Medical radiotherapy assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a radiotherapy assembly comprising a particle emitter with an exit window for a fixed particle stream and a patient support device comprising a patient couch, which can be brought into an irradiation position that is suitable for irradiating a patient in front of the exit window. An X-ray diagnostic device determines or verifies the position of a tumor that is to be irradiated, said device comprising an X-ray source and a detector, which can be displaced in the area around the patient couch that has been placed in the irradiation position. The assembly permits the location of a tumor to be verified in the irradiation position, thus rendering a relocation of the patient unnecessary.

1 . A medical ion radiotherapy system comprising:
 an exit window for a particle beam,   a patient support that is movable to an irradiation position suitable for irradiating a patient having a tumor with the particle beam,   a diagnostic device that is operable to be used to determine a position of the tumor to be irradiated, the diagnostic device including a radiation source and a radiation detector;   an imaging arm secured to the diagnostic device, the imaging arm being operable to move the diagnostic device around the patient support that is in the irradiation position; and   a control unit that controls the patient support and the diagnostic device, the control unit being operable to control the diagnostic device into a position for verifying that the tumor is located in an isocenter of the particle beam based on the position of the patient support and control a position of the patient support based on an output of the diagnostic device.   
   
   
       2 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source is diametrically opposite the radiation detector. 
   
   
       3 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging arm is a load-bearing construction that is open to one side. 
   
   
       4 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 3 , wherein the load-bearing construction is C-shaped or U-shaped. 
   
   
       5 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first support arm secured to the imaging arm and operable to move the imaging arm around the patient support that is in the irradiation position. 
   
   
       6 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 5 , wherein the first support arm is a multiaxial robot arm. 
   
   
       7 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 6 , wherein the first support arm is secured to a ceiling of a room. 
   
   
       8 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 5 , wherein the first support arm includes a plurality of pivot joints. 
   
   
       9 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 5 , wherein the first support arm is operable to provide angular rotary motion and orbital rotary motion to the imaging arm. 
   
   
       10 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 5 , wherein the first support arm is operable to perform 180 degree rotation in either an orbital direction or in an angular direction. 
   
   
       11 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second support arm secured to the patient support and operable to move the patient support into the irradiation position. 
   
   
       12 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 11 , wherein the second support arm is a multiaxial robot arm. 
   
   
       13 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic device and patient support are controlled such that the patient, located on the patient support, is subjected to both imaging with the diagnostic device and therapy with the particle beam in the irradiation position. 
   
   
       14 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 13 , wherein the diagnostic device is operable to produce therapy images of the tumor during the therapy and compare the therapy images to previously developed images of the tumor and wherein the control unit is operable to automatically shift the patient to an optimal irradiation position based on the comparison. 
   
   
       15 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic device is an imaging device for generating images. 
   
   
       16 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic device is suitable to generate two-dimensional projection images. 
   
   
       17 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic device is suitable to generate three-dimensional images and three dimensional cone beam images. 
   
   
       18 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the patient support is a cot for a horizontal position of the patient 
   
   
       19 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the patient support is a chairlike structure for a seated position of the patient. 
   
   
       20 . The medical ion radiotherapy system of  claim 1 , wherein the exit window  4  is disposed at a front of a particle accelerator barrel.