Image-guided radiotherapy system and method thereof

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides an image-guided radiotherapy system and a method thereof. The system comprises a first detection assembly used for collecting photon signals generated by radionuclides in an object so as to determine a first image of a target area of the object; at least one imaging source for emitting an imaging beam to the target area of the object to determine a second image; the radiation source is used for emitting a treatment beam to the target area of the object; the first detection assembly and the at least one imaging source are installed on a first rotatable part, the ray source is installed on a second rotatable part, and the first rotatable part and the second rotatable part are arranged coaxially and coplanar; and the first detection assembly or the at least one imaging source is configured to be capable of moving relative to the first rotatable part.

Description

Image-guided radiotherapy system and method thereof Technical Field

[0001] This specification relates to the field of medical devices, and in particular to an image-guided radiotherapy system and method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Radiation therapy is a localized treatment directed at a specific target tissue, such as a malignant tumor. Dose and geometry data are checked before, after, or during treatment to ensure correct patient positioning and that the delivered radiation therapy matches the previously planned treatment. This process, called image-guided radiation therapy, involves using an imaging system to monitor the target tissue while the radiation therapy is reaching it.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] One embodiment of this specification provides an image-guided radiotherapy system. The system includes: a first detection assembly for collecting photon signals generated by radionuclides in a subject's body to determine a first image of a target region of the subject; at least one imaging source for emitting an imaging beam toward the target region of the subject to determine a second image; and a radiation source for emitting a therapeutic beam toward the target region of the subject. The first detection assembly and the at least one imaging source are mounted on a first rotatable portion, and the radiation source is mounted on a second rotatable portion. The first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion are coaxially and coplanarly arranged.

[0005] In some embodiments, the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion are configured to rotate independently of each other.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly or the at least one imaging source is configured to be movable relative to the first rotatable portion.

[0007] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly or the at least one imaging source is moved relative to the first rotatable portion by a movable structure.

[0008] In some embodiments, a moving distance of the first detection assembly relative to the first rotatable part is determined according to a thickness of the first detection assembly along an axial direction of the first rotatable part.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly is configured to be movable relative to the first rotatable portion between a first position and a second position.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly is configured to be movable along the axial direction of the first rotatable part.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly includes at least two groups of detectors, which are arranged relative to each other. When the at least two groups of detectors are located in the first position, the at least one imaging source is blocked by at least one detector in the at least two groups of detectors.

[0012] In some embodiments, the at least one imaging source is configured to be able to move between a third position and a fourth position relative to the first rotatable part, and the first detection assembly includes at least two groups of detectors, which are arranged relative to each other. When the at least one imaging source is located in the third position, at least one detector in the at least two groups of detectors is blocked by the at least one imaging source.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly includes at least three groups of detectors, two of the at least three groups of detectors are arranged opposite to the other detectors, and the at least one imaging source is installed between two of the groups of detectors.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly comprises a PET detector, and the at least one imaging source comprises a computed tomography imaging source and / or a digital photography imaging source.

[0015] One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a radiotherapy method for the above-mentioned image-guided radiotherapy system, the method being implemented by a computing device comprising at least one processor and at least one storage device. The method comprises: determining a first image of a target region of the subject by causing the first detection assembly to acquire photon signals generated by radionuclides within the subject's body, and / or determining a second image of the target region of the subject by causing one of the at least one imaging source to emit an imaging beam toward the subject; and causing the radiation source to emit a treatment beam toward the target region of the subject based on the first image and / or the second image.

[0016] In some embodiments, the method further includes: positioning the first detection assembly at the first position to determine the first image; and guiding the radiation source to emit the treatment beam toward the target area of ​​the subject based on the first image.

[0017] In some embodiments, the method further includes: positioning the first detection assembly at the second position to determine the second image; and locating the target area and / or determining a treatment plan based on the second image.

[0018] In some embodiments, the method further includes: positioning the first detection assembly at the second position; and rotating the second rotatable portion to cause the radiation source to emit a therapeutic beam toward a target area of ​​the subject.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly includes at least two groups of detectors, and the at least two groups of detectors are arranged relative to each other. When the at least two groups of detectors are located at the first position, the at least one imaging source is blocked by at least one detector in the at least two groups of detectors; the second image of the target area of ​​the object is determined by causing one of the at least one imaging source to emit an imaging beam to the object, including: causing the first detection assembly to be located at the second position; causing one of the at least one imaging source to emit an imaging beam to the object to determine the second image of the target area of ​​the object.

[0020] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly includes at least three groups of detectors, two of the at least three groups of detectors are arranged opposite to the other detectors, and the at least one imaging source is installed between the two groups of detectors; determining the second image of the target area of ​​the object by causing one of the at least one imaging source to emit an imaging beam to the object includes: locating the first detection assembly at the second position; causing one of the at least one imaging source to emit an imaging beam to the object to determine the second image of the target area of ​​the object.

[0021] In some embodiments, causing the radiation source to emit a therapeutic beam toward a target area of ​​the object based on the first image and / or the second image includes: determining a third image based on the first image and the second image; and guiding the radiation source to emit a therapeutic beam toward the target area of ​​the object based on the third image.

[0022] One of the embodiments of this specification provides an image-guided radiotherapy apparatus, comprising at least one processor and at least one storage device, wherein the storage device is used to store instructions, and when the at least one processor executes the instructions, the method described above is implemented.

[0023] One of the embodiments of this specification provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer instructions. When a computer reads the computer instructions in the storage medium, the computer executes the method described above.

[0024] The image-guided radiotherapy system provided in the embodiments of this specification deeply integrates a first detection component (e.g., a PET detector), an imaging component (e.g., a CT imaging source and / or a DR imaging source), and a treatment component (e.g., a radiation source) and realizes the coplanarity of the three. The first detection component is configured to be able to switch between a first position and a second position, so that real-time guidance of target area (e.g., tumor) tracking radiotherapy can be achieved without affecting CT / DR imaging performance and radiotherapy, thereby greatly improving the efficiency and accuracy of the adaptive radiotherapy (including diagnostic-grade image guidance) process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] This specification will be further described in the form of exemplary embodiments, which will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are not limiting, and in these embodiments, like numbers represent like structures, wherein:

[0026] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of an exemplary image-guided radiotherapy system according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0027] FIG2(a)-FIG2(b) are schematic structural diagrams of exemplary image-guided radiotherapy systems according to some embodiments of the present specification;

[0028] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy system according to some embodiments of the present specification;

[0029] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy system according to some embodiments of the present specification;

[0030] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy system according to some embodiments of the present specification;

[0031] FIG6(a)-FIG6(b) are schematic structural diagrams of exemplary image-guided radiotherapy systems according to other embodiments of the present specification;

[0032] FIG7 is a side view schematic diagram of an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy system according to some embodiments of the present specification;

[0033] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of hardware and / or software components of an exemplary computing device according to some embodiments of the present specification;

[0034] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of hardware and / or software components of an exemplary terminal device according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0035] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of modules of an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy system according to some embodiments of the present specification;

[0036] FIG11 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy method according to some embodiments of the present specification;

[0037] FIG12 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy method according to other embodiments of the present specification; and

[0038] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy method according to other embodiments of the present specification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this specification, the following briefly describes the drawings required for describing the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely examples or embodiments of this specification. Those skilled in the art can apply this specification to other similar scenarios based on these drawings without inventive effort. Unless otherwise apparent from the context or otherwise noted, the same reference numerals in the figures represent the same structure or operation.

[0040] It should be understood that the terms "system," "device," and / or "module" used herein are a method for distinguishing different components, elements, parts, portions, or assemblies at different levels. However, other terms may be used to replace the terms if they achieve the same purpose.

[0041] As used in this specification and claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words "a," "an," "an," and / or "the" are not intended to refer to the singular but may include the plural. "A plurality" may refer to "two or more." Generally speaking, the terms "comprise" and "include" only indicate the inclusion of the steps and elements specifically identified, and these steps and elements do not constitute an exclusive list; a method or apparatus may also include additional steps or elements.

[0042] Flowcharts are used throughout this specification to illustrate the operations performed by systems according to embodiments of this specification. It should be understood that preceding or following operations do not necessarily need to be performed in exact order. Instead, the steps may be processed in reverse order or simultaneously. Furthermore, other operations may be added to these processes, or one or more operations may be removed from these processes.

[0043] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of an exemplary image-guided radiotherapy system according to some embodiments of the present specification. As shown in FIG1 , in some embodiments, the image-guided radiotherapy system 100 may include a medical device 110, a network 120, at least one terminal device 130, a processing device 140, and a storage device 150. In some embodiments, the various components in the image-guided radiotherapy system 100 may be interconnected via the network 120. For example, the medical device 110 and the at least one terminal device 130 may be connected or communicated via the network 120. In some embodiments, the image-guided radiotherapy system 100 may be used to provide radiotherapy (e.g., stereotactic radiosurgery and / or precision radiotherapy) to a patient's target area (e.g., lesions, tumors) and any other radiotherapy location. In some embodiments, the image-guided radiotherapy system 100 may include a treatment planning system, an image-guided radiotherapy system, and the like.

[0044] In some embodiments, the image-guided radiation therapy system 100 can perform image-guided radiation therapy. For example, the image-guided radiation therapy system 100 can use X-ray imaging to monitor a target area (e.g., a tumor, a lesion, etc.) to be treated inside an object (e.g., a patient). In this case, the medical device 110 may include a treatment device (also referred to as a treatment component) and an imaging device (also referred to as an imaging component). The treatment device can be used to radiate a treatment beam to a target area to perform radiation therapy on the target area. The imaging device (e.g., a first detection component, a CT imaging component) can be used to image the target area and / or normal tissue surrounding the target area before, after, or during radiation therapy (e.g., two-dimensional imaging, three-dimensional imaging, or four-dimensional imaging). In this case, the anatomical structure of the target area (e.g., a target volume, an organ at risk) and its movement or deformation can be detected, and the position of the patient and / or the treatment beam can be adjusted to radiate the radiation dose more accurately to the target area.

[0045] In some embodiments, the treatment device (treatment assembly) may include a treatment head. The treatment head may be used to radiate a treatment beam to a subject to perform radiation therapy on a target area within the subject. In some embodiments, the treatment head may include an upper treatment head and a lower treatment head.

[0046] The upper treatment head may include a radiation source for emitting a treatment beam. In some embodiments, the upper treatment head may include at least one of a microwave component, an accelerator component, or a cooling component. The microwave component may generate an electromagnetic field for accelerating an electron beam to produce a high-energy electron beam. The accelerator component (e.g., an accelerating tube) may be used to accelerate the electron beam. The cooling component may be used to cool components of the upper treatment head, such as the microwave component, the accelerator component, etc.

[0047] The lower treatment head may include a beam-limiting component for limiting the radiation range of the treatment beam emitted by the radiation source. In some embodiments, the lower treatment head may include at least one of a collimation component such as a leveling filter, an ionization chamber, a docking gate, and a multi-leaf collimator (MLC). The leveling filter can be used to adjust the energy distribution of the treatment beam. The ionization chamber can be used to ionize the gas in the ionization chamber cavity to detect the parameters of the treatment beam (such as the intensity, flatness, and symmetry of the treatment beam). The radiation range of the treatment beam (or the filtered treatment beam) can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the tungsten gate and / or the leaves in the multi-leaf collimator.

[0048] In some embodiments, the imaging device may include an imaging source (e.g., a CT tube, a DR tube) and / or a detector (e.g., a first detection assembly, a CT detector, a DR detector). The imaging source may be configured to emit an imaging beam toward a target region of a subject. The detector may be configured to receive at least a portion of the imaging beam to perform imaging on the subject (e.g., to generate a second image). In some embodiments, the detector (e.g., a PET detector, a SPECT detector) may be configured to collect photon signals generated by radionuclides within the subject to perform imaging on the subject (e.g., to generate a first image of the target region of the subject).

[0049] In some embodiments, the imaging device may include one or a combination of an X-ray device, a direct radiography (DR) imaging device, a direct digital radiography (DDR) imaging device, a computed tomography (CT) imaging device, a three-dimensional (3D) CT, a four-dimensional (4D) CT, an ultrasound imaging component, a fluoroscopic imaging component, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) device, a positron emission tomography (PET) device, etc. The imaging devices provided above are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application.

[0050] In this specification, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis shown in FIG1 may form an orthogonal coordinate system. The x-axis and y-axis shown in FIG1 are horizontal, and the z-axis is vertical. As shown in FIG1 , when viewed from the front of the medical device 110, the positive x-direction along the x-axis may be from the left side to the right side of the medical device 110; the positive z-direction along the z-axis shown in FIG1 may be from the bottom to the top of the medical device 110; and the positive y-direction along the y-axis shown in FIG1 may be the direction in which the object is removed from the aperture 116 of the medical device 110.

[0051] In some embodiments, the medical device 110 may include a gantry 111 and a couch 115. The gantry 111 may be configured to support a treatment device and an imaging device. The gantry 111 may rotate around an object (e.g., a patient) that is moved into the radiation field of the medical device 110 (e.g., the area covered by the radiation beam emitted by the treatment head and / or imaging assembly). In some embodiments, the couch 115 may be configured to support the object. In some embodiments, the couch 115 may include multiple degrees of freedom, such as translational freedom along three coordinate directions (i.e., the x-direction, y-direction, and z-direction shown in FIG1 ) and / or rotational freedom around three coordinate directions. Thus, the couch 115 may move an object in any direction of the 3D coordinate system shown in FIG1 . By way of example only, the couch 115 may move an object into or out of the radiation field of the medical device 110 along the y-axis in FIG1 .

[0052] In some embodiments, the object may include a biological object or a non-biological object. By way of example only, the object may include a patient, an artificial object, or the like. As another example, the object may include a phantom. As another example, the object may include a specific part, organ, and / or tissue of a patient. For example, the object may include the head, brain, neck, torso, shoulder, arm, chest, heart, stomach, blood vessels, soft tissue, knee, foot, or any combination thereof.

[0053] The network 120 may comprise any suitable network capable of facilitating information and / or data exchange within the image-guided radiation therapy system 100. In some embodiments, at least one component of the image-guided radiation therapy system 100 (e.g., the medical device 110, at least one terminal device 130, the processing device 140, the storage device 150) may exchange information and / or data with at least one other component of the image-guided radiation therapy system 100 via the network 120. For example, the processing device 140 may obtain images (e.g., first images, second images) of a subject (e.g., an object) from the medical device 110 via the network 120. The network 120 may comprise or include a public network (e.g., the Internet), a private network (e.g., a local area network (LAN)), a wired network, a wireless network (e.g., an 802.11 network, a Wi-Fi network), a frame relay network, a virtual private network (VPN), a satellite network, a telephone network, a router, a hub, a switch, a server computer, and / or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the network 120 may comprise at least one network access point. For example, the network 120 may include wired and / or wireless network access points, such as base stations and / or Internet exchange points, through which at least one component of the image-guided radiation therapy system 100 may connect to the network 120 to exchange data and / or information.

[0054] The terminal device 130 can communicate and / or connect with the medical device 110, the processing device 140, and / or the storage device 150. For example, an operator can adjust the current acquisition parameters of the medical device 110 through at least one terminal device 130. For another example, an operator can input a scanning protocol through at least one terminal device 130, which is stored in the storage device 150 by the processing device 140. For another example, the acquisition parameters determined by the processing device 140 can be displayed on the terminal device 130. In some embodiments, the at least one terminal device 130 may include a mobile device 131, a tablet computer 132, a laptop computer 133, or the like, or any combination thereof. For example, the mobile device 131 may include a mobile control handle, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, or the like, or any combination thereof.

[0055] In some embodiments, the terminal device 130 may include an input device, an output device, and the like. The input device may be a keyboard input, a touch screen input (e.g., with tactile or haptic feedback), a voice input, an eye tracking input, a gesture tracking input, a brain monitoring system input, an image input, a video input, or any other similar input mechanism. The input information received by the input device may be transmitted to the processing device 140 via a bus, for example, for further processing. Other types of input devices may include a cursor control device, such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys. In some embodiments, an operator (e.g., a technician or a doctor) may input a scanning protocol via an input device. The output device may include a display, a speaker, a printer, or the like, or any combination thereof. The output device may be used to output acquisition parameters determined by the processing device 140, and the like. In some embodiments, at least one terminal device 130 may be part of the processing device 140.

[0056] The processing device 140 can process data and / or information obtained from the medical device 110, the at least one terminal device 130, the storage device 150, or other components of the image-guided radiation therapy system 100. For example, the processing device 140 can generate a first image of a target region of the subject by causing a first detection component of the medical device 110 to acquire photon signals generated by a radionuclide within the subject's body. For another example, the processing device 140 can generate a second image of the target region of the subject by causing an imaging source of the medical device 110 to emit an imaging beam toward the subject. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can be a single server or a server group. The server group can be centralized or distributed. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can be local or remote. For example, the processing device 140 can access information and / or data from the medical device 110, the storage device 150, and / or the at least one terminal device 130 via the network 120. For another example, the processing device 140 can be directly connected to the medical device 110, the at least one terminal device 130, and / or the storage device 150 to access information and / or data. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can be implemented on a cloud platform. For example, a cloud platform may include private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, community cloud, distributed cloud, inter-cloud, multi-cloud, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0057] The storage device 150 can store data, instructions, and / or any other information. In some embodiments, the storage device 150 can store data obtained from the medical device 110, the at least one terminal device 130, and / or the processing device 140. In some embodiments, the storage device 150 can store data and / or instructions used by the processing device 140 to execute or use to complete the exemplary methods described herein. In some embodiments, the storage device 150 can include a mass storage device, a removable memory, a volatile read-write memory, a read-only memory (ROM), or the like, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the storage device 150 can be implemented on a cloud platform.

[0058] In some embodiments, the storage device 150 can be connected to the network 120 to communicate with at least one other component in the image-guided radiation therapy system 100 (e.g., at least one terminal device 130, the processing device 140). At least one component in the image-guided radiation therapy system 100 can access data stored in the storage device 150 through the network 120. In some embodiments, the storage device 150 can be part of the processing device 140.

[0059] It should be noted that the above description is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of this specification. For those skilled in the art, various changes and modifications can be made under the guidance of the contents of this specification. The features, structures, methods and other features of the exemplary embodiments described in this specification can be combined in various ways to obtain additional and / or alternative exemplary embodiments. For example, the storage device 150 can be a data storage device including a cloud computing platform. However, these changes and modifications do not deviate from the scope of this specification.

[0060] During the radiotherapy cycle, the patient's body shape and / or tumor will continue to change over time. Therefore, in addition to the patient's anatomical structure images, radiotherapy also requires functional imaging, molecular metabolic imaging, etc. to observe changes in the patient's tumor, so as to provide doctors with more information for clinical decision-making. In some embodiments, the type of image to be acquired can be selected based on clinical needs. In some embodiments, the treatment plan can be formulated and / or adjusted based on the medical images acquired by the imaging device before each radiotherapy. In some embodiments, medical images can also be used to monitor and track tumors in real time.

[0061] In an embodiment of the present specification, an image-guided radiotherapy system is provided, which may include a first detection assembly, at least one imaging source and a radiation source. The first detection assembly and the at least one imaging source may be mounted on a first rotatable part for performing imaging on an object (e.g., determining a first image or a second image). The radiation source (e.g., an upper treatment head) may be mounted on a second rotatable part for emitting a treatment beam to a target area of ​​the object. In some embodiments, the first rotatable part and the second rotatable part are configured to rotate independently of each other. In some embodiments, the first rotatable part and the second rotatable part may be coaxial and coplanar. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly or the at least one imaging source may be configured to be movable relative to the first rotatable part. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly may be movable between a first position and a second position relative to the first rotatable part. In some embodiments, at least one imaging source may be movable between a third position and a fourth position relative to the first rotatable part.

[0062] In some embodiments, the medical device 110 may include a first detection assembly and a radiation source. The first detection assembly is mounted on a first rotatable portion, and the radiation source is mounted on a second rotatable portion. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly may include a PET detector or a SPECT detector. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly may include an arc detector. In some embodiments, detectors other than the PET detector and the SPECT detector (e.g., a treatment beam detector, a CT detector, a DR detector) may be referred to as a second detection assembly. In some embodiments, the second detection assembly may include an arc detector and / or a flat panel detector.

[0063] In some embodiments, the first rotatable portion can be connected to a rack (e.g., rack 111), and the first detection assembly can be connected to the first rotatable portion. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly can generate a first image of a target area of ​​the object by collecting photon signals generated by radioactive nuclides in the object. For example, substances necessary for biological metabolism (e.g., glucose, protein, nucleic acid, fatty acid, etc.) can be labeled with short-lived radioactive nuclides (e.g., 18 F, 11 C, etc.), after being injected into the body of the object, the first detection component can generate a first image of the target area of ​​the object by receiving photon signals generated by the decay of the injected substance in the body of the object.

[0064] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly can be configured to be movable relative to the first rotatable portion. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly can be movable relative to the first rotatable portion between a first position and a second position.

[0065] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly can be moved relative to the first rotatable part by a movable structure. In some embodiments, the first rotatable part may include a guide rail, and the first detection assembly moves between the first position and the second position by the guide rail. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly may include a moving part matched with the guide rail and a corresponding driving mechanism, and the moving part is driven to move along the guide rail by the driving mechanism, so that the first detection assembly switches between the first position and the second position. For example, a linear guide rail can be installed along the y-axis direction (in Figure 1), and a moving part (for example, a slider, a ball, a roller, a needle, etc.) matched with the linear guide rail and a corresponding driving mechanism are installed on the first detection assembly, and the moving part on the first detection assembly is driven to move a preset distance along the linear guide rail by the driving mechanism, so that the first detection assembly switches between the first position and the second position. In some embodiments, the guide rail may include but is not limited to a combination of one or more of a flat guide rail, a cylindrical guide rail, a dovetail guide rail, a V-shaped guide rail, etc.

[0066] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly can be moved relative to the first rotatable part through other movable structures, and this specification does not limit this. For example, a guide shaft can be installed on the first rotatable part, and a linear bearing matching the guide shaft can be installed on the first detection assembly. The first detection assembly and the first rotatable part are slidably connected through the linear bearing and the guide shaft, so that the first detection assembly can switch between the first position and the second position. For another example, the first detection assembly can be installed on the first rotatable part through a cam mechanism, a linear motor or other structures, so as to achieve switching between the first position and the second position. For another example, the first detection assembly can be installed on the first rotatable part through a magnetic levitation sliding structure, so as to achieve movement between the first position and the second position relative to the first rotatable part.

[0067] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly can switch between a first position and a second position by moving a preset distance. In some embodiments, the distance (e.g., the preset distance) that the first detection assembly moves on the first rotatable portion can be determined based on the thickness of the first detection assembly. For example, if the PET detector is 30 cm thick along the axial direction of the first rotatable portion, the distance between the first position and the second position can be 20 cm or 25 cm (e.g., the first detection assembly can switch from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position by moving 20 cm or 25 cm linearly). In some embodiments, the distance that the first detection assembly moves can be determined based on other imaging components. For example, when a CT imaging component is mounted on the first rotatable portion, the distance between the first position and the second position can be determined based on the emission direction and beam range of the imaging beam during CT imaging (e.g., the second position of the first detection assembly must ensure that at least a portion of the imaging beam illuminates the subject or its target area). As used herein, "thickness" refers to the length of the first detection assembly along the axial direction (as indicated by the y-axis in FIG. 1 ) of the first rotatable portion / gantry (e.g., gantry 111).

[0068] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly can be moved relative to the first rotatable part by a linear translation motion. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly can be moved linearly along the rotation axis direction of the first rotatable part. For example, the first detection assembly can move back and forth a preset distance along the rotation axis direction of the gantry 111 of the medical device 110 (for example, the y-axis direction in Figure 1) to achieve movement between a first position and a second position. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly can be moved relative to the first rotatable part by a rotation motion. For example, the PET detector can be moved out of or back to the isocenter plane along the rotation axis of the gantry 111 of the medical device 110 by rotating clockwise or counterclockwise to achieve movement between the first position and the second position. For another example, the SPECT detector can be rotated between the first position and the second position along the rotation axis of the gantry 111 of the medical device 110 by rotating a specific angle.

[0069] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly may include two or more groups of detectors. For example, the first detection assembly may include two groups of PET / SPECT detectors, or three groups of PET / SPECT detectors. In some embodiments, at least one detector in the two or more groups of detectors can be moved relative to the first rotatable portion. For example, a group of detectors adjacent to at least one imaging source in the two or more groups of detectors can be moved between a first position and a second position of the first rotatable portion. For another example, the two or more groups of detectors can simultaneously move between a first position and a second position relative to the first rotatable portion. For another example, each detector in the two or more groups of detectors can be separately moved between a first position and a second position relative to the first rotatable portion.

[0070] In some embodiments, the second rotatable portion can be connected to the gantry (e.g., gantry 111), and the radiation source is connected to the second rotatable portion. The second rotatable portion is used to cause the radiation source (e.g., the upper treatment head) to rotate to emit a therapeutic beam toward a target area of ​​the subject to treat the target area of ​​the subject. In some embodiments, the second rotatable portion can drive the radiation source to rotate by rotating along the central axis of the gantry. In some embodiments, the target area can refer to a target area of ​​the subject that requires radiotherapy (e.g., a tumor area). In some embodiments, the radiation source of the therapeutic beam can include at least one of an alpha ray source, a beta ray source, a gamma ray source, and the like.

[0071] In some embodiments, the medical device 110 may include a fixed portion (e.g., a stator), and the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion may be connected to the fixed portion. The fixed portion is configured to support the radiation source to emit a treatment beam and to support the imaging device (e.g., a first detection component, a CT imaging component, a DR imaging component) to receive photon signals or emit an imaging beam. In some embodiments, the first rotatable portion, the second rotatable portion, and the fixed portion may be integrated on a frame (e.g., an O-shaped frame). In some embodiments, the first rotatable portion and / or the second rotatable portion may be a special-shaped structure such as an annular or polygonal structure, or other structure that can rotate relative to a center, and this specification does not limit this.

[0072] In some embodiments, the first rotatable part and the second rotatable part can be connected to the fixed part via a first bearing and a second bearing, respectively. In some embodiments, the first rotatable part can be connected to the fixed part via a first bearing, and the second rotatable part can be connected to the first rotatable part via a second bearing. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that when the first rotatable part rotates independently, the second rotatable part and the first rotatable part can rotate synchronously or maintain a certain distance of relative motion (that is, when the first rotatable part rotates, the relative position of the second rotatable part and the first rotatable part remains unchanged), so as to avoid deviation of the rotation axes of the first rotatable part and the second rotatable part (such as the center of the rotation plane where the first rotatable part is located and the center of the rotation plane where the second rotatable part is located) and / or changes in the distance between the first rotatable part and the second rotatable part.

[0073] In some embodiments, the first rotatable portion can rotate in a first rotational plane (also referred to as an imaging plane), and the second rotatable portion can rotate in a second rotational plane (also referred to as a treatment plane). The first rotational plane and the second rotational plane are different. In some embodiments, the first rotational plane and the second rotational plane are perpendicular to the rotational axis of the gantry (e.g., gantry 111) (e.g., the y-axis in FIG. 1 ) and pass through the center of the medical device 110 (e.g., the center of the radiotherapy device or the center of the imaging device). In some embodiments, the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion can be coaxially arranged.

[0074] In some embodiments, the imaging assembly and the treatment assembly can be isocentrically positioned. For example, the imaging assembly and the treatment assembly can be isocentrically positioned by aligning the central axes of the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion. The isocenter may refer to the alignment or near-alignment of the mechanical center of the medical device 110 (e.g., the center of the gantry, the center of the first rotatable portion, the center of the second rotatable portion) with the center of the radiation treatment area / imaging area.

[0075] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly and the radiation source may be coplanar. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly and the radiation source may be coplanar in the longitudinal direction of the first rotatable portion or the second rotatable portion. For example, the first rotation plane and the second rotation plane may be made coplanar in the longitudinal direction (in the same plane perpendicular to the y-axis direction shown in FIG1 ), thereby achieving longitudinal coplanarity between the first detection assembly and the radiation source. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly may be coplanar in the longitudinal direction with the radiation source (e.g., the upper treatment head) when located in the first position or the second position. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly may be partially coplanar or non-coplanar with the radiation source (e.g., the upper treatment head) when located in the first position or the second position. For example, the second position is when the PET detector partially moves out of the isocenter plane along the isocenter of the medical device 110 (e.g., the negative direction of the y-axis shown in FIG1 ), that is, the PET detector intersects with the isocenter plane, and at this time the PET detector is partially coplanar with the upper treatment head. For another example, the second position is when the PET detector is completely out of the isocenter plane along the isocenter of the medical device 110 (e.g., the negative y-axis direction shown in FIG1 ), i.e., the PET detector is separated from or tangent to the isocenter plane. At this point, the PET detector and the upper treatment head are not coplanar. In some embodiments, the isocenter plane may correspond to a coplanar plane between the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion (e.g., the longitudinal (vertical) plane corresponding to the entrance of the aperture 116 in FIG1 ).

[0076] In some embodiments, the medical device 110 may further include at least one imaging source, which is mounted on the first rotatable portion and is centered with the first detection assembly, the radiation source, and the like. In some embodiments, when the first detection assembly is in the first position or the second position, the at least one imaging source, the first detection assembly, and the radiation source are longitudinally coplanar. In some embodiments, the first rotatable portion can drive the at least one imaging source and / or the first detection assembly to rotate, thereby determining the first image and / or the second image of the target object. In some embodiments, the first rotatable portion can drive the at least one imaging source and / or the first detection assembly to rotate at a higher speed (e.g., 0.1 seconds / revolution to 1 second / revolution, such as 0.25 seconds / revolution), thereby increasing the imaging speed. In addition, the first rotatable portion driving the at least one imaging source and / or the first detection assembly to rotate at a higher speed can reduce imaging artifacts and improve imaging quality.

[0077] In some embodiments, at least one imaging source can be configured to emit an imaging beam toward a subject to generate a second image of a target region of the subject. In some embodiments, the at least one imaging source can include a computed tomography (CT) imaging source, a digital radiography (DR) imaging source, and / or an X-ray imaging source, although this specification does not limit this.

[0078] In some embodiments, the medical device 110 may also include other imaging components. For example, the medical device 110 may also include a CT detector / DR detector, a high-voltage component, a cooling component, or any combination thereof. The CT detector / DR detector may be used to detect an imaging beam emitted by a CT imaging source / DR imaging source to generate a second image of the object. In some embodiments, the CT detector / DR detector may be positioned relative to the CT imaging source / DR imaging source. The high-voltage component may be used to accelerate the electron beam within the imaging source (e.g., a tube) to generate the imaging beam. The cooling component may be used to cool components of the imaging assembly, such as the high-voltage component, the tube, etc.

[0079] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly may include at least three sets of detectors. In some embodiments, at least one imaging source may be mounted between two of the at least three sets of detectors. For example, the first detector of the three sets of detectors may be located on one side of the upper treatment head, the second and third detectors may be located on the other side of the upper treatment head and opposite the first detector, and the CT tube may be located between the second and third detectors. In some embodiments, the one side and the other side of the upper treatment head may refer to two sides of a line corresponding to the upper treatment head along a radial direction of the gantry (e.g., the z-axis in FIG. 1 ).

[0080] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly may include at least two sets of detectors. In some embodiments, the at least two sets of detectors may be positioned relative to each other. In some embodiments, when the at least two sets of detectors are in the first position, at least one imaging source may be configured to be obscured by at least one detector in the at least two sets of detectors. For example, the first detector may be located on one side of the upper treatment head, the second detector may be located on the other side of the upper treatment head and disposed opposite the first detector, and the CT tube may be located on either side of the upper treatment head and obscured by either the first detector or the second detector.

[0081] In some embodiments, at least one imaging source and / or corresponding imaging assembly (e.g., a CT detector, a DR detector) can be configured to move between a third position and a fourth position relative to the first rotatable portion. In some embodiments, at least one imaging source and / or corresponding imaging assembly can be moved between a third position and a fourth position relative to the first rotatable portion via a movable structure. In some embodiments, the imaging assembly can be configured to move between a third position and a fourth position relative to the first rotatable portion. For example, a CT tube and a CT detector disposed opposite the CT tube can be rotated along the rotation axis of the first rotatable portion to achieve movement between the third position and the fourth position.

[0082] In some embodiments, when the at least one imaging source is in the third position, at least one detector in the at least two detector groups of the first detection assembly is obscured by the at least one imaging source. For example, the first detector may be located on one side of the upper treatment head, and the second detector may be located on the other side of the upper treatment head and disposed opposite the first detector. The CT tube may be located on either side of the upper treatment head and obstruct the first or second detector.

[0083] In some embodiments, the radiation source, at least one imaging source, and the first detection assembly can be located in the same plane (e.g., the isocenter plane). In some embodiments, the beam limiting component and the detector corresponding to the radiation source (also referred to as the treatment beam detector) can also be located on the plane. In some embodiments, the beam limiting component and the detector corresponding to the radiation source can be moved relative to the second rotatable portion. For example, the detector corresponding to the radiation source can be translated along the central axis of the second rotatable portion, or rotated along the rotation axis of the second rotatable portion, to avoid blocking the detection range of the first detection assembly. In some embodiments, the imaging detector (e.g., a CT detector, the first detection assembly) can detect kilovoltage radiation beams and / or megavoltage radiation beams, and the treatment beam detector (e.g., an EPID) can detect kilovoltage radiation beams and / or megavoltage radiation beams. In some embodiments, the treatment beam detector can be moved relative to the first rotatable portion. For example, the treatment beam detector can be rotated along the rotation axis of the first rotatable portion, or translated along the central axis of the first rotatable portion.

[0084] Because the first rotatable portion can operate independently of the second rotatable portion, the rotation of the imaging assembly can be unaffected by the second rotatable portion (e.g., the mass of the second rotatable portion, the rotational speed of the second rotatable portion). The first detection assembly is configured to be movable between a first position and a second position relative to the first rotatable portion, such that CT / DR imaging is unaffected by the first detection assembly, thereby ensuring the imaging efficiency and image quality of the second imaging (e.g., CT imaging and / or DR imaging). The radiation source or imaging source is configured to be movable relative to the first rotatable portion, such that PET imaging is unaffected by the radiation source and / or imaging source, thereby ensuring the image quality and imaging efficiency of the first image.

[0085] In some embodiments, the imaging beam can cover an imaging area, and the treatment beam can cover a treatment area. The imaging source (e.g., a CT tube) and the radiation source (e.g., an upper treatment head) can be configured so that the treatment area and the imaging area at least partially overlap and / or the treatment area and the imaging area are isocentric. In some embodiments, the target area of ​​the object (e.g., the area to be treated) can be placed in the overlapping area. In some embodiments, the isocenters of the radiotherapy device (e.g., a treatment component) and the computed tomography device (e.g., a CT imaging component) coincide, and the target area of ​​the object can be placed at the coincident isocenter. Coincidence here means that the deviation between the isocenters of the radiotherapy device and the computed tomography device is within a preset range.

[0086] In some embodiments, because the first rotatable portion can rotate at a relatively high speed, a relatively small thickness of the detectors (e.g., treatment beam detectors, PET detectors, CT detectors, DR detectors) within the first rotatable portion will not affect imaging quality. In some embodiments, the thickness of the detectors (e.g., treatment beam detectors, PET detectors, CT detectors, DR detectors) within the first rotatable portion can be less than a threshold value (e.g., 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 7 cm, 8 cm, etc.). For example, the CT detector or PET detector can include a curved detector, while the DR detector can be a flat-panel detector. In this case, the thickness of the gantry along this axial direction can be reduced, thereby reducing the space required to house the medical device 110.

[0087] In some embodiments, the medical device 110 may further include a control component. In some embodiments, the control component may be used to control the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion to rotate stationarily, synchronously, or independently. For example, the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion receive a control signal from the control component to achieve synchronous or independent rotation. As another example, the control signal may control the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion to rotate at the same speed and direction. In some embodiments, the control component may be used to control the movement of the first detection assembly, at least one imaging source and / or its corresponding imaging assembly, and the treatment beam detector relative to the first rotatable portion. In some embodiments, the number of control components may be one or more. For example, the number of control components may be one, used to control the rotation of the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion. As another example, the number of control components may be two, used to control the rotation of the first rotatable portion / the second rotatable portion, and to control the movement of the first detection assembly between the first position and the second position or to control the movement of at least one imaging source between the third position and the fourth position.

[0088] In some embodiments, the medical device 110 may further include a locking component. The locking component may be used to lock the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion so that the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion can rotate synchronously. In some embodiments, the locking component may align the beam limiting component (e.g., the lower treatment head) on the first rotatable portion with the radiation source (e.g., the upper treatment head) on the second rotatable portion by locking the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion. In some embodiments, before radiotherapy, the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion may be in an unlocked state, and the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion may be independently rotated (e.g., the first rotatable portion rotates and the second rotatable portion is stationary) to image the region of interest of the subject (e.g., the target area to be treated) (e.g., generate a first image and a second image). In this case, the first rotatable portion is not affected by the second rotatable portion and can rotate at a higher speed (e.g., 0.1 seconds / revolution to 1 second / revolution) to quickly complete imaging. In some embodiments, before radiotherapy, the first rotatable part and the second rotatable part can be rotated synchronously (for example, the first rotatable part and the second rotatable part rotate at the same speed and in the same direction), that is, the first rotatable part and the second rotatable part are relatively stationary, so as to image the area of ​​interest of the object (such as the target area to be treated) (for example, generate a first image or a second image).

[0089] In some embodiments, before radiotherapy, the first rotatable portion can be controlled to rotate independently of the second rotatable portion (e.g., the first rotatable portion rotates while the second rotatable portion remains stationary, or the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion rotate at different speeds) to enable the first detection assembly to collect photon signals generated by radioactive material in the subject's body to determine a first image of the subject's target region. In some embodiments, before radiotherapy, the first rotatable portion can be controlled to remain stationary to enable the first detection assembly to collect photon signals generated by radioactive material in the subject's body to determine a first image of the subject's target region.

[0090] In some embodiments, before radiotherapy, one of the at least one imaging sources can be caused to emit an imaging beam toward the subject to determine a second image of the target region of the subject by controlling the first rotatable portion to rotate independently of the second rotatable portion. In some embodiments, before radiotherapy, one of the at least one imaging sources can be caused to emit an imaging beam toward the subject to determine a second image of the target region of the subject by controlling the first rotatable portion to remain stationary. In some embodiments, before radiotherapy, one of the at least one imaging sources can be caused to emit an imaging beam toward the subject to determine a second image of the target region of the subject by controlling the first rotatable portion to rotate synchronously with the second rotatable portion. In this case, if an imaging source (e.g., a CT imaging source or a DR imaging source) and / or a corresponding detector (e.g., a CT detector or a DR detector) is blocked by the first detection assembly, the first detection assembly can be moved (e.g., moved along the axial direction of the gantry 111), for example, by switching the first detection assembly from a first position to a second position, to ensure that at least a portion of the imaging beam emitted by one of the at least one imaging source is not blocked by the first detection assembly.

[0091] In some embodiments, precise positioning of a target area of ​​a subject to be treated or determination / adjustment of a treatment plan can be achieved based on the first image and / or the second image. For example, the positioning / localization of the subject can be determined, a treatment plan can be formulated or adjusted, or real-time guided radiation therapy can be performed based on a fusion of the subject's PET / SPECT image and CT / MR image. In some embodiments, after precise positioning of the target area of ​​the subject is achieved, the first and second rotatable portions can be locked, and through synchronized rotation, the radiation source can emit a therapeutic beam to treat the target area of ​​the subject.

[0092] In some embodiments, during radiotherapy, the first detection assembly can be positioned in a first position and collect photon signals generated by radionuclides within a subject to generate a first image of a target region of the subject. In some embodiments, during radiotherapy, the first detection assembly can be positioned to avoid being obstructed by an imaging source and corresponding imaging assembly (e.g., by moving a CT imaging source and a CT detector relative to the first rotatable portion away from the position of the first detection assembly to avoid obstruction of the first detection assembly) to collect photon signals generated by radionuclides within the subject to generate a first image of the target region of the subject. In some embodiments, during radiotherapy, the first detection assembly can be positioned in a second position, and one of the at least one imaging source can be configured to emit an imaging beam toward the subject to obtain a second image of the target region of the subject. In some embodiments, the radiation source can be guided in real time based on the first and / or second images to transmit a therapeutic beam toward the target region of the subject, thereby achieving real-time guided radiotherapy. In some embodiments, the first or second image can be output to a user to facilitate observation of the target region of the subject. In some embodiments, during radiotherapy, the first detection assembly can be switched from the first position to the second position, and conventional radiotherapy can be achieved by controlling the treatment head to transmit a therapeutic beam toward the target region of the subject. By locating the first detection assembly in the second position, the treatment beam emitted by the ray source can be prevented from irradiating the first detection assembly, thereby increasing the service life of the first detection assembly and further increasing the service life of the image-guided radiotherapy system.

[0093] More descriptions about the radiotherapy method can be found elsewhere in this specification (for example, Figures 11-12 and their related descriptions), which will not be repeated here.

[0094] In some embodiments, other treatment components (e.g., a beam limiting component, a treatment beam detector) can be mounted on the first rotatable portion. The treatment beam detector (e.g., an electronic portal imaging device (EPID)) can be used to receive at least a portion of the treatment beam emitted by the radiation source.

[0095] In some embodiments, other treatment components (e.g., beam limiting components, treatment beam detectors) may also be mounted on the second rotatable portion. In this case, the first rotatable portion may include an opening. After precise positioning of the target area of ​​the subject, the first rotatable portion is rotated so that the treatment head is aligned with the opening. At least a portion of the second rotatable portion (referred to as the second rotatable portion) is moved downward (e.g., radially relative to the second rotatable portion). The first and second rotatable portions are then locked, and the radiation source is caused to emit the treatment beam to treat the target area of ​​the subject. The second rotatable portion (e.g., the upper treatment head) can be moved radially relative to the gantry (e.g., along the z-axis in FIG. 1 ), and the entire second rotatable portion (e.g., the upper treatment head) can be moved downward. Here, "downward" refers to movement toward the center of the rotation plane. For example, the upper treatment head of the second rotatable portion can be placed on a slide rail, and the upper treatment head of the second rotatable portion can be moved downward by radially moving the slide rail (e.g., along the negative z-axis in FIG. 1 ). In some embodiments, the movable portion of the second rotatable portion can be moved downward. The movable portion of the second rotatable portion may include a multi-leaf collimator, a tungsten gate, an ionization chamber, a primary collimator, and one or more of a treatment source, a target, a microwave component, or an accelerator in the beam-limiting component. In some embodiments, at least one of the movable portions of the second rotatable portion is moved into the opening. For example, the component to be moved is mounted on a support member, and a slide rail and a corresponding drive mechanism are provided for the support member. The support member is driven along the slide rail to move the at least one component radially. For example, the multi-leaf collimator and the tungsten gate may be moved into the opening. For another example, the multi-leaf collimator, the tungsten gate, the primary collimator, and the ionization chamber may be moved into the opening. For another example, the multi-leaf collimator, the tungsten gate, the primary collimator, the ionization chamber, and the treatment source emitting the treatment beam may be moved into the opening. In some embodiments, the distance between the radiation source emitting the treatment beam and the isocenter of the treatment head is 90-110 cm (e.g., 100 cm).

[0096] FIG2( a ) to FIG6( b ) are schematic diagrams of exemplary image-guided radiotherapy systems according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the image-guided radiotherapy systems 200 to 600 are examples of the medical device 110 in FIG1 .

[0097] As shown in FIG. 2( a ) or FIG. 2( b ), the image-guided radiation therapy system 200 (or the medical device 110 ) may include a first detection assembly 210 , a radiation source 220 , a first rotatable portion 230 , and a second rotatable portion 240 .

[0098] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly 210 can be mounted on the first rotatable portion 230 to collect photon signals generated by radionuclides in the subject's body to generate (determine) a first image of the subject's target area. In some embodiments, the radiation source 220 can be mounted on the second rotatable portion 240 to emit a therapeutic beam toward the subject's target area.

[0099] As shown in FIG2(a) or FIG2(b), in some embodiments, the treatment assembly may further include a beam limiting component 223 and a treatment beam detector 225. The beam limiting component 223 is used to limit the radiation range (e.g., angle, shape) of the treatment beam emitted by the radiation source 220, and the treatment beam detector 225 is used to receive at least a portion of the treatment beam.

[0100] In some embodiments, the image-guided radiation therapy system 200 may further include a fixed portion 260. The fixed portion 260 is connected to the first rotatable portion 230 and the second rotatable portion 240. For example, the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion may be connected to the fixed portion 260 via a first bearing and a second bearing, respectively. In another example, the first rotatable portion 230 may be connected to the fixed portion 260 via a first bearing, and the second rotatable portion 240 may be connected to the first rotatable portion 230 via a second bearing. The first rotatable portion 230 and the second rotatable portion 240 may be configured to move independently. For example, the first rotatable portion 230 may rotate around a first ring, and the second rotatable portion 240 may rotate around a second ring. The first ring is different from the second ring, and the first and second rings are coplanar. For example, the first and second rings are two concentric rings along the circumference shown in FIG. 2( a ).

[0101] In some embodiments, the image-guided radiation therapy system 200 may further include at least one imaging source. In some embodiments, the at least one imaging source may include a CT imaging source and / or a DR imaging source. For example, as shown in FIG2(a), the imaging source may include a CT tube 251. As another example, as shown in FIG2(b), the CT imaging source may include a DR tube 252.

[0102] In some embodiments, the image-guided radiation therapy system 200 may further include other imaging components, such as detectors corresponding to the imaging source. For example, as shown in FIG2(a), the detector corresponding to the imaging source may be a CT detector 253, which is disposed opposite the CT tube 251. As another example, as shown in FIG2(b), the detector corresponding to the imaging source may be a DR detector 254, with two DR detectors 254 disposed opposite the two DR tubes 252, respectively.

[0103] A tube (e.g., CT tube 251, DR tube 252) can be used to emit an imaging beam toward a target region of a subject, and a detector associated with the tube (e.g., CT detector 253, DR detector 254) can be used to detect at least a portion of the imaging beam to generate a second image of the subject. For example, CT detector 253 can be used to detect the imaging beam emitted by CT tube 251 toward the target region of the subject to generate a second image of the subject. For another example, DR detector 254 can be used to receive the imaging beam emitted by DR tube 252 that passes through the target region of the subject to generate a second image of the subject.

[0104] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly 210, the radiation source 220, the beam limiting component 223, the therapeutic beam detector 225, the first rotatable portion 230, the second rotatable portion 240, the imaging source (e.g., the CT tube 251, the DR tube 252), and the corresponding detectors (e.g., the CT detector 253, the DR detector 254) can be located in the same plane (e.g., a vertical plane parallel to the paper in the figure). In this case, the first detection assembly 210 is located in a first position (e.g., the arc position corresponding to 210 in FIG. 2( a )).

[0105] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly 210 and at least one imaging source (e.g., a CT tube 251 or a DR tube 252) can be located on the same circumference of the first rotatable portion 230. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly 210 can include three groups of detectors, two of which are positioned opposite the other groups, and the imaging source is mounted between the two groups. For example, as shown in FIG2(a), the first detection assembly 210 can include three groups of detectors, with the first detector 215 positioned to the right of a line (e.g., a dashed straight line) connecting the radiation source 220 and the treatment beam detector 225 (referring to the right side of the figure), the second detector 211 and the third detector 213 positioned to the left of the line (referring to the left side of the figure), the first detector 215 positioned opposite the second detector 211 and the third detector 213, and the CT tube 251 positioned between the second detector 211 and the third detector 213.

[0106] In some embodiments, the first detection assembly 210 may include two sets of detectors, the two sets of detectors being arranged opposite each other, and the imaging source and the corresponding detectors being mounted inside or outside the area formed by the two sets of detectors. For example, as shown in FIG2( b ), the first detection assembly 210 may include two sets of detectors: a first detector and a second detector, the first detector being located to the right of a line (e.g., a dashed straight line) connecting the radiation source 220 and the treatment beam detector 225 (referring to the right side in the figure), and the second detector being located to the left of the line (referring to the left side in the figure), the first detector and the second detector being arranged opposite each other, and the DR tube 252 and the DR detector 254 being located outside the circular area formed by the first and second detectors.

[0107] FIG3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy system according to other embodiments of the present disclosure. Similar to the image-guided radiation therapy system 200 in FIG2( a ) or FIG2( b ), the image-guided radiation therapy system 300 (or medical device 110 ) may include a first detection assembly 210 , a radiation source 220 , a beam limiting component 223 , a treatment beam detector 225 , a first rotatable portion 230 , a second rotatable portion 240 , an imaging source (e.g., a CT tube 251 ), and other imaging components (e.g., a CT detector 253 ).

[0108] In FIG3 , the first rotatable portion 230 and the second rotatable portion 240 can rotate independently of each other. For example, the first rotatable portion 230 can rotate while the second rotatable portion 240 remains stationary, or the first rotatable portion 230 can remain stationary while the second rotatable portion 240 rotates. In some embodiments, the first rotatable portion 230 and the second rotatable portion 240 can rotate in different directions. For example, the first rotatable portion 230 can rotate clockwise in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG3 , while the second rotatable portion 240 can rotate counterclockwise in the opposite direction indicated by the arrow in FIG3 .

[0109] In some embodiments, before performing radiotherapy on an object, an imaging source (e.g., a CT tube 251) can be caused to emit an imaging beam toward the object, and a second image of the target area of ​​the object can be generated based on at least a portion of the imaging beam detected by the second detection assembly (e.g., a CT detector 253). At this time, the first detection assembly 210 can be moved out of the isocenter plane (such as the plane where the dotted arc in FIG. 3 is located) and positioned at a second position to avoid obstruction of the imaging beam. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly 210 can be moved a preset distance along the rotation axis direction of the image-guided radiotherapy system 300 (e.g., the y-axis direction in FIG. 1 ) to reach the second position. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly 210 can be partially or completely moved out of the isocenter plane.

[0110] In some embodiments, the target area of ​​the object can be located and / or the treatment plan can be adjusted based on the first image and / or the second image. For example, the beam parameters such as the beam angle, collimator angle, field range, and dock door lock position in the treatment plan for the current object can be determined based on the target area in the first image, the second image, or a third image determined based on the first image and the second image (for example, the third image is determined by fusion or registration), so that the beam range of the treatment beam is within the target area while avoiding damage to other tissues of the human body. For more information about guided radiotherapy based on the first image or the second image, please refer to Figure 12 and its related description, which will not be repeated here.

[0111] FIG4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy system according to other embodiments of the present disclosure. Similar to the image-guided radiation therapy system 200 in FIG2(a) or FIG2(b) and the image-guided radiation therapy system 300 in FIG3, the image-guided radiation therapy system 400 (or medical device 110) may include a first detection assembly 210, a radiation source 220, a beam limiting component 223, a treatment beam detector 225, a first rotatable portion 230, a second rotatable portion 240, an imaging source (e.g., a CT tube 251), and other imaging components (e.g., a CT detector 253).

[0112] Furthermore, the image-guided radiation therapy system 400 may further include a locking component 270. The locking component 270 may be used to lock the first rotatable portion 230 and the second rotatable portion 240, so that the first rotatable portion 230 and the second rotatable portion 240 rotate synchronously.

[0113] In some embodiments, after the positioning of the target area of ​​the object is completed (for example, the position information of the target area of ​​the object is determined based on the first image and / or the second image, and the bed 115 is controlled to place the target area of ​​the object in the hole 116 according to the position information), during the radiotherapy process, the first rotatable part 230 and the second rotatable part 240 can be locked by the locking component 270, so that the first detection assembly 210 is located in the first position. Then, the first rotatable part 230 and / or the second rotatable part 240 are rotated according to the radiotherapy plan (for example, rotated clockwise in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4), so that the first detection assembly collects photon signals generated by radionuclides in the subject's body, generates a first image of the target area of ​​the object, and simultaneously, based on the first image, the radiation source 220 emits a treatment beam to the target area of ​​the object to perform real-time guided radiotherapy.

[0114] In some embodiments, the treatment beam emitted by radiation source 220 can be adjusted in real time based on the first image and / or the second image to achieve tracked, localized radiation therapy of the target area of ​​the subject. For example, during the radiation therapy process, the first image and / or the second image can be generated at predetermined intervals or in real time, and the beam angle of the treatment beam emitted by the treatment head can be adjusted in real time based on the first image, the second image, or a third image determined based on the first and second images to align at least a portion of the treatment beam with the target area of ​​the subject. For more information on real-time image-guided radiation therapy, please refer to FIG. 11 and its related description, and will not be further elaborated here.

[0115] FIG5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy system according to other embodiments of the present disclosure. Similar to the image-guided radiation therapy system 400 in FIG4 , the image-guided radiation therapy system 500 (or medical device 110) may include a first detection assembly 210, a radiation source 220, a beam limiting component 223, a treatment beam detector 225, a first rotatable portion 230, a second rotatable portion 240, an imaging source (e.g., a CT tube 251), other imaging components (e.g., a CT detector 253), and a locking component 270.

[0116] In some embodiments, after positioning the target area of ​​the subject, during radiotherapy, the first rotatable portion 230 and the second rotatable portion 240 can be locked using the locking component 270, so that the first detection assembly 210 moves out of the isocenter plane and is located at the second position. The first rotatable portion 230 and the second rotatable portion 240 are then rotated according to the radiotherapy plan (e.g., clockwise in the direction of the arrow in FIG5 ), so that the radiation source 220 emits a treatment beam to perform radiotherapy on the target area of ​​the subject. For more information on conventional radiotherapy, please refer to FIG13 and its related description, which will not be repeated here.

[0117] In some embodiments, after the positioning of the target area of ​​the object is completed (for example, the position information of the target area of ​​the object is determined based on the first image and / or the second image, and the bed 115 is controlled to place the target area of ​​the object in the hole 116 according to the position information), during the radiotherapy process, the first rotatable part 230 and the second rotatable part 240 can be locked by the locking component 270, so that the first detection assembly 210 is located in the second position, and then the first rotatable part 230 and / or the second rotatable part 240 are rotated according to the radiotherapy plan (for example, rotated clockwise in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4), so that at least one imaging source (for example, a CT tube 251 or a DR tube 252) emits an imaging beam to the target area of ​​the object, generating a second image of the target area of ​​the object, and simultaneously, based on the second image, the radiation source 220 emits a treatment beam to the target area of ​​the object, so as to perform real-time guided radiotherapy.

[0118] FIG6( a ) and FIG6( b ) are schematic diagrams illustrating the structure of an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy system according to other embodiments of the present disclosure. The image-guided radiation therapy system 600 (or medical device 110 ) may include a first detection assembly 210 , a radiation source 220 , a beam limiting component 223 , a treatment beam detector 225 , a first rotatable portion 230 , a second rotatable portion 240 , an imaging source (e.g., a CT tube 251 ), other imaging components (e.g., a CT detector 253 ), and a locking component 270 .

[0119] As shown in FIG6(a), in some embodiments, the first detection assembly 210 may include two sets of detectors, which are arranged opposite each other. In some embodiments, when the first detection assembly 210 is in the first position, the imaging source (e.g., CT tube 251) is blocked by one of the detectors (e.g., left detector 217 in the figure). In some embodiments, when the first detection assembly 210 is in the first position, the second detection assembly (e.g., CT detector 253) is blocked by one of the detectors (e.g., right detector 219 in the figure).

[0120] As shown in FIG6(b), in some embodiments, the first detection assembly 210 may include two sets of detectors, which are arranged opposite each other. In some embodiments, when the first detection assembly 210 is in the first position, one of the detectors (e.g., the left detector 217 in the figure) is blocked by the imaging source (e.g., the CT tube 251). In some embodiments, when the first detection assembly 210 is in the first position, one of the detectors (e.g., the right detector 219 in the figure) is blocked by the detector corresponding to the imaging source (e.g., the CT detector 253).

[0121] In some embodiments, the imaging source and its corresponding detector can be positioned relative to each other. For example, as shown in Figures 2(a) and 3-6(b), the CT tube 251 can be positioned relative to the CT detector 253, and in Figure 2(b), the DR tube 252 can be positioned relative to the DR detector 254. Relative positioning can mean that the sides of two components that perform their functions are opposite to each other. For example, the side of the CT tube 251 that emits the imaging beam is opposite to the side of the CT detector 253 that receives the imaging beam. For another example, the side of the first detector 215 that receives photon signals is opposite to the sides of the second and third detectors 211 and 213 that receive photon signals.

[0122] It will be understood that the components and their positions shown in Figures 2(a)-6(b) are merely examples. In some embodiments, the components shown in the figures may be located in other reasonable locations. For example, the CT tube 251 may be located diagonally above or diagonally below the left side of the first rotatable portion 230. In some embodiments, the image-guided radiation therapy system 200-600 (or the medical device 110) may further include other treatment components or imaging components, such as an X-ray source, but this specification does not limit this.

[0123] FIG7 is a schematic side view of an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Similar to the image-guided radiation therapy systems 200-600 in FIG2(a)-FIG6(b), the image-guided radiation therapy system 700 (or medical device 110) may include a first detection assembly 210, a radiation source 220, a beam limiting component 223, a treatment beam detector 225, a first rotatable portion 230, a second rotatable portion 240, an imaging source (e.g., a CT tube 251 or a DR tube 252), and other imaging components (e.g., a CT detector 253 or a DR detector 254).

[0124] As an example only, viewed from the side of the image-guided radiotherapy system (e.g., image-guided radiotherapy system 200-600) or the medical device 110, when the first detection assembly 210 is in a first position, as shown in FIG7(a), the first detection assembly 210, the radiation source 220, the beam limiting component 223, the treatment beam detector 225, the CT tube 251 (or the DR tube 252), and the CT detector 253 (or the DR detector 254) can be located on the same straight line (e.g., the first straight line); when the first detection assembly 210 is in a second position, as shown in FIG7(b), the radiation source 220, the beam limiting component 223, the treatment beam detector 225, the CT tube 251 (or the DR tube 252), and the CT detector 253 (or the DR detector 254) are located on the first straight line, and the first detection assembly 210 is located on the second straight line. At this time, when the object is subjected to CT / DR imaging or conventional radiotherapy, since the first detection component 210 is located on a different straight line from the radiation source 220, the CT tube 251 (or the DR tube 252) and the CT detector 253 (or the DR detector 254), the first detection component 210 will not block the imaging beam or the treatment beam, and will not affect either the CT / DR imaging or the radiotherapy.

[0125] It will be understood that the second position of the first detection assembly 210 in FIG. 7 is merely an example. In some embodiments, the second position may be another position that does not affect CT / DR imaging and radiotherapy, and this specification does not impose any limitation thereto.

[0126] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of hardware and / or software components of an exemplary computing device according to some embodiments of the present specification. In some embodiments, processing device 140 may be implemented on computing device 800. As shown in FIG8, computing device 800 may include a processor 810, a memory 820, an input / output 830, and a communication port 840.

[0127] The processor 810 can execute computer instructions (program code) and perform the functions of the processing device 140 according to the techniques described in this specification. Computer instructions may include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, processes, modules, and functions that perform the specific functions described in this specification. For example, the processor 810 can process data obtained from the medical device 110, the terminal device 130, the storage device 150, or any other component of the image-guided radiation therapy system 100. In some embodiments, the processor 810 may include a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computer, an application-specific integrated circuit, a special-purpose instruction set processor, a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a physical processing unit, a microcontroller unit, a digital signal processor, a field programmable gate array, a high-level reduced instruction set computer system, a programmable logic device, any circuit or processor capable of performing one or more functions, or the like, or any combination thereof.

[0128] For ease of explanation, only one processor is described in FIG8 , which may also include multiple processors. Therefore, the operations and / or method steps performed by one processor described in this specification may also be performed jointly or individually by multiple processors. For example, if in this specification, the processor of the computing device 800 performs step A and step B, it should be understood that step A and step B may also be performed jointly or independently by two different central processing units and / or processors of the computing device 800 (e.g., the first processor performs step A, the second processor performs step B, or the first and second processors perform step A and step B jointly).

[0129] The memory 820 can store data / information acquired from the medical device 110, the terminal device 130, the storage device 150, or any other component of the image-guided radiation therapy system 100. In some embodiments, the memory 820 may include a mass storage device, a removable memory device, a volatile read-write memory device, a read-only memory device, or any combination thereof. Exemplary mass storage devices may include a magnetic disk, an optical disk device, a solid-state disk device, or the like. In some embodiments, the memory 820 may store one or more programs and / or instructions for executing the exemplary methods described herein.

[0130] Input / output 830 can input or output signals, data, or information. In some embodiments, input / output 830 can enable a user to interact with processing device 140. In some embodiments, input / output 830 can include input devices and output devices. Exemplary input devices can include a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, a microphone, or the like, or a combination thereof. Exemplary output devices can include a display device, a speaker, a printer, a projector, or the like, or a combination thereof. Exemplary display devices can include a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode-based display, a flat panel display, a curved screen, a television device, a cathode ray tube, or the like, or a combination thereof.

[0131] The communication port 840 can be connected to a network (e.g., network 120) to facilitate data communication. The communication port 840 can establish a connection between the processing device 140 and the medical device 110, the terminal device 130, or the storage device 150. The connection can be a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of the two, which can facilitate data transmission and reception. The wired connection can include an electrical cable, an optical cable, a telephone line, or the like, or any combination thereof. The wireless connection can include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, WiMax, WLAN, ZigBee, a mobile network (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G), or the like, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the communication port 840 can be a standardized communication port, such as RS232, RS485, or the like. In some embodiments, the communication port 840 can be a specially designed communication port. For example, the communication port 840 can be designed according to the medical digital imaging and communication protocol.

[0132] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the hardware and / or software components of an exemplary terminal device according to some embodiments of the present specification. In some embodiments, the terminal device 130 may be implemented on a mobile device 900. As shown in FIG9 , the mobile device 900 may include a communication platform 910, a display 920, a graphics processing unit 930, a central processing unit 940, input / output 950, memory 960, and storage 990. In some embodiments, any other suitable components, including but not limited to a system bus or controller (not shown), may also be included in the mobile device 900. In some embodiments, an operating system 970 (e.g., iOS, Android, Windows Phone, etc.) and one or more applications 980 may download data from the storage 990 to the memory 960 for execution by the central processing unit 940. The applications 980 may include a browser or any other suitable mobile application for receiving and presenting information related to radiation therapy or other information from the processing device 140. User interaction with the information stream may be achieved via the input / output 950 and provided to the processing device 140 and / or other components of the image-guided radiation therapy system 100 via the network 120.

[0133] To implement two or more modules, units, and their functions described herein, a computer hardware platform may be used as the hardware platform for one or more of the components described herein. The hardware components, operating systems, and programming languages ​​of such computers are conventional in nature, and it is assumed that one of ordinary skill in the art will be sufficiently familiar with these hardware components, operating systems, and programming languages ​​to adapt these techniques to the radiation therapy described herein. A computer with user interface elements may be used to implement a personal computer or another type of workstation or terminal device, and if appropriately programmed, the computer may also act as a server. It is believed that one of ordinary skill in the art will be familiar with the structure, programming, and general operation of such computer equipment, and therefore, the accompanying drawings are self-explanatory.

[0134] FIG10 is a block diagram of an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy system according to some embodiments of the present specification. As shown in FIG10 , in some embodiments, image-guided radiation therapy system 1000 may include a first image generation module 1010, a second image generation module 1020, a positioning module 1030, and a control module 1040. In some embodiments, image-guided radiation therapy system 1000 may be implemented in a processing device 140 or a medical device 110.

[0135] The first image generation module 1010 may be configured to determine a first image of a target region of the subject by causing a first detection component in the medical device 110 to collect photon signals generated by radioactive nuclides in the subject's body.

[0136] The second image generation module 1020 may be configured to determine a second image of a target region of the subject by causing one of the at least one imaging sources in the medical device 110 to emit an imaging beam toward the subject.

[0137] The positioning module 1030 may be configured to locate a target area of ​​the object in real time based on the first image and / or the second image of the object.

[0138] In some embodiments, the positioning module 1030 may register the first image and / or the second image with a planning image used to formulate a treatment plan to locate the target region of the subject and / or adjust the treatment plan. For example, the positioning module 1030 may determine the position information of the target region of the subject based on the registration results. The target region may then be positioned at the isocenter of the radiotherapy device in the radiation therapy system, or the treatment beam may be adjusted to align with the target region of the subject.

[0139] The control module 1040 can be configured to cause the radiation source to emit a therapeutic beam toward a target area of ​​the subject. The therapeutic beam can provide radiation therapy to the target area. In some embodiments, movement of organs within or near the target area of ​​the subject (e.g., cardiac movement, respiratory movement, blood flow, muscle movement, pancreatic secretory activity, bladder movement, and movement of the rectum and digestive system) can cause the target area to change position.

[0140] In some embodiments, the control module 1040 may monitor the position change of the target area in real time based on the first image or the second image of the object, so as to timely adjust the treatment beam to align it with the target area to ensure the accuracy of the treatment.

[0141] In some embodiments, when movement or change of the target area is detected, the control module 1040 can adjust the radiation direction of the treatment beam. For example, the control module 1040 can adjust the upper treatment head and / or the beam limiting component to align the object with the position of the moved or changed target area. In some embodiments, when movement or change of the target area is detected, the control module 1040 can modify the position of the object. For example, the control module 1040 can pause the radiation of the treatment beam and then adjust the position of the target area relative to the treatment beam so that the treatment beam is aligned with the target area. After adjusting the radiation of the treatment beam or the position of the object, the radiation source can resume the radiation of the treatment beam. In some embodiments, when movement or change of the target area is detected, the radiation source can terminate the radiation of the treatment beam. In some embodiments, the control module 1040 can generate a notification based on the detected movement or change of the target area. In some embodiments, the notification can include information about the movement or change of the target area. The notification can be in the form of text, video, audio, etc.

[0142] According to the systems and methods described herein, during radiation therapy of a target area, the control module 1040 can automatically generate and / or analyze images to record the radiation therapy, monitor the position of the target area, assess changes in the position of the target area, and / or determine how to proceed with the radiation therapy (e.g., continue the radiation therapy as planned, continue the radiation therapy with an adjusted plan, or terminate the radiation therapy, etc.). In some embodiments, the monitoring, assessment, and / or adjustments can be performed semi-automatically using input from a user (e.g., a physician). For example, the control module 1040 can send a first image to be presented on the terminal device 130 (e.g., a display), so that the user can analyze the first image and provide instructions on how to proceed with the treatment plan (e.g., continue the radiation therapy as planned, continue the radiation therapy with an adjusted plan, or terminate the radiation therapy, etc.). As another example, the control module 1040 can first analyze the image and determine whether any changes have occurred in the target area and by how much. The control module 1040 can then determine whether any adjustments to the treatment plan are necessary. If the changes in the target area or the required adjustments to the treatment plan are within a threshold, the control module 1040 can automatically make the adjustments. At the same time, the control module 1040 can generate a notification to inform the user. If the change in the target area or the required adjustment in the treatment plan exceeds a threshold, the control module 1040 can generate, for example, a notification to the user to seek instructions from the user on how to further perform the radiation treatment.

[0143] It should be noted that the above description of system 1000 is for convenience only and does not limit this specification to the illustrated embodiments. It is understood that, after understanding the principles of the system, those skilled in the art may arbitrarily combine the various devices / modules, or form subsystems that connect to other devices / modules, without departing from these principles. For example, the first image generation module 1010, the second image generation module 1020, the positioning module 1030, and the control module 1040 disclosed in FIG10 may be different modules within a single device (e.g., processing device 140), or a single module may implement the functions of two or more of the aforementioned modules. For example, the positioning module 1030 and the control module 1040 may be two modules, or a single module may simultaneously perform the functions of positioning the target area of ​​the object and directing the treatment head to emit a treatment beam toward the target area. For another example, each device may have its own storage module. For another example, each device may share a single storage module. Such variations are within the scope of this specification.

[0144] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy method according to some embodiments of the present specification.

[0145] In some embodiments, an image-guided radiation therapy method 1100 for an image-guided radiation therapy system (e.g., image-guided radiation therapy system 200 - image-guided radiation therapy system 600) can be executed by a processing device 140 (e.g., processor 810 in FIG. 8 , processing device 140 in FIG. 1 ) or image-guided radiation therapy system 1000. For example, image-guided radiation therapy method 1100 can be stored in a storage device (e.g., storage device 150, memory 820, memory 990) in the form of a program or instructions. When processing device 140 executes the program or instructions, method 1100 can be implemented. As shown in FIG. 11 , in some embodiments, during radiation therapy, processing device 140 can cause a first detection assembly to acquire a first image of a subject in real time, and perform real-time radiation therapy on the subject based on the first image.

[0146] In step 1110 , the first detection assembly is positioned in a first position.

[0147] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can cause the first detection assembly to be positioned in the first position by sending a control command to the medical device 110. For example, after controlling the locking component 270 to lock the first rotatable portion 230 and the second rotatable portion 240, the control component of the medical device 110 can control the drive mechanism based on the control command to position the first detection assembly 210 in the first position. In some embodiments, the first and second rotatable portions can be locked and / or the first detection assembly can be positioned in the first position manually by a user. For example, an operator or medical staff member of the medical device 110 can manually activate the locking component 270 on the medical device 110 to lock the first and second rotatable portions. In another example, the user can activate a control button on the medical device 110 to position the first detection assembly 210 in the first position. In some embodiments, the first detection assembly of a radiotherapy system (e.g., radiotherapy system 200 - radiotherapy system 600) can be positioned in the first position in the system initial state (e.g., after system startup) or in standby mode.

[0148] In step 1120 , a first image of a target area of ​​the object may be generated by rotating the first rotatable portion.

[0149] In some embodiments, after a subject is placed within an aperture (e.g., aperture 116) of an image-guided radiation therapy system, the processing device 140 can control the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion of the image-guided radiation therapy system (e.g., image-guided radiation therapy system 200-image-guided radiation therapy system 600, or medical device 110) to rotate synchronously (i.e., the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion are relatively stationary) based on the treatment plan, so that the first detection assembly can collect photon signals generated by radionuclides in the subject's body and generate (determine) a first image (e.g., a three-dimensional image) of the subject's target region. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can control the first rotatable portion of the image-guided radiation therapy system to rotate independently (i.e., the second rotatable portion is stationary) so that the first detection assembly can collect photon signals generated by radionuclides in the subject's body and generate the first image of the subject's target region. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can control the first rotatable portion of the image-guided radiation therapy system to remain stationary so that the first detection assembly can collect photon signals generated by radionuclides in the subject's body and generate the first image of the subject's target region. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can use a reconstruction algorithm to generate the second image. For example, the reconstruction algorithm may include an iterative reconstruction algorithm (eg, a statistical reconstruction algorithm), a Fourier slice theorem algorithm, a filtered back-projection algorithm, a fan-beam reconstruction algorithm, an analytical reconstruction algorithm, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0150] In step 1130 , the radiation source may be guided to emit a treatment beam toward a target area of ​​the subject based on the first image.

[0151] In some embodiments, during radiotherapy, a radiation source can be directed to emit a therapeutic beam at a target area of ​​a subject based on a first image acquired in real time to provide radiotherapy. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can adjust the therapeutic beam emitted by the radiation source in real time based on the first image. The therapeutic beam can provide radiotherapy to the target area. In some embodiments, movement of organs within or near the target area of ​​the subject (e.g., cardiac movement, respiratory movement, blood flow, muscle movement, pancreatic secretory activity, bladder movement, and movement of the rectum and digestive system) can cause the position of the target area to change. During treatment, the processing device 140 can monitor changes in the target area and / or locate the target area in real time based on the first image, so as to promptly adjust the therapeutic beam to align it with the target area and ensure treatment accuracy. For example, based on the position and shape of the target area of ​​the subject in the first image acquired in real time, the processing device 140 can adjust the beam angle and / or beam shape of the therapeutic beam by adjusting the upper treatment head and / or beam limiting component to align the therapeutic beam with the target area while avoiding organs at risk (e.g., the liver, blood vessels, etc.) surrounding the target area, thereby effectively treating the target area while avoiding damage to other organs and tissues.

[0152] In some embodiments, when movement or change of the target area of ​​the object is detected based on the first image, the radiation of the treatment beam or the position of the object can be adjusted. For example, the medical device 110 can adjust the upper treatment head in real time to align the object with the position of the moved or changed target area. For another example, the medical device 110 can pause the emission of the treatment beam, and then adjust the position of the target area relative to the treatment beam by controlling the bed 115 so that the treatment beam is aligned with the target area; after adjusting the radiation of the treatment beam or the position of the object, the radiation source can resume the emission of the treatment beam. In some embodiments, when movement or change of the target area is detected, the radiation source can be caused to terminate the emission of the treatment beam. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can generate a notification based on the detected movement or change of the target area. For example, the processing device 140 can send a notification to the terminal device 130 in the form of text, video, audio, etc. to alert medical staff of the movement or change of the target area.

[0153] It should be noted that the above description of the image-guided radiotherapy method 1100 is for illustration and purpose only and does not limit the scope of application of this application. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes to the image-guided radiotherapy method 1100 under the guidance of this application. For example, in step 1110, the first detection assembly can be positioned in the second position. Accordingly, in step 1120, at least one imaging source (e.g., a CT imaging source) can be caused to emit an imaging beam toward a target area of ​​the subject to acquire a second image; and in step 1130, based on the second image, the radiation source is guided in real time to emit a therapeutic beam toward the target area of ​​the subject. However, these modifications and changes are still within the scope of this application.

[0154] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy method according to other embodiments of the present specification.

[0155] In some embodiments, an image-guided radiation therapy method 1200 for an image-guided radiation therapy system (e.g., image-guided radiation therapy system 200 - image-guided radiation therapy system 600) can be executed by a processing device (e.g., processor 810 in FIG. 8 , processing device 140 in FIG. 1 ) or image-guided radiation therapy system 1000. For example, image-guided radiation therapy method 1200 can be stored in a storage device (e.g., storage device 150, memory 820, memory 990) in the form of a program or instructions. When processing device 140 executes the program or instructions, method 1200 can be implemented. As shown in FIG. 12 , in some embodiments, before performing radiation therapy, processing device 140 can cause an imaging source to emit an imaging beam toward a subject to generate a second image of a target region of the subject, so as to determine the location of the target region and / or adjust the treatment plan based on the second image.

[0156] In step 1210 , the first detection assembly may be positioned at a second position to acquire a second image.

[0157] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can send a control instruction to the image-guided radiation therapy system (e.g., image-guided radiation therapy system 200 - image-guided radiation therapy system 600) to position the first detection assembly in the second position. For example, based on the received control instruction, the control component of the medical device 110 can control the drive mechanism to drive the movable member to move a predetermined distance linearly along the guide rail to switch the first detection assembly from the first position to the second position (e.g., the position of the first detection assembly 210 in FIG. 7( b )).

[0158] In some embodiments, after a subject is placed within an aperture (e.g., bore 116) of an image-guided radiation therapy system, a first rotatable portion of the image-guided radiation therapy system (e.g., image-guided radiation therapy system 200 - radiation therapy system 600) can be rotated independently of a second rotatable portion to cause an imaging source (e.g., CT tube 251 or DR tube 252) to emit an imaging beam toward the subject, thereby generating a second image of the subject. In some embodiments, the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion of the image-guided radiation therapy system can be rotated synchronously (i.e., the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion are relatively stationary) to cause the imaging source (e.g., CT tube 251 or DR tube 252) to emit an imaging beam toward the subject, thereby generating a second image of the subject. In some embodiments, the first rotatable portion of the image-guided radiation therapy system can be stationary to cause the imaging source (e.g., CT tube 251 or DR tube 252) to emit an imaging beam toward the subject, thereby generating a second image of the subject. In some embodiments, the second image can be generated using a reconstruction algorithm.

[0159] In some embodiments, the second image may include a target region of the subject. For example, the CT tube 251 may emit an imaging beam toward the target region of the subject, and the CT detector 253 may receive all or part of the imaging beam to generate a second image of the target region. In some embodiments, the target region may be determined based on the second image of the subject. For example, the processing device 140 may determine a lesion region of the subject based on the second image and designate it as the target region.

[0160] In step 1220 , a target area may be located and / or a treatment plan may be determined based on the second image.

[0161] In some embodiments, a treatment plan for the object can be determined based on the second image. In some embodiments, the position information of the target area of ​​the object can be determined and / or the treatment plan of the object can be adjusted based on the second image. For example, the processing device 140 can align the second image of the object and the planning image used to formulate the treatment plan (for example, the second image taken last time), and determine the position information of the target area of ​​the object based on the alignment result. For another example, the processing device 140 can determine whether to adjust the treatment plan of the object based on the second image. In some embodiments, the basic information of the object, such as body shape, weight, size or location of the lesion to be treated, etc., may be different from when the treatment plan was formulated, so that the treatment plan needs to be adjusted. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can determine the latest basic information of the object based on the second image, and adjust the treatment plan based on this.

[0162] In some embodiments, the treatment beam and / or target area can be adjusted based on the positional information of the target area of ​​the patient and / or the treatment plan to align the treatment beam with the target area. For example, the bed 115 can be moved based on the determined positional information of the target area so that the target area of ​​the patient is centered in the rotation plane of the treatment components in the medical device 110, so that the treatment beam (e.g., radiation source 220) can be aligned with the target area. For another example, parameters of the treatment components in the medical device 110 can be adjusted based on the adjusted treatment plan to align the treatment beam with the target area.

[0163] It should be noted that the above description of image-guided radiation therapy method 1200 is for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the scope of application of this application. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made to image-guided radiation therapy method 1200 under the guidance of this application. For example, in step 1210, the first detection assembly can be positioned in a first position. Accordingly, in step 1220, the first detection assembly can be caused to acquire a first image; and in step 1230, the target area is located and / or a treatment plan is determined based on the first image. However, such modifications and variations remain within the scope of this application.

[0164] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary image-guided radiation therapy method according to other embodiments of the present specification.

[0165] In some embodiments, an image-guided radiation therapy method 1300 for an image-guided radiation therapy system (e.g., image-guided radiation therapy system 200 - image-guided radiation therapy system 600) can be executed by a processing device 140 (e.g., processor 810 in FIG. 8 , processing device 140 in FIG. 1 ) or image-guided radiation therapy system 1000. For example, method 1300 can be stored in the form of a program or instructions in a storage device (e.g., storage device 150, memory 820, or memory 990). When processing device 140 executes the program or instructions, method 1300 is implemented. As shown in FIG. 13 , in some embodiments, during radiation therapy, a first detection assembly in an image-guided radiation therapy system (e.g., image-guided radiation therapy system 200 - image-guided radiation therapy system 600) can be positioned in a second position to provide conventional radiation therapy to a target area of ​​a subject.

[0166] In step 1310 , the first detection assembly may be positioned in a second position.

[0167] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can send a control instruction to the image-guided radiation therapy system (e.g., image-guided radiation therapy system 200 - image-guided radiation therapy system 600) to position the first detection assembly in the second position. For example, after controlling the locking component 270 to lock the first rotatable portion 230 and the second rotatable portion 240, the control component of the medical device 110 can control the driving mechanism based on the control instruction to drive the movable member of the first detection assembly 210 to move a predetermined distance along the upper guide rail of the first rotatable portion 230, so that the first detection assembly 210 is in the second position.

[0168] In step 1320 , the radiation source may be caused to emit a treatment beam toward a target area of ​​the subject by rotating the second rotatable portion.

[0169] In some embodiments, the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion can be rotated synchronously based on a treatment plan to cause the treatment head to emit a treatment beam toward a target area of ​​the subject. In some embodiments, the second rotatable portion can be rotated independently of the first rotatable portion to cause the treatment head to emit a treatment beam toward a target area of ​​the subject.

[0170] In some embodiments, during radiation therapy of a target area, the processing device 140 can automatically generate and / or analyze images to record the radiation therapy, monitor the position of the target area, evaluate changes in the position of the target area, and / or determine how to further plan the radiation therapy (e.g., continue the radiation therapy as planned, continue the radiation therapy with an adjusted plan, or terminate the radiation therapy, etc.). In some embodiments, the monitoring, evaluation, and / or adjustment can be performed semi-automatically using input from a user (e.g., a physician). For example, the processing device 140 can send an image (e.g., a first image, a second image) to be presented on the terminal device 130 so that the user can analyze the image and provide instructions on how to further plan the treatment (e.g., continue the radiation therapy as planned, continue the radiation therapy with an adjusted plan, or terminate the radiation therapy, etc.).

[0171] It should be noted that the above description of image-guided radiotherapy method 1300 is for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the scope of application of this application. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made to image-guided radiotherapy method 1300 under the guidance of this application. For example, method 1200 and method 1100 can be integrated and performed together. After the processing device 140 locates the target area of ​​the subject and / or adjusts the treatment plan based on the second image and accurately positions the subject, it positions the first detection assembly in a first position, generates a first image of the subject, and performs real-time tracking and positioning-guided treatment on the subject based on the first image. For another example, method 1200 and method 1300 can be integrated together. After the processing device 140 locates the target area of ​​the subject and / or adjusts the treatment plan based on the second image and accurately positions the subject, it further positions the first detection assembly in a second position and causes the treatment head to emit a treatment beam toward the target area of ​​the subject, thereby achieving conventional radiotherapy. However, these modifications and variations remain within the scope of this application.

[0172] The beneficial effects that may be brought about by the embodiments of this specification include but are not limited to: (1) integrating the first detection component in the image-guided radiotherapy system and making the first detection component isocentric with the radiation source can realize the function of PET biological guided radiotherapy and improve the treatment effect and efficiency; (2) making the first detection component movable between the first position and the second position, and making the first detection component be located at the second position when CT / DR imaging is performed, thereby avoiding the influence of the first detection component on CT / DR imaging and effectively ensuring the CT / DR imaging speed and the quality of the generated image; (3) When image-guided radiotherapy is performed, the first detection assembly is located in the first position or the second position, and the assembly can realize the function of PET biological guided radiotherapy and also support conventional radiotherapy, so that one device can be used for multiple purposes, thereby improving the convenience and treatment efficiency of radiotherapy; (4) The PET detector, CT / DR imaging assembly and treatment assembly are integrated together, and while realizing multifunctional radiotherapy, the entire radiotherapy system is more compact, reducing the space requirements for the treatment room; (5) The imaging source is placed between the first detection assembly, which can simultaneously ensure the image quality of CT / DR imaging and PET imaging in radiotherapy; (6) The first detection assembly and the imaging source are arranged side by side, which can optimize the image quality of PET imaging while avoiding the influence of PET imaging on CT / DR imaging; (7) By moving the PET detector out of the isocenter plane during conventional radiotherapy, the PET detector can be protected from unnecessary radiation damage by the treatment beam and other rays.

[0173] It should be noted that different embodiments may produce different beneficial effects. In different embodiments, the beneficial effects that may be produced may be any one or a combination of the above, or any other possible beneficial effects.

[0174] While the basic concepts have been described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the detailed disclosure is merely illustrative and does not limit this specification. Although not explicitly stated herein, various modifications, improvements, and revisions to this specification may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications, improvements, and revisions are suggested in this specification and remain within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of this specification.

[0175] This specification also uses specific terms to describe the embodiments of this specification. For example, "one embodiment," "an embodiment," and / or "some embodiments" refer to a feature, structure, or characteristic associated with at least one embodiment of this specification. Therefore, it should be emphasized and noted that references to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or "an alternative embodiment" two or more times in different locations in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, certain features, structures, or characteristics of one or more embodiments of this specification may be appropriately combined.

[0176] In addition, unless expressly stated in the claims, the order of the processing elements and sequences, the use of alphanumeric characters, or the use of other names described in this specification are not intended to limit the order of the processes and methods of this specification. Although the above disclosure discusses some of the invention embodiments currently considered useful through various examples, it should be understood that such details are for illustrative purposes only, and the appended claims are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the claims are intended to cover all modifications and equivalent combinations that are consistent with the spirit and scope of the embodiments of this specification. For example, although the system components described above can be implemented by hardware devices, they can also be implemented only by software solutions, such as installing the described system on an existing server or mobile device.

[0177] Similarly, it should be noted that, in order to simplify the presentation of this specification and thus facilitate understanding of one or more embodiments of the invention, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments of this specification sometimes combine multiple features into a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof. However, this disclosure method does not imply that the subject matter of this specification requires more features than those recited in the claims. In fact, an embodiment may have fewer features than all of the features of a single disclosed embodiment.

[0178] In some embodiments, numbers are used to describe the quantity of components and attributes. It should be understood that such numbers used in the description of the embodiments are modified by the modifiers "about", "approximately" or "substantially" in some examples. Unless otherwise stated, "about", "approximately" or "substantially" indicate that the numbers are allowed to vary by ±20%. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters used in the description and claims are approximate values, which may change according to the required characteristics of individual embodiments. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should take into account the specified significant digits and adopt the general method of retaining digits. Although the numerical domains and parameters used to confirm the breadth of their range in some embodiments of this specification are approximate values, in specific embodiments, the settings of such numerical values ​​are as accurate as possible within the feasible range.

[0179] Each patent, patent application, patent application publication, and other materials, such as articles, books, specifications, publications, and documents, cited in this specification is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This includes application history documents that are inconsistent with or conflict with the content of this specification, as well as documents (currently or subsequently attached to this specification) that limit the broadest scope of the claims of this specification. It should be noted that if the descriptions, definitions, and / or terminology used in the accompanying materials are inconsistent or conflicting with the content of this specification, the descriptions, definitions, and / or terminology used in this specification will control.

[0180] Finally, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification are intended only to illustrate the principles of the embodiments of this specification. Other variations may also fall within the scope of this specification. Therefore, by way of example and not limitation, alternative configurations of the embodiments of this specification may be considered consistent with the teachings of this specification. Accordingly, the embodiments of this specification are not limited to the embodiments explicitly described and illustrated in this specification.

Claims

1. An image-guided radiotherapy system, characterized in that: include: a first detection assembly for collecting photon signals generated by radionuclides in a subject to determine a first image of a target area of ​​the subject; at least one imaging source for emitting an imaging beam toward the target area of ​​the object to determine a second image; a radiation source for emitting a therapeutic beam toward the target area of ​​the subject; The first detection assembly and the at least one imaging source are mounted on a first rotatable part, the ray source is mounted on a second rotatable part, and the first rotatable part and the second rotatable part are coaxially and coplanarly arranged.

2. The image-guided radiotherapy system according to claim 1, wherein The first rotatable portion is configured to be independently rotatable relative to the second rotatable portion.

3. The image-guided radiotherapy system according to claim 1, wherein: The first detection assembly or the at least one imaging source is configured to be movable relative to the first rotatable portion.

4. The image-guided radiotherapy system according to claim 3, wherein: The first detection assembly or the at least one imaging source is moved relative to the first rotatable part via a movable structure.

5. The image-guided radiation therapy system according to claim 3, wherein: A moving distance of the first detection assembly relative to the first rotatable part is determined according to a thickness of the first detection assembly along an axial direction of the first rotatable part.

6. The image-guided radiation therapy system according to claim 3, wherein: The first detection assembly is configured to be movable relative to the first rotatable portion between a first position and a second position.

7. The image-guided radiation therapy system according to claim 3, wherein: The first detection assembly is configured to be movable along an axial direction of the first rotatable part.

8. The image-guided radiation therapy system according to claim 6, wherein: The first detection assembly includes at least two groups of detectors, which are arranged opposite to each other. When the at least two groups of detectors are located at a first position, the at least one imaging source is blocked by at least one detector in the at least two groups of detectors.

9. The image-guided radiation therapy system according to claim 3, wherein: The at least one imaging source is configured to be able to move between a third position and a fourth position relative to the first rotatable part, and the first detection assembly includes at least two groups of detectors, which are arranged relative to each other. When the at least one imaging source is located in the third position, at least one detector in the at least two groups of detectors is blocked by the at least one imaging source.

10. The image-guided radiation therapy system according to claim 1, wherein: The first detection assembly includes at least three groups of detectors, two of the at least three groups of detectors are arranged opposite to the other detectors, and the at least one imaging source is installed between two of the groups of detectors.

11. The image-guided radiation therapy system according to claim 1, wherein: The first detection assembly includes a PET detector, and the at least one imaging source includes a computed tomography imaging source and / or a digital photography imaging source.

12. A method for an image-guided radiation therapy system, the method being implemented by a computing device comprising at least one processor and at least one memory device, wherein: The image-guided radiation therapy system comprises: a first detection component; at least one imaging source; and Radiation source; The first detection assembly and the at least one imaging source are mounted on a first rotatable portion, and the radiation source is mounted on a second rotatable portion, the first rotatable portion and the second rotatable portion being coaxially and coplanarly arranged; and the first detection assembly or the at least one imaging source is configured to be movable relative to the first rotatable portion; The method comprises: determining a first image of a target area of ​​the object by causing the first detection assembly to collect photon signals generated by radionuclides in the object, and / or determining a second image of the target area of ​​the object by causing one of the at least one imaging source to emit an imaging beam toward the object; and Based on the first image and / or the second image, the radiation source is caused to emit a treatment beam toward a target area of ​​the subject.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first detection assembly is configured to be movable relative to the first rotatable portion between a first position and a second position, the method further comprising: positioning the first detection assembly at the first position to determine the first image; and The radiation source is guided to emit the treatment beam toward the target area of ​​the subject based on the first image.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first detection assembly is configured to be movable relative to the first rotatable portion between a first position and a second position, the method further comprising: positioning the first detection assembly at the second position to determine the second image; The target area is located and / or a treatment plan is determined based on the second image.

15. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first detection assembly is configured to be movable relative to the first rotatable portion between a first position and a second position, the method further comprising: positioning the first detection assembly in the second position; By rotating the second rotatable portion, the radiation source is caused to emit a therapeutic beam toward a target area of ​​the subject.

16. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first detection assembly includes at least two groups of detectors, the at least two groups of detectors are arranged opposite to each other, and when the at least two groups of detectors are located in a first position, the at least one imaging source is blocked by at least one detector in the at least two groups of detectors; The determining a second image of the target area of ​​the object by causing one of the at least one imaging source to emit an imaging beam toward the object comprises: positioning the first detection assembly in a second position; One of the at least one imaging source is caused to emit an imaging beam toward the object to determine a second image of a target area of ​​the object.

17. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first detection assembly includes at least three groups of detectors, two of the at least three groups of detectors are arranged opposite to the other detectors, and the at least one imaging source is installed between two of the groups of detectors; The determining a second image of the target area of ​​the object by causing one of the at least one imaging source to emit an imaging beam toward the object comprises: positioning the first detection assembly in a second position; One of the at least one imaging source is caused to emit an imaging beam toward the object to determine a second image of a target area of ​​the object.

18. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that The step of causing the radiation source to emit a treatment beam toward a target area of ​​the subject based on the first image and / or the second image includes: determining a third image based on the first image and the second image; The radiation source is guided to emit a treatment beam toward a target area of ​​the subject based on the third image.

19. An image-guided radiotherapy device, characterized in that: The apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one storage device, wherein the storage device is configured to store instructions. When the at least one processor executes the instructions, the method according to claims 12 to 18 is implemented.

20. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, wherein when a computer reads the computer instructions in the storage medium, the computer executes the method according to claims 12 to 18.

Images