Patent ID: 8083408
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for improving radiation therapy by reducing patient alignment time, decreasing cost per patient, and reducing non-therapeutic radiation exposure to a patient, the method comprising: providing a computerized treatment planning system; providing an isocentric mechanical gantry that houses a beam delivery system for radiation therapy, the gantry having a gantry rotation axis; performing a single alignment procedure by reproducibly interfacing a patient with radiation equipment to obtain anatomical and morphological information, the alignment procedure comprising each of the following five steps: with the treatment planning system, using the results of the single alignment procedure to create a single set of pre-measured data representing a fine positional adjustment that compensates for characteristics of the patient and patient positioner together; using the single set of pre-measured data to accurately position the patient with respect to the gantry; and irradiating the patient from multiple gantry directions without realignment, each time relying on the same single set of pre-measured data resulting from the single alignment procedure.