Head immobilisation assembly for patient positioning in radiation therapy

Abstract

The invention relates to a non-invasive patient immobilisation assembly for immobilising a body part of a patient, the immobilisation assembly comprising a rigid template ( 1 ) made of thermoplastic material, the template being thermoformed or otherwise moulded to conform to the body part to be immobilised, the immobilisation assembly also comprising a fixation plate ( 3, 12, 13 ) and connecting means ( 10, 11, 14, 15, 16 ) for connecting the template ( 1 ) to the fixation plate ( 3, 12, 13 ) in view of fixing the position of the template with respect to the fixation plate, the template being provided to at least partly cover the body part to be immobilised. The template ( 1 ) is provided to exert a fixation force of a preset value to the body part to be immobilised by exerting a pulling force pulling the body part towards the fixation plate ( 3, 12, 13 ) with the aim of restraining the movability of the body part within the template within defined limits, the assembly further comprising means ( 5, 6, 7, 17, 18 ) for adjusting the fixation force exerted by the template to the preset value.

1 . A non-invasive patient immobilisation assembly for immobilising a body part of a patient and for at least temporarily fixing the position thereof, wherein the immobilisation assembly comprises a rigid template ( 1 ) made of a thermoplastic material, which template is thermoformed or otherwise moulded in such a way that the inner surface conforms to and contacts the body part to be immobilised along a contact surface area between the template and the body part, which contact surface area corresponds to at least part of the inner surface of the template, wherein the immobilisation assembly also comprises a fixation plate ( 3 ,  12 ,  13 ) and connecting means ( 10 ,  11 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ) for connecting the template ( 1 ) to the fixation plate ( 3 ,  12 ,  13 ) in view of fixing the position of the template and the body part with respect to the fixation plate, wherein the template ( 1 ) is provided to exert a fixation force of a preset value to the body part covered by it along the contact surface area, by exerting a pulling force pulling the body part towards the fixation plate ( 3 ,  12 ,  13 ) with the aim of restraining the displacement of the body part within the template within defined limits, the assembly further comprising means ( 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  17 ,  18 ) for adjusting the fixation force exerted by the template to the preset value.  
     
     
         2 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fixation force exerted by the template is about 75-200 N.  
     
     
         3 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for adjusting the fixation force are adjustable in a continuous or discontinuous manner.  
     
     
         4 . An assembly as claimed in claims  3 , wherein the means for adjusting the fixation force are adapted to provide for a stepwise adjustment of the fixation force.  
     
     
         5 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the template ( 1 ) comprises at least one edge ( 14 ), wherein the connecting means ( 10 ) connecting the template ( 1 ) to the fixation plate ( 3 ,  12 ,  13 ) are connected to the at least one edge ( 14 ,  15 ,  16 ), and wherein the pulling force is exerted to the at least one edge of the template.  
     
     
         6 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means ( 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  17 ,  18 ) for adjusting the pulling force exerted by the template ( 1 ) comprise means for varying the distance between the template and the body part to be immobilised.  
     
     
         7 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the means ( 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  17 ,  18 ) for adjusting the pulling force comprise means for displacing the template ( 1 ) with respect to the body part, in view of varying the distance of the template with respect to the body part to be immobilised.  
     
     
         8 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fixation plate ( 3 ,  12 ,  13 ) comprises a top surface ( 12 ) and bottom surface ( 13 ), wherein the template is connected to the top surface ( 12 ), and wherein means ( 6 ,  7 ) are provided for moving the top surface with respect to the bottom surface.  
     
     
         9 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fixation plate ( 3 ,  12 ,  13 ) comprises a top surface ( 12 ) and bottom surface ( 13 ), wherein the template is connected to the bottom surface ( 13 ), and wherein means ( 6 ,  7 ) are provided for moving the bottom surface ( 13 ) with respect to the top surface ( 12 ).  
     
     
         10 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises a support ( 2 ), the support being provided for positioning on top of the fixation plate ( 3 ,  12 ,  13 ) in view of supporting the body part to be immobilised, and wherein the means for adjusting the fixation force comprise means for varying the position of the support ( 2 ) with respect to the template ( 1 ).  
     
     
         11 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises a support ( 2 ) for supporting the body part to be treated, the support ( 2 ) being positioned independently of the fixation plate ( 3 ), and wherein the means for adjusting the fixation force comprise means for varying the position of the support ( 2 ) with respect to the template ( 1 ) and/or the fixation plate ( 3 ).  
     
     
         12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the device comprises a head and neck support ( 2 ) for supporting the head and neck of a patient.  
     
     
         14 . A non-invasive immobilisation assembly for immobilising a head of a patient and for at least temporarily fixing the position thereof, wherein the immobilisation assembly comprises a rigid template ( 1 ) made of a thermoplastic material, which template is thermoformed or otherwise moulded in such a way that the inner surface conforms to and contacts at least part of the head to be immobilised along a contact surface area between the template and at least part of the head, which contact surface area corresponds to at least part of the inner surface of the template, wherein the immobilisation assembly also comprises a fixation plate ( 3 ,  12 ,  13 ) and connecting means ( 10 ,  11 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ) for connecting the template ( 1 ) to the fixation plate ( 3 ,  12 ,  13 ) in view of fixing the position of the template and the head with respect to the fixation plate, wherein the template ( 1 ) is provided to exert a fixation force of a preset value to the part of the head covered by it along the contact surface area, by exerting a pulling force pulling the head towards the fixation plate ( 3 ,  12 ,  13 ) with the aim of restraining the displacement of the head within the template within defined limits, the assembly further comprising means ( 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  17 ,  18 ) for adjusting the fixation force exerted by the template to the preset value.