Radiotherapy apparatus and method for delivering radiation to a subject
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Publication Number
US-12741159-B2
Publication Date
2026-09-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a radiotherapy apparatus comprising a radiation source coupled to a rotatable gantry, a movable subject support surface and a controller. The controller is configured to obtain a first and a second anatomical location of the patient, determine a vector using the first and second anatomical location, apply radiation from the radiation source to the first and second anatomical location and move the subject support surface to the gantry based on the angular deviation.
Core Innovation
The disclosure describes a radiotherapy apparatus, a control method, and a computer-readable medium that use first and second anatomical locations to determine a vector. A directional component of the vector is an angular deviation from the rotational axis of the gantry, and this deviation guides movement of the patient support surface between radiation delivery locations. Image registration can be used to determine the deviation.
The disclosed approach addresses dose-translation error associated with setup or target-shape misalignment. Movement of the support surface can compensate for these misalignments and support helical treatment while the gantry rotates. The described treatment includes curved or multiple targets, and the disclosure states that this approach can avoid patient repositioning and full treatment-plan reoptimization.
Claims Coverage
The three independent claims cover a radiotherapy apparatus, a method for controlling a radiotherapy apparatus, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. They contain three corresponding inventive features.
Radiotherapy apparatus controlled by angular deviation
The apparatus obtains first and second anatomical locations, determines a vector whose directional component is an angular deviation from the gantry's rotational axis, and moves the subject support surface based on that deviation while applying radiation to the locations. It also applies radiation according to a helical treatment during support-surface movement and gantry rotation.
Method for controlling radiotherapy delivery during support movement
The method obtains two anatomical locations and determines a vector whose directional component is an angular deviation from the gantry's rotational axis. Control instructions move the subject support surface based on that deviation, apply radiation to both locations, and apply radiation to a target region between them as the support surface moves.
Computer-readable medium for radiotherapy control
The computer-executable instructions control a radiotherapy apparatus to obtain two anatomical locations, determine a vector whose directional component is an angular deviation from the gantry's rotational axis, and move the subject support surface based on that deviation. The instructions also control radiation delivery at both locations and helical treatment during support-surface movement and gantry rotation.
The independent claims cover apparatus, method, and computer-readable-medium forms of radiotherapy control using angular deviation to guide support-surface movement. The claims also specify radiation delivery at the anatomical locations, with helical treatment in the apparatus and computer-readable-medium claims and irradiation of the intervening target region during movement in the method claim.
Stated Advantages
Reduces dose-translation error.
Can avoid patient repositioning and full treatment-plan reoptimization.
Improves delivery accuracy.
Documented Applications
Radiotherapy treatment of curved or multiple targets.
Helical treatment during simultaneous movement of the patient support surface and rotation of the gantry.
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