treatment machine to capture image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data.
47. The machine-readable medium of claim 46 , further comprising:
generating a treatment plan for the clinical treatment machine based on the cone-beam volumetric image data; and
transferring the treatment plan to the clinical treatment machine, wherein the clinical treatment machine implements the treatment plan.
48. The machine-readable medium of claim 46 , wherein capturing comprises capturing the image projection data at a frame rate in the range of 15-30 frames per second.
49. The machine-readable medium of claim 46 , further comprising:
generating a treatment plan for the clinical treatment machine based on the cone-beam volumetric image data; and
using the treatment plan to instruct the clinical treatment machine to at least adjust a therapeutic radiation source into position to align the treatment volume with the therapeutic radiation.
50. The machine-readable medium of claim 46 , wherein instructing further comprises instructing the clinical radiation treatment machine to capture partial cone image data to reconstruct one of a head size and a body size.
51. The machine-readable medium of claim 46 , further comprising instructing a megavoltage radiation source to radiate a target volume with radiation.
52. The machine-readable medium of claim 46 , wherein the clinical radiation treatment machine comprises a drive stand pivotably coupled to the rotatable gantry at a pivotable attachment at which the gantry pivots about an isocenter.
53. An apparatus, comprising:
a clinical radiation treatment system capable of implementing a treatment plan, the system comprising:
a frame;
a rotatable gantry coupled to the frame;
a high-energy radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate a patient with therapeutic radiation;
a cone-beam radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate the patient; and
a flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, wherein the flat-panel imager captures fluoroscopic or cone-beam CT imaging image projection data of the patient from the cone-beam radiation source to generate fluoroscopic or cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data of the patient.
54. The apparatus of claim 53 , wherein the flat-panel imager includes an amorphous silicon sensor array capable of fluoroscopic imaging, radiographic imaging, and cone-beam CT imaging.
55. The apparatus of claim 54 , wherein the cone-beam CT radiation source is a kilovoltage radiation source, and the flat-panel imager includes a cesium iodide scintillator for kilovoltage imaging.
56. The apparatus of claim 55 , wherein the scintillator includes cesium iodide crystals coated with a reflective powder and epoxy mixture in a large matrix for megavoltage imaging.
57. The apparatus of claim 53 , further comprising:
a treatment plan for the clinical treatment machine based on the cone-beam volumetric image data; and
a computing unit, coupled to the rotatable gantry via a communications network, to store the image projection data captured by the flat-panel imager, wherein the computing unit generates the treatment plan based on the image projection data.
58. The apparatus of claim 57 , wherein the computing unit generates a three-dimensional image of a target volume based on the captured image projection data.
59. The apparatus of claim 58 , wherein the high-energy radiation source comprises:
a megavoltage radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate the volume with radiation, wherein the megavoltage radiation source comprises a source of between 4 and 25 mega-volts of radiation.
60. The apparatus of claim 53 , further comprising a translatable treatment couch coupled to the rotatable gantry via a communications network, wherein the translatable treatment couch is capable of movement in three planes plus angulation.
61. The apparatus of claim 53 , wherein the rotatable gantry is capable of 360 degree rotation and the imager is capable of capturing image projection data while continuously rotating about a target volume.
62. The apparatus of claim 53 , wherein the cone-beam source and high-energy radiation source are different from one another, and the cone-beam source comprises a KV source and wherein the high-energy radiation source comprises a MV source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate a patient with therapeutic radiation.
63. An apparatus, comprising:
a radiation treatment simulation system comprising logic configured to determine a patient position relative to a high-energy radiation treatment beam, the logic comprising at least one of hardwired logic and a programmable computer component, the system comprising:
a frame;
a rotatable gantry pivotably coupled to the frame at a pivot point;
a cone-beam imaging radiation source coupled to the rotatable gantry to radiate a patient; and
a flat-panel imager coupled to the rotatable gantry, wherein the flat-panel imager is operable to capture image projection data of the patient to generate cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data of the patient.
64. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein the flat-panel imager includes an amorphous silicon sensor array and a cesium iodide scintillator, and wherein the imager is capable of fluoroscopic imaging, radiographic imaging, and cone-beam CT imaging.
65. The apparatus of claim 64 , wherein the imager captures fluoroscopic or cone-beam CT imaging kilovoltage image projection data to generate fluoroscopic or cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data
66. The apparatus of claim 63 , further comprising:
a computing unit, coupled to the rotatable gantry via a communications network, to store the image projection data captured by the flat-panel imager and to generate a three-dimensional image of a target volume based on the captured image projection data.
67. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein the rotatable gantry is capable of 360 degree rotation and the imager is capable of capturing image projection data while continuously rotating about a target volume.
68. A method to perform a clinical treatment simulation, comprising:
rotating a gantry pivotably coupled at a pivot point to a frame of a clinical treatment simulator machine comprising logic configured to implement a treatment plan for a high-energy radiation treatment beam, the logic comprising at least one of hardwired logic and a programmable computer component;
irradiating a patient with a radiation source; and
using the clinical treatment simulator machine to capture image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data.
69. The method of claim 68 , further comprising:
generating a treatment plan for a clinical treatment machine based on the cone-beam volumetric image data;
transferring the treatment plan to the clinical treatment machine, wherein the clinical treatment machine implements the treatment plan; and
using the treatment plan to instruct the clinical treatment machine to at least adjust a therapeutic radiation source into position to align a treatment volume with the therapeutic radiation.
70. The method of claim 68 , wherein the image projection data is generated from the flat-panel imager capturing radiation from a cone-beam computed tomography radiation source passing through a target volume.
71. The method of claim 70 , further comprising:
continuously rotating the radiation source about the target volume while capturing image projection data.
72. The method of claim 68 , wherein rotating further comprises pivoting the gantry about an isocenter using a drive stand pivotably coupled to the rotatable gantry by a pivotable attachment.
73. The method of claim 68 , further comprising:
using the flat-panel imager to capture fluoroscopic, radiographic, and cone-beam CT imaging image projection data to generate fluoroscopic, radiographic, and cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data.
74. A method to perform a clinical treatment simulation, comprising:
rotating a gantry pivotably coupled at a pivot point to a frame of a clinical simulator machine comprising logic configured to determine a patient position relative to a high-energy radiation treatment beam, the logic comprising at least one of hardwired logic and a programmable computer component;
irradiating a patient with a radiation source; and
using the clinical simulator machine to capture fluoroscopic or cone-beam CT imaging image projection data from a flat-panel imager for generating fluoroscopic or cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data.
75. The method of claim 74 , further comprising:
generating a treatment plan for a clinical treatment machine based on the cone-beam volumetric image data;
transferring the treatment plan to the clinical treatment machine, wherein the clinical treatment machine implements the treatment plan; and
using the treatment plan to instruct the clinical treatment machine to at least adjust a therapeutic radiation source into position to align a treatment volume with the therapeutic radiation.
76. The method of claim 74 , wherein rotating further comprises pivoting the gantry about an isocenter using a drive stand pivotably coupled to the rotatable gantry by a pivotable attachment.
77. The method of claim 74 , further comprising:
using the flat-panel imager to capture fluoroscopic, radiographic, and cone-beam CT imaging image projection data to generate fluoroscopic, radiographic, and cone-beam computed tomography (CT) volumetric image data.