Method and apparatus for emission guided radiation therapy
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Publication Number
US-12167922-B2
Publication Date
2024-12-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus comprising a radiation source, coincident positron emission detectors configured to detect coincident positron annihilation emissions originating within a coordinate system, and a controller coupled to the radiation source and the coincident positron emission detectors, the controller configured to identify coincident positron annihilation emission paths intersecting one or more volumes in the coordinate system and align the radiation source along an identified coincident positron annihilation emission path.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an emission guided radiation therapy (EGRT) system and method in which coincident positron annihilation emission paths are detected during a radiation session. A controller identifies emission paths intersecting a coordinate-defined predetermined volume of the patient, which are associated with living tumor tissue and radiation sensitive areas, and delivers radiation aligned with the detected emission paths.
The method records a patient breathing cycle while detecting coincident positron annihilation emission paths originating from a predetermined volume of the patient, wherein the patient breathing cycle comprises multiple breathing phases. Radiation is delayed to coincide with the breathing phase during which coincident positron annihilation emission paths were detected, so that the therapeutic radiation source delivers radiation during a specific breathing phase matched to the detected emission paths.
Radiation delivery is performed using a therapeutic radiation source, wherein delivering radiation comprises rotating the therapeutic radiation source, at least two PET cameras, and an array of x-ray detectors about the predetermined volume while detecting additional coincident positron annihilation emission paths. The controller aligns or positions the therapeutic radiation source along detected emission paths and supports additional path acquisition, so that the radiation follows detected coincident positron annihilation emission paths associated with the predetermined volume.
The document further describes optional low-dose CT registration for registering the position of the predetermined volume, controller-driven dose accumulation and verification until a prescribed dose is satisfied, storing detected positron annihilation emission paths in a controller queue, computing a queue of radiation delivery paths using a controller algorithm, and delivering radiation by positioning the therapeutic radiation source according to one or more radiation delivery paths in the queue with a delay.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies one independent claim (clm-00001). Across the independent claim and its directly related dependents, the claims cover inventive features including breathing-cycle phase recording for delayed radiation, emission-path-based targeting from a predetermined volume, and rotating delivery hardware around the predetermined volume while using PET coincidence detection and an x-ray detector array.
Breathing-phase delayed emission-path delivery
Recording a patient breathing cycle during detection of coincident positron annihilation emission paths originating from a predetermined volume of the patient, wherein the patient breathing cycle comprises multiple breathing phases; and delivering radiation using a therapeutic radiation source, wherein the radiation is delayed to coincide with the breathing phase during which coincident positron annihilation emission paths were detected.
Rotating radiation delivery around a predetermined volume with PET coincidence and x-ray detection
Delivering radiation comprises rotating the therapeutic radiation source, at least two PET cameras and an array of x-ray detectors about the predetermined volume while detecting additional coincident positron annihilation emission paths.
Additional emission-path acquisition with aligned delayed radiation
Detecting additional coincident positron annihilation emission paths and aligning the therapeutic radiation source along selected ones of those paths within a predetermined time, and delivering additional radiation along the detected coincident emission path.
Controller-queue path computation with delayed positioning
Storing detected positron annihilation emission paths in a controller queue, computing a queue of radiation delivery paths using a controller algorithm, and delivering radiation by positioning the therapeutic radiation source according to one or more radiation delivery paths in the queue with a delay.
Overall, the claim set in the partial content centers on emission guided radiation therapy in which coincident positron annihilation emission paths from a predetermined volume are detected and then used to time-deliver therapeutic radiation to coincide with a corresponding breathing phase, with rotating hardware that includes PET cameras and an array of x-ray detectors and supports additional path acquisition. The dependents further emphasize controller-queue computation of radiation delivery paths and delayed positioning, and include path-based additional radiation delivery in a time-bounded manner.
Stated Advantages
Limits radiation to non-target and radiation-sensitive regions.
Delivers therapeutic radiation while coincident positron annihilation emission paths were detected by aligning delivery with the patient breathing phase.
Enables additional coincident positron annihilation emission path detection during radiation delivery while rotating the therapeutic radiation source, PET cameras, and an x-ray detector array about the predetermined volume.
Documented Applications
Emission guided radiation therapy (EGRT) for irradiating living tumor tissue using coincident positron annihilation emission path detection during a radiation session.
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