Patent ID: 7096055
Filing Date: 2006-08-22
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A radiation therapy process for controlling the delivery of a beam of radiation of adaptable cross-section from any of a plurality of different directions to impinge on a preselected tumor region in a patient's body in a treatment session, said process comprising measuring the boundaries of said tumor region based on a selected fixed position of the patient's body; adjusting said boundaries to compensate for shifting of said tumor region from movement during patient breathing and other natural movements; subdividing the area occupied by said tumor region into subareas based upon differences in radiation dosage to be delivered thereto from said beam; specifying a maximum radiation dose to be delivered to each respective subarea in the treatment session; determining the dose rate applicable for each of said subareas for a plurality of discrete directions of impingement of said beam along a selected travel path thereof in a predetermined volume of space onto the respective subareas of said tumor region according to the distribution of said differences in radiation dosage for the respective maximum dose to be delivered thereto; calculating a minimum interval of time for said treatment session in which to dispense a radiation dosage not more than said maximum dose for all said subareas of said tumor region; and controlling the intensity, cross-section and direction of impingement of said radiation beam on said subareas, to deliver the respective radiation dosages throughout said tumor region in substantially said minimum interval of time.