Particle therapy system with rotating beam delivery

Abstract

A particle therapy system (1) includes a particle accelerator (40) for generating a charged particle beam (30), a beam delivery device (50) for delivering the particle beam (30) to a target (10) of an object (20), a beam delivery system (600) for delivering the particle beam (30) from the particle accelerator (4) to the beam delivery device (50), and a support device (70) for supporting the object (20). The beam delivery device (50) is rotatable around the target (10) relative to the support device (70) so as to be able to deliver the particle beam (30) to the target (10) according to a plurality of irradiation angles (α). The system further includes a controller (80) configured to rotate the beam delivery device (50) at a beam on speed while irradiating the target (10) with the particle beam (30). The controller (80) is configured to rotate the beam delivery device (50) relative to the support device (70) at at least two different beam opening speeds, wherein the two different beam opening speeds are a first beam opening speed corresponding to a first irradiation angle (α1) among a plurality of irradiation angles (α) and a second beam opening speed corresponding to a second irradiation angle (α2) among the plurality of irradiation angles (α), and the different beam opening speeds can shorten the treatment time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charged particle therapy system, such as a proton therapy system, and in particular to a charged particle therapy system, in which a charged beam conveying device rotates relative to a target of an object to be treated while conveying the charged particle beam to the target; and / or in which a device supporting the object in the charged particle therapy system rotates relative to the charged beam conveying device while the charged beam conveying device conveys the charged particle beam to the target.

[0002] In illustrative examples, such systems are sometimes referred to as spot scanning proton arc or scanning proton arc (SPARC) systems, or as SPARC treatments when referring to the corresponding treatment methods. Background Art

[0003] Particle therapy, such as proton therapy, which is well known in the art, improves treatment quality by enhancing dose consistency at the target (tumor) level while reducing the total dose received by the subject (patient). The dose to critical organs can be further reduced by better shaping the tumor dose. In addition, SPARC therapy technology increases the robustness of treatment protocols and can further improve the use of dose escalation and de-fractionation.

[0004] The SPARC system and method is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 7,834,336 B2.

[0005] The patent discloses a method for irradiating a target in a subject using charged particle therapy, comprising the steps of positioning the subject on a support device, positioning a delivery device suitable for delivering charged particles, and delivering the charged particles to the target in the subject, wherein the delivery device rotates around the target while delivering at least a portion of the charged particles.

[0006] While the system works well, there is room for improvement in the way the system operates under control. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to at least partially solve the problems of the prior art. More specifically, the object of the present invention is to reduce the treatment time of a subject.

[0008] The invention is defined by the independent claim. The dependent claims define preferred embodiments.

[0009] The present invention provides a particle therapy system for irradiating a target of an object using a charged particle beam, the particle therapy system comprising:

[0010] - Particle accelerators for generating beams of charged particles;

[0011] - a beam delivery device for delivering a charged particle beam to a target;

[0012] - a beam transport system for transporting a charged particle beam from a particle accelerator to a beam delivery device;

[0013] - a supporting device for supporting an object;

[0014] The beam delivery device is rotatable relative to the support device around the target, and / or the support device is rotatable relative to the beam delivery device so as to be able to deliver the charged particle beam to the target according to a plurality of illumination angles;

[0015] a controller configured to rotate the beam delivery device relative to the support device around the target at a beam opening speed and / or to rotate the support device relative to the beam delivery device at the beam opening speed while irradiating the target with the charged particle beam,

[0016] It is characterized in that

[0017] The controller is configured to rotate the beam delivery device relative to the support device around the target at at least two different and non-zero beam opening speeds, wherein the two different and non-zero beam opening speeds are a first beam opening speed corresponding to a first illumination angle among the plurality of illumination angles and a second beam opening speed corresponding to a second illumination angle among the plurality of illumination angles,

[0018] and / or

[0019] The controller is configured to rotate the support device relative to the beam delivery device at at least two different and non-zero beam opening speeds, wherein the two different and non-zero beam opening speeds are a third beam opening speed corresponding to a first illumination angle among the multiple illumination angles and a fourth beam opening speed corresponding to a second illumination angle among the multiple illumination angles.

[0020] With such a system, one can indeed control the beam delivery device and / or the support device so that they rotate at different irradiation angles or around different irradiation angles at different rotation speeds, thereby reducing treatment time. Shorter treatment times are more comfortable for patients, and more patients can also be treated in one day. If the time required for irradiation of a first field corresponding to a first irradiation angle is, for example, less than the time required for irradiation of a second field corresponding to a second irradiation angle, the controller can increase the beam opening speed (i.e., the rotation speed of the beam delivery device and / or the support device when irradiating the target) when the beam delivery device and / or the support device is at or near the first irradiation angle.

[0021] Preferably, the beam delivery device is rotatable around the target and relative to the support device. More preferably, the beam delivery device is mounted on a frame, and the frame is rotatable relative to the support device.

[0022] Preferably or alternatively, the supporting device can also be rotated relative to the beam delivery device.

[0023] The controller is preferably configured to irradiate the target with a charged particle beam according to a plurality of irradiation fields, each of the plurality of irradiation fields corresponding to a specific irradiation angle among a plurality of irradiation angles. The irradiation field corresponding to a specific irradiation angle may be, for example, an irradiation field selected by a doctor for the specific irradiation angle and input into the system.

[0024] In some examples, the system parameters for each irradiation field are provided by a treatment planning subsystem, which may or may not be part of the controller. The controller then sets all system parameters so that in operation, when the beam delivery device and / or the support device are at or near the corresponding irradiation angle, the system irradiates the field to the target.

[0025] Preferably, for at least one of the plurality of illumination angles, the beam opening speed depends on the time required to irradiate the target with the illumination field corresponding to the at least one illumination angle. Preferably, the beam opening speed is inversely proportional to the time to irradiate the target with the illumination field corresponding to the at least one illumination angle. In fact, the shorter the required illumination time, the higher the beam opening speed used. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] These and other aspects of the invention will be explained in more detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a particle therapy system of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary beam delivery device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of exemplary curves of the rotation speed of the beam conveyor and the on / off state of the particle beam of the system of the present invention.

[0030] The various figures in the accompanying drawings of the specification are neither drawn to scale nor to proportion. In general, similar or identical components are represented by the same reference numerals in the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Figure 1 The particle therapy system (1) of the present invention is schematically shown. It is basically a particle therapy system for irradiating a target (10) of an object (20) with a charged particle beam (30). The particle therapy system (1) comprises:

[0032] - a particle accelerator (40) for generating a charged particle beam (30);

[0033] - a beam delivery device (50) for delivering a charged particle beam (30) to a target (10);

[0034] - a beam transport system (60) for transporting a charged particle beam (30) from a particle accelerator (40) to a beam transport device (50);

[0035] - Support means (70) for supporting the object (20).

[0036] The beam delivery device (50) is rotatable around the target (10) and is rotatable relative to the support device (70) so as to be able to deliver the charged particle beam (30) to the target (10) according to a plurality of irradiation angles (α) (first embodiment). Alternatively (second embodiment) or additionally (third embodiment), the support device (70) is rotatable relative to the beam delivery device (50) so as to be able to deliver the charged particle beam (30) to the target (10) according to a plurality of irradiation angles (α).

[0037] The particle therapy system (1) further comprises a controller (80) configured to rotate the beam delivery device (50) relative to the support device (70) and around the target (10) at a beam opening speed, and / or to rotate the support device (70) relative to the beam delivery device (50) at a beam opening speed, while irradiating the target (10) with the charged particle beam (30).

[0038] Such a configuration is well known in the art and is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 7,834,336 B2, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0039] The present invention is characterized in that: the controller (80) is configured to rotate the beam conveying device (50) relative to the supporting device (70) around the target (10) at at least two different and non-zero beam opening speeds (a first beam opening speed corresponding to a first irradiation angle (α1) among a plurality of irradiation angles (α) and a second beam opening speed corresponding to a second irradiation angle (α2) among a plurality of irradiation angles (α)); and / or the controller (80) is configured to rotate the supporting device (70) relative to the beam conveying device (50) at at least two different and non-zero beam opening speeds (a third beam opening speed corresponding to a first irradiation angle (α1) among a plurality of irradiation angles (α) and a fourth beam opening speed corresponding to a second irradiation angle (α2) among a plurality of irradiation angles (α)).

[0040] First embodiment

[0041] A first embodiment of the particle therapy system (1) of the present invention is now described in more detail. In the first embodiment, a controller (80) is configured to rotate the beam conveyor (50) relative to the support device (70) around the target (10) at at least two different and non-zero beam opening speeds (a first beam opening speed corresponding to a first irradiation angle (α1) among a plurality of irradiation angles (α) and a second beam opening speed corresponding to a second irradiation angle (α2) among the plurality of irradiation angles (α)) when the target (10) is irradiated by the charged particle beam (30) and when the support device (70) remains stationary or moves in translation.

[0042] Figure 2 An exemplary beam delivery device (50) according to a first embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown.

[0043] In this figure, it can be seen that the beam delivery device (50) rotates around the target (10) at a beam opening speed ω(t) that varies according to time, while the support device (70) and the object (20) remain stationary during the treatment. n-1 , α n and α n+1 3 shows three exemplary angular positions that the beam delivery device (50) occupies during its rotation. It should be noted that these three angular positions can be occupied at different times and they are not necessarily consecutive. In other words, the beam opening speed can be positive (clockwise) or negative (counterclockwise) or a mixture of the two. Preferably, during a treatment of the subject (20), the beam opening speed is always clockwise or always counterclockwise.

[0044] The controller (80) is configured to rotate the beam delivery device (50) relative to the support device (70) around the target (10) at at least two different and non-zero beam opening speeds (a first beam opening speed corresponding to the first irradiation angle (α1) and a second beam opening speed corresponding to the second irradiation angle (α2)), while irradiating the target (10) with the charged particle beam (30). The first beam opening speed ω(t1) is, for example, the beam delivery device (50) at α n The second beam opening speed ω(t2) is, for example, the rotation speed of the beam conveying device (50) at α n+1 The rotation speed of the beam conveying device (50) at 1.5° is

[0045] For example, the beam delivery device (50) may be motorized in order to rotate it. Preferably, the beam delivery device (50) is mounted on a gantry that is rotatable about the target (10) and relative to the support device (70). Such rotating gantries are well known in the art of particle therapy systems (1). An exemplary gantry is an isocenter gantry. A typical beam delivery device (50) is sometimes referred to as a nozzle.

[0046] The controller (80) is preferably configured to irradiate the target (10) with a charged particle beam (30) according to a plurality of irradiation fields, each of the plurality of irradiation fields corresponding to a specific irradiation angle (α) among the plurality of irradiation angles (α). Therefore, this is also well known in the art. However, the present invention is characterized in that: the controller (80) is configured so that while the beam delivery device (50) rotates around the target (10) at two beam opening speeds, two different irradiation fields among the plurality of irradiation fields are delivered to the target (10). Figure 2 In the example of n At and preferably at angle α n When the beam delivery device (50) is located near α, the first irradiation field is delivered to the target (10) while the beam delivery device (50) rotates at a first beam opening speed ω(t1); and when the beam delivery device (50) is located at α n+1 and preferably at an angle α n+1 When near, the second irradiation field is delivered to the target (10), for example, while the beam delivery device (50) rotates at a second beam opening speed ω(t2) different from ω(t1).

[0047] The irradiation field corresponding to a specific irradiation angle (α) is, for example, an irradiation field selected by a physician for the specific irradiation angle (α) and input into the system. Typically, the system parameters for each irradiation field are provided by a treatment plan subsystem, which may or may not be part of the controller (80). The controller (80) then sets all system parameters so that, in operation, when the beam delivery device (50) and / or the support device (70) are located at or near the corresponding irradiation angle (α), the system irradiates the field to the target (10).

[0048] Preferably, the controller (80) is configured such that: for at least one irradiation angle (α) among the plurality of irradiation angles (α), the beam opening speed depends on the time for irradiating the target (10) with the irradiation field corresponding to the at least one irradiation angle (α). For example, when the particle therapy system (1) is configured to irradiate the target (10) layer by layer using a known point scanning technique, the time for irradiating the target (10) is the time required to irradiate all points of all layers of the irradiation field, and the time for irradiating the target (10) may also include the time required to adjust the particle beam (30).

[0049] Preferably, the beam opening speed is inversely proportional to the time for irradiating the target (10) with the irradiation field corresponding to the at least one irradiation angle (α). In fact, the shorter the required irradiation time, the higher the beam opening speed can be used.

[0050] Preferably, the controller (80) is configured such that, for at least one of the plurality of illumination angles (α), the beam opening speed further depends on a system-specific minimum rotation speed (70) of the beam conveyor (50) relative to the support device (70). The system-specific minimum rotation speed of the beam conveyor (50) may, for example, be a speed at which the particle therapy system (1) will not operate or cannot operate at all under conditions required for particle therapy. The system-specific minimum rotation speed of the beam conveyor (50) may, for example, be a minimum rotation speed at which the speed controller (80) does not work.

[0051] More specifically, the controller (80) is preferably configured such that the beam opening speed is greater than or equal to a system-specific minimum rotational speed of the beam delivery device (50) at any and all illumination angles (α). Here, the beam opening speed is considered to be the instantaneous rotational speed of the beam delivery device (50) around the target (10) when the beam delivery device (50) is at any and all illumination angles (α).

[0052] Preferably, the controller (80) is configured such that, for at least one of the plurality of irradiation angles (α), the beam opening speed further depends on a system-specific maximum rotation speed (70) of the beam delivery device (50) relative to the support device (70). The system-specific maximum rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50) may, for example, be a speed higher than a speed at which the particle therapy system (1) cannot be operated under the conditions required for particle therapy, or may simply be a limiting speed that the system cannot exceed for physical reasons (e.g., a maximum speed of a drive motor). More specifically, the controller (80) is preferably configured such that the beam opening speed is less than or equal to the system-specific maximum rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50) at any and all irradiation angles (α). Here, the beam opening speed is regarded as the instantaneous rotation speed ω(t) of the beam delivery device (50) around the target (10).

[0053] In some examples or for at least one illumination angle (α), the controller (80) is further configured to maintain a constant beam opening speed while irradiating the target (10) with at least one illumination field of the plurality of illumination fields. In other examples or for at least another illumination angle (α), the controller (80) is configured to change the beam opening speed while irradiating the target (10) with at least one illumination field of the plurality of illumination fields.

[0054] Reference again Figure 2 , in the case where the controller (80) is configured to irradiate the target (10) with the charged particle beam (30) according to a plurality of irradiation fields, each of the plurality of irradiation fields corresponds to a particular irradiation angle (α) among a plurality of irradiation angles (α). As is known in the art, when the angular position of the beam delivery device (50) is within the irradiation angle (α) α i The object (10) can be illuminated with the illumination field when within a limited angular range before and / or after the illumination field. This limited range of angular positions will be referred to as the tolerance window in the following. Figure 2 In the example, for example, when the beam delivery device (50) is at the boundary by the angular position (α n -Dα n ) and (α n +Dα n ) within the tolerance window defined by the irradiation angle (α) n The corresponding field is illuminated.

[0055] This tolerance Dα n For example, it may be derived from clinical requirements and may be used as an input to the controller (80). The same is true for other irradiation angles (α). As mentioned above, another input to the controller (80) may be the time required to irradiate the target (10) with the irradiation field corresponding to the at least one irradiation angle (α).

[0056] In some examples, for each of the plurality of illumination angles (α) α i , the controller (80) receives or calculates: the corresponding illumination field transmitted to the target (10), the illumination angle (α) α i Tolerance Dα i and adopt the irradiation angle (α)α i The time t required for the corresponding illumination field to illuminate the target (10) i Then, the controller (80) calculates the irradiation angle α according to these parameters. i The beam opening speed is equivalent to ω(t) = 2.Dα i / t i (in rad / s). Then, when the beam delivery device (50) reaches or is at an angle position (α i-Dα i ), the controller (80) turns on the particle beam (30), and when the beam delivery device (50) is in position (α i +Dα i ), the particle beam (30) is preferably turned off.

[0057] As mentioned above, the controller (80) is preferably configured so that the beam opening speed is greater than or equal to the system-specific minimum rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50). In this case, the additional input of the controller (80) is the system-specific minimum rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50). When 2.Dα is found i / t i When the value of s is less than the specific minimum rotation speed of the system, the controller (80) can, for example, temporarily stop the rotation of the beam conveying device (50).

[0058] As previously mentioned, the controller (80) is preferably configured such that the beam opening speed is less than or equal to the system-specific maximum rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50). In this case, the additional input of the controller (80) is the system-specific maximum rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50). When 2.Dα is found i / t i When the value of s is greater than the system-specific maximum speed, the controller (80) may, for example, convert the previously received or calculated Dα i The value of is reduced to a smaller value Dα is , and when the beam delivery device (50) reaches or is at an angle position (α n -Dα is ) when the particle beam (30) is turned on, and when the beam delivery device (50) is in position (α n +Dα is ), the particle beam (30) is preferably turned off.

[0059] In the above example, when the beam delivery device (50) is at an angle around the irradiation angle (α) α i In the symmetrically arranged angular position, the light beam (30) remains on, but of course an asymmetrical operation can also be used, provided that the illumination angle (α) is maintained at i within clinically acceptable angular positions anteriorly and / or posteriorly.

[0060] Preferably, the controller (80) is configured to find the highest beam opening speed within a relevant tolerance window that allows the delivery of a complete illumination field associated with a given illumination angle (α).

[0061] There are two exemplary strategies for the performance of the feedback reading of the rotational speed of the beam delivery device (50).

[0062] Strategy A considers the readout to be too slow, in which case the controller (80) pre-calculates all speed parameters.

[0063] Strategy B assumes that the readout performance is compatible with real-time speed regulation of the beam delivery device (50) by the controller (80).

[0064] Strategy A

[0065] Before starting to irradiate the target (10), the following parameters are calculated by the controller (80) or transmitted to the controller (80):

[0066] Beam opening speed for each irradiation angle (α);

[0067] Beam disconnection speed = the rotation speed of the beam conveying device (50) between two consecutive irradiations;

[0068] The starting angle of each illumination field = the angle at which the light beam (30) is opened.

[0069] Once the calculations are complete, the controller (80) begins the following sequence:

[0070] A1 / moving the beam delivery device (50) to a first starting angle within a tolerance window corresponding to a first irradiation angle (α1);

[0071] A2 / Set the speed of the beam conveyor (50) to the current irradiation angle (α i ) and turn on the particle beam (30);

[0072] A3 / Transmit the current irradiation field to the target (10);

[0073] A4 / Once the irradiation field is delivered, set the speed of the beam delivery device (50) to the beam break speed:

[0074] A5 / If the last irradiation field has been transmitted, stop, otherwise wait for the next start angle to arrive and go to step A2.

[0075] Strategy B

[0076] In strategy B, the same steps A1 to A5 are performed by the controller (80), but the additional steps of calculating the beam on speed, beam off speed and start angle are performed, for example, during step A1 and / or when the beam transport device (50) moves at the previous beam off speed.

[0077] Preferably, the controller (80) is also configured to rotate the beam conveying device (50) relative to the supporting device (70) at a beam disconnection speed while stopping the irradiation of the target (10) with the charged particle beam (30), and more specifically to rotate the beam conveying device (50) relative to the supporting device (70) at at least two different and non-zero beam disconnection speeds (a first beam disconnection speed corresponding to a first irradiation angle (α1) among multiple irradiation angles (α), and a second beam disconnection speed corresponding to a second irradiation angle (α2) among the multiple irradiation angles (α)).

[0078] When the particle beam (30) is turned off, it is indeed interesting to change the rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50) between the delivery of the irradiation field. For example, the rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50) can be accelerated or decelerated in order to prepare for the next beam on speed and / or in order to have enough time or just enough time to change the energy of the particle beam (30), for example, when discussing Figure 3 and further discussion Figure 2 This will become apparent when the beam disconnection speed corresponding to a given irradiation angle (α) is the average rotation speed of the beam conveyor (50) during the time period starting from the end of irradiation corresponding to the given irradiation angle (α) (the light beam (30) is turned off) to the beginning of irradiation corresponding to the next irradiation angle (α) (the light beam (30) is turned on again).

[0079] Preferably, the controller (80) is further configured to change the energy of the particle beam (30) to be delivered to the target (10) while the beam delivery device (50) is rotating at at least one beam cut-off speed. Figure 2 , when the beam delivery device (50) is in β n-1 and / or beta n and / or beta n+1 The controller (80) can, for example, change the energy of the particle beam (30) to be delivered to the target (10) when the angular position is within the range shown. The controller (80) is preferably configured to select a beam disconnection speed that takes into account the time required to change the energy of the particle beam (30) between two consecutive irradiation angles (α). Specifically, with reference to Figure 2 The controller (80) is, for example, configured to receive or calculate the time t required for the following operation: se : At two consecutive irradiation angles α n and α n+1 - changing the energy of the particle beam (30) (i.e., changing the energy of the particle beam (30) from the energy corresponding to the angle α to the energy corresponding to the angle α) n The energy required at the end of the irradiation changes to the angle α n+1 energy required at the start of irradiation); and at the angular position of the beam delivery device (50) indicated as β nThe rotation speed ω(t) of the beam conveying device (50) is controlled within a range of β so that the average value of ω(t) within the range is less than or equal to β n / t se .

[0080] The controller (80) is preferably configured to make the beam disconnection speed higher than or equal to the system-specific minimum rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50). In this case, an additional input to the controller (80) is the system-specific minimum rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50). For example, when it is found that i When the instantaneous value of ω(t) in the range is less than the system-specific minimum speed, the controller (80) may, for example, i The rotation of the beam conveying device (50) is temporarily stopped within the range.

[0081] The controller (80) is preferably further configured to make the beam disconnection speed less than or equal to the system-specific maximum rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50). In this case, an additional input to the controller (80) is the system-specific maximum rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50). i When the instantaneous value of ω(t) in the range is greater than the maximum speed of the system, the controller (80) may, for example, limit the value of ω(t) to β i The maximum rotational speed of the system of the beam conveyor (50) within the range.

[0082] Figure 3 The present invention shows an exemplary curve of the rotation speed of the beam delivery device (50) and the on / off state of the particle beam (30) during operation of the particle therapy system. The upper curve (200) represents the change of the rotation speed ω(t) of the beam delivery device (50) over time, expressed in degrees per second. The lower curve (100) represents the on / off state of the particle beam (30) over time. The zero value on the lower curve (100) corresponds to the beam (30) being turned off, and the non-zero value corresponds to the beam (30) being turned on. During each on state, the beam (30) is irradiated with an irradiation angle α. i correspond.

[0083] The vertical dashed lines allow us to clearly see the i ) on the upper curve (200) of FIG. 2 . Preferably, the controller (80) can, for example, change the energy of the particle beam (30) while the particle beam (30) is turned off.

[0084] The accelerator is preferably a cyclotron or a synchrotron.

[0085] Preferably, the charged particle beam (30) is an ion beam, preferably a proton beam or a carbon ion beam.

[0086] Second embodiment

[0087] In a second embodiment, the controller (80) is configured to rotate the support device (70) relative to the beam conveying device (50) at at least two different non-zero beam opening speeds (a first beam opening speed corresponding to a first irradiation angle (α1) among a plurality of irradiation angles (α) and a second beam opening speed corresponding to a second irradiation angle (α2) among a plurality of irradiation angles (α)) while the target (10) is irradiated by the charged particle beam (30) and while the conveying device remains stationary or performs translational motion.

[0088] To this end, the support device (70) can be, for example, a long table mounted on a robotic arm, which can be connected to the Figure 2 The stage is rotated about the z-axis perpendicular to the xy plane in the same reference frame as shown.

[0089] For example, other operating parts and operating methods of the particle therapy system (1) may be the same or equivalent to those described in the first embodiment. In other words, the main difference between the first and second embodiments is that in the second embodiment, the support device (70) rotates relative to the beam delivery device (50), while in the first embodiment, the beam delivery device (50) rotates relative to the support device (70) around the target (10).

[0090] Third embodiment

[0091] In a third embodiment, a controller (80) is configured to rotate a beam conveying device (50) relative to a supporting device (70) around a target (10) at at least two different and non-zero beam opening speeds (a first beam opening speed corresponding to a first irradiation angle (α1) among a plurality of irradiation angles (α) and a second beam opening speed corresponding to a second irradiation angle (α2) among a plurality of irradiation angles (α)) while the target (10) is irradiated by a charged particle beam (30).

[0092] In a third embodiment, the controller (80) is further configured to rotate the support device (70) relative to the beam delivery device (50) at at least two different and non-zero beam opening speeds (a third beam opening speed corresponding to the first irradiation angle (α1) and a fourth beam opening speed corresponding to the second irradiation angle (α2)) while the target (10) is irradiated by the charged particle beam (30).

[0093] Therefore, the third embodiment corresponds to a combination of the first and second embodiments, wherein both the beam delivery device (50) and the support device (70) rotate when the target (10) is irradiated by the charged particle beam (30). Of course, various combinations of the first, second, third and fourth beam opening speeds are also possible.

[0094] In a third embodiment, the controller (80) may be further configured to cause the beam delivery device (50) and / or the support device (70) to perform a translational movement when the beam delivery device (50) and / or the support device (70) are rotated.

[0095] The present invention is described according to specific embodiments, which are illustrative embodiments of the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting embodiments. More generally, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what is particularly shown and / or described above.

[0096] Reference signs in the claims do not limit their protective scope.

[0097] Use of the verbs "comprise", "include", "be composed of" or any other variations and their respective conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements other than those stated.

[0098] Use of the article "a", "an" or "the" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

[0099] The present invention can also be described as follows: a particle therapy system (1), comprising a particle accelerator (40) for generating a charged particle beam (30), a beam delivery device (50) for delivering the particle beam (30) to a target (10) of an object (20), a beam delivery system (60) for transmitting the particle beam (30) from the particle accelerator (40) to the beam delivery device (50), and a support device (70) for supporting the object (20). The beam delivery device (50) is rotatable relative to the support device (70) so as to be able to deliver the particle beam (30) to the target (10) according to a plurality of irradiation angles (α). The system further comprises a controller (80), the controller (80) being configured to rotate the beam delivery device (50) at a beam on speed while irradiating the target (10) with the particle beam (30). The controller (80) is configured to rotate the beam delivery device (50) relative to the support device (70) at at least two different beam opening speeds (a first beam opening speed corresponding to a first irradiation angle (α1) among the plurality of irradiation angles (α) and a second beam opening speed corresponding to a second irradiation angle (α2) among the plurality of irradiation angles (α). The different beam opening speeds can shorten the treatment time.

Claims

1. A particle therapy system (1) for irradiating a target (10) of a subject (20) with a charged particle beam (30), the particle therapy system (1) comprising: - a particle accelerator (40) for generating a charged particle beam (30); - a beam delivery device (50) for delivering a charged particle beam (30) to a target (10); - a beam transport system (60) for transporting a charged particle beam (30) from a particle accelerator (40) to a beam transport device (50); - a supporting device (70) for supporting the object (20); The beam delivery device (50) can rotate relative to the support device (70) around the target (10), and / or the support device (70) can rotate relative to the beam delivery device (50), so as to be able to deliver the charged particle beam (30) to the target (10) according to multiple irradiation angles (α); a controller (80) configured to rotate the beam delivery device (50) relative to the support device (70) around the target (10) at a beam opening speed, and / or to rotate the support device (70) relative to the beam delivery device (50) at a beam opening speed, while irradiating the target (10) with the charged particle beam (30); It is characterized in that The controller (80) is configured to rotate the beam conveying device (50) relative to the supporting device (70) around the target (10) at at least two different and non-zero beam opening speeds, wherein the two different and non-zero beam opening speeds are a first beam opening speed corresponding to a first irradiation angle (α1) among the plurality of irradiation angles (α) and a second beam opening speed corresponding to a second irradiation angle (α2) among the plurality of irradiation angles (α); and / or The controller (80) is configured to rotate the support device (70) relative to the beam conveying device (50) at at least two different and non-zero beam opening speeds, wherein the two different and non-zero beam opening speeds are a third beam opening speed corresponding to a first irradiation angle (α1) among the plurality of irradiation angles (α) and a fourth beam opening speed corresponding to a second irradiation angle (α2) among the plurality of irradiation angles (α); The controller (80) is further configured to rotate the beam delivery device (50) relative to the support device (70) at a beam disconnection speed, or rotate the support device (70) relative to the beam delivery device (50) at a beam disconnection speed, and simultaneously stop irradiating the target (10) with the charged particle beam (30), wherein the charged particle beam (30) is an ion beam; The controller (80) is further configured to rotate the beam conveying device (50) relative to the supporting device (70) at at least two different and non-zero beam disconnection speeds, or to rotate the supporting device (70) relative to the beam conveying device (50) at at least two different and non-zero beam disconnection speeds, wherein the two different and non-zero beam disconnection speeds are a first beam disconnection speed corresponding to a first irradiation angle (α1) among the plurality of irradiation angles (α) and a second beam disconnection speed corresponding to a second irradiation angle (α2) among the plurality of irradiation angles (α); And, the controller (80) is further configured to change the energy of the charged particle beam (30) to transmit the charged particle beam (30) to the target (10) while the beam delivery device (50) rotates at at least one of the beam break speeds.

2. The particle therapy system (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The controller (80) is configured to irradiate the target (10) with the charged particle beam (30) according to a plurality of irradiation fields, each of the plurality of irradiation fields corresponding to one of a plurality of irradiation angles (α); The controller is configured to receive a maximum rotation speed ω of the beam delivery device (50) max As input; Where, for at least one illumination angle α i , the controller is configured to receive a tolerance window Dα i and time t i As input, the tolerance window Dα i Defines a limited angle range before and / or after the illumination angle and the tolerance window Dα i According to clinical requirements, the time t i In order to adopt at least one illumination angle α i the time required for the corresponding irradiation field to irradiate the target (10); The controller is configured to calculate a beam opening speed, wherein the beam opening speed is equal to ω1(t)=2.Dα i / t i , and configured so that: if 2.Dα i / t i The value is greater than ω max , then the at least one illumination angle α i The beam opening speed is set to ω2(t)=2.Dα is / t i The value of , where 2.Dα is / t i Less than or equal to ω max , and when the beam delivery device (50) reaches or is at an angle position α i -Dα is When the charged particle beam (30) is turned on, when the beam conveying device (50) is at an angle position α i +Dα is When the charged particle beam (30) is turned off.

3. The particle therapy system (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: The beam conveying device (50) is rotatable around the target (10) relative to the supporting device (70).

4. The particle therapy system (1) according to claim 3, wherein: The beam conveying device (50) is mounted on a frame, and the frame is rotatable relative to the supporting device (70).

5. The particle therapy system (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: The supporting device (70) is rotatable relative to the beam conveying device (50).

6. The particle therapy system (1) according to claim 2, wherein: For at least one of the plurality of illumination angles (α) i The beam opening speed further depends on the minimum rotation speed of the beam conveying device (50) relative to the supporting device (70) or the minimum rotation speed of the supporting device (70) relative to the beam conveying device (50).

7. The particle therapy system (1) according to claim 2 or claim 6, wherein: The controller (80) is also configured to keep the beam opening speed constant while irradiating the target (10) with at least one irradiation field among the plurality of irradiation fields.

8. The particle therapy system (1) according to claim 2 or claim 6, wherein: The controller (80) is also configured to change a beam opening speed while irradiating the target (10) with at least one irradiation field among the plurality of irradiation fields.

9. The particle therapy system (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: The accelerator is a cyclotron or a synchrotron.

10. The particle therapy system (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: The ion beam is a proton beam or a carbon ion beam.

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