Multi-chambered particle therapy room, radiation therapy system, and particle accelerator movement method
By designing a multi-chamber particle therapy room and a mobile particle accelerator, the problems of high construction costs and long commissioning times of radiotherapy systems have been solved, resulting in a high-efficiency, low-cost radiotherapy system that can meet the treatment needs of more patients.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MEVION MEDICAL EQUIPMENT CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
AI Technical Summary
The high construction cost and long commissioning time of existing radiotherapy systems are mainly due to the installation of fixed particle accelerators and beam transmission lines.
The design employs a multi-chamber particle therapy room and a movable particle accelerator. The treatment room does not contain a particle accelerator but is connected to the movable particle accelerator through a beam window. The particle accelerator can be moved outside the treatment room when needed to perform treatment and then conduct radiotherapy through the treatment head. Sharing a single particle accelerator reduces costs.
It reduces the overall cost and commissioning difficulty of radiotherapy systems, improves the utilization rate and treatment efficiency of particle accelerators, shortens commissioning time, and meets the treatment needs of more patients.
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Figure CN119548768B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of high-end medical equipment technology, and in particular to a multi-chamber particle therapy chamber, a radiotherapy system, and a method for moving a particle accelerator. Background Technology
[0002] Radiation therapy uses high-energy particle beams to penetrate human tissue, destroying the DNA of cancer cells and preventing their growth and division, thereby achieving the therapeutic goal. Radiation therapy can provide more precise and effective treatment and reduce side effects during the treatment process, thus improving patients' quality of life. The particle accelerator is the core component of the radiation therapy system; it is used to generate the particle beam.
[0003] A radiotherapy system typically includes a particle accelerator, a beam transport line, and multiple treatment rooms. The fixed particle accelerator generates a particle beam, which is then delivered to each treatment room via the beam transport line to treat the patient. The beam transport line usually consists of a vacuum tube, diodes, and quadrupoles. The vacuum tube reduces beam divergence during transport. Diodes are placed at beam deflection points to deflect the beam. Multiple quadrupoles are also arranged along the beam transport line to focus the beam. This results in a large beam transport line, increasing the overall cost of the radiotherapy system. Furthermore, during the commissioning phase, each diode and quadrupole magnet along the beam transport line needs to be adjusted, which is time-consuming.
[0004] Reducing the construction cost of radiotherapy systems is a pressing problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a multi-chamber particle therapy chamber, a radiotherapy system, and a particle accelerator movement method to reduce construction costs.
[0006] The objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solution:
[0007] A multi-chamber particle therapy chamber, comprising:
[0008] Multiple treatment rooms, each of which is provided with an entrance and a beam window corresponding to the beam output end of a particle accelerator outside the treatment room, the beam window and the entrance being located on different sides of the treatment room;
[0009] The treatment chamber does not contain a particle accelerator, nor does it contain a scanning magnet, a diode magnet, or a quadrupole magnet. The treatment chamber contains a treatment head corresponding to the beam window. The treatment chamber has an isocenter point. The beam window is configured to be closed but open at different times. The beam window is configured to open when the beam exit end of the particle accelerator moves to the position corresponding to the beam window.
[0010] The treatment room includes a front wall, a rear wall, a left wall, and a right wall. The entrance is located between the front wall and the left wall. The beam window is separated from the entrance by a partition wall, which is connected to the left wall. The partition wall is separated from the right wall by a certain distance, forming an opening for the patient to pass through. The beam window is opened through the rear wall, and the treatment head is installed on the inner side of the rear wall. Along the direction in which the beam passes through the beam window, the projection of the isocenter point on the partition wall is located within the projection of the beam window on the partition wall.
[0011] The treatment room also includes a support device for supporting the patient and moving the patient to an isocenter point so that the beam irradiates the patient in a predetermined direction.
[0012] Preferably, the treatment head is retractable along the direction of the beam window.
[0013] Preferably, the treatment head is mounted and fixed on the rear wall, the treatment chamber does not have a rotating frame, and the beam output direction of the treatment head is fixed.
[0014] A radiotherapy system, comprising:
[0015] A multi-chamber particle therapy chamber as described in any of the above;
[0016] A particle accelerator is provided, which generates a particle beam. The particle accelerator is a single unit that can be moved to different locations outside the treatment room and aligned with the beam window. The particle accelerator shoots the particle beam into the treatment room through the beam window. The particle beam is then used for radiotherapy through a treatment head inside the treatment room. The radiotherapy system does not have a diode or quadrupole magnet.
[0017] Preferably, it further includes a support platform, a drive component, and a control component. The control component includes a controller for controlling the drive component. The particle accelerator is disposed on the support platform. The drive component is used to drive the support platform to move. The support platform is used to drive the particle accelerator to move. The movement of the particle accelerator includes one or more of the following: translation along the horizontal direction, translation along the vertical direction, rotation along the horizontal direction, and rotation along the vertical direction.
[0018] Preferably, the drive assembly includes a translation drive mechanism for driving the support platform to translate, thereby translating the particle accelerator to a different location outside the treatment room; and / or,
[0019] The drive assembly further includes a rotary drive mechanism for driving the platform to rotate, thereby rotating the particle accelerator to different locations outside the treatment chamber.
[0020] Preferably, the control component further includes a first position sensor connected to the translation drive mechanism and / or the rotation drive mechanism, the first position sensor being used to detect the rotational movement of the translation drive mechanism and / or the rotation drive mechanism to obtain position information of the platform; and / or,
[0021] The control component further includes a second position sensor, which is connected to the platform or the particle accelerator and is used to detect the position information of the platform or the particle accelerator.
[0022] Preferably, the drive assembly further includes an adjustment device disposed on the support platform. The adjustment device includes an X-direction drive mechanism, a Y-direction drive mechanism, and a Z-direction drive mechanism. The X-direction drive mechanism is used to drive the particle accelerator to translate along the X-axis and / or drive the particle accelerator to rotate around the X-axis. The Y-direction drive mechanism is used to drive the particle accelerator to translate along the Y-axis and / or drive the particle accelerator to rotate around the Y-axis. The Z-direction drive mechanism is used to drive the particle accelerator to translate along the Z-axis and / or drive the particle accelerator to rotate around the Z-axis. The X-direction, the Y-direction, and the Z-direction are perpendicular to each other.
[0023] Preferably, the control component further includes a third position sensor connected to the particle accelerator, the third position sensor being used to detect the position information of the particle accelerator.
[0024] Preferably, the treatment room is equipped with a shielded door, which is used to close or open the beam window, and the shielded door and the isocenter point are located on opposite sides of the beam window; and / or,
[0025] A shielding door is provided on the support platform. The shielding door can move with the support platform. When the particle accelerator moves to the beam window of one of the treatment rooms, the shielding door is used to close the beam windows of the other treatment rooms.
[0026] Preferably, the device further includes a track, on which the particle accelerator is disposed, and the particle accelerator moves to different treatment rooms via the track, the track extending in a direction parallel to the direction of extension of the line connecting the centers of the beam windows.
[0027] Preferably, a limiting device is provided on the path of the particle accelerator for aligning with the beam window in the front-back direction. The limiting device is used to mark the moving position of the particle accelerator. A scanning magnet is installed on the particle accelerator, and the particle accelerator moves within a radiation-shielded space.
[0028] A method for moving a particle accelerator, the method comprising the steps of moving a particle accelerator of a radiotherapy system as described in any of the preceding claims:
[0029] The particle accelerator is moved outside the first treatment room where the particle beam is needed. The particle accelerator is docked with the beam window of the first treatment room. After the beam window is opened, the particle accelerator begins to emit a beam and shoots the particle beam into the first treatment room through the beam window. The particle beam is used for radiotherapy through the treatment head in the first treatment room.
[0030] After the first treatment room completes radiotherapy, the particle accelerator stops emitting a beam, then moves outside the second treatment room that requires a particle beam and docks with the beam window of the second treatment room before resuming beam emission.
[0031] Preferably, the method of moving the particle accelerator outside the treatment room where the particle beam is required includes:
[0032] The device is moved outside the treatment room where the particle beam is required by the translation drive mechanism; and / or,
[0033] The particle accelerator is rotated outside the treatment room where the particle beam is required via the rotary drive mechanism; and / or,
[0034] The position of the particle accelerator is precisely adjusted in six degrees of freedom by means of the X-direction drive mechanism, Y-direction drive mechanism and Z-direction drive mechanism of the adjustment device, so as to make the particle accelerator precisely aligned with the beam window of the treatment room.
[0035] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention include at least the following:
[0036] This invention discloses a multi-chamber particle therapy chamber, a radiotherapy system, and a particle accelerator movement method. Multiple treatment chambers share a single movable particle accelerator, resulting in more efficient overall space utilization. By moving the particle accelerator outside the treatment chamber requiring a particle beam, the accelerator directs the particle beam into that chamber through a beam window. The particle beam then delivers radiotherapy through a treatment head within the chamber. Simultaneously, other treatment chambers can undergo pre-treatment preparation processes that do not require a particle beam. When a treatment chamber completes its treatment, the particle accelerator moves outside the other chambers requiring particle beams, allowing those chambers to begin their treatment. Because the particle accelerator can be moved outside the treatment chambers requiring particle beams, its utilization rate is improved, enhancing radiotherapy efficiency and benefiting more patients. The radiotherapy system of this application eliminates the need for beam transmission lines, reducing the overall size and cost of the system. Furthermore, the elimination of beam transmission line adjustments simplifies the system's setup, shortens setup time, and further reduces overall cost. Attached Figure Description
[0037] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a radiotherapy system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of a radiotherapy system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of point A in the middle.
[0040] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of another radiotherapy system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of another radiotherapy system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of another radiotherapy system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of another radiotherapy system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the shielding door when it is set on the support platform in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] Figure 9 This is a schematic flowchart of a particle accelerator movement method according to an embodiment of this application.
[0046] In the diagram: 100. Radiotherapy system; 1. Treatment room; 10. Entrance; 11. Beam window; 12. Front wall; 13. Rear wall; 14. Left side wall; 15. Right side wall; 16. Partition wall; 17. Opening; 18. Center point; 2. Particle accelerator; 21. Beam exit end; 22. Particle beam; 3. Support platform; 4. Drive assembly; 41. Translation drive mechanism; 42. Rotation drive mechanism; 43. Adjustment device; 5. Control assembly; 51. Controller; 6. Track; 7. Limiting device; 8. Shielding door; 9. Treatment head. Detailed Implementation
[0047] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided to make the invention more comprehensive and complete, and to fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar structures, and therefore repeated descriptions of them will be omitted.
[0048] The terms used to express position and direction in this invention are illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, but changes can be made as needed, and all such changes are included within the scope of protection of this invention.
[0049] Reference Figures 1 to 8 This invention provides a radiotherapy system 100, comprising a multi-chamber particle therapy chamber and a particle accelerator 2. The multi-chamber particle therapy chamber includes multiple treatment chambers 1, each treatment chamber 1 having an entrance 10 for patient entry and a beam window 11 corresponding to the beam exit end 21 of the particle accelerator 2 outside the treatment chamber 1. The beam window 11 and the entrance 10 are located on different sides of the treatment chamber 1. The treatment chamber 1 does not contain the particle accelerator 2, nor does it contain scanning magnets, diode magnets, or quadrupole magnets, thus optimizing the layout within the treatment chamber 1 and reducing the cost of the radiotherapy system 100. The treatment chamber 1 contains a treatment head 9 corresponding to the beam window 11. The treatment head 9 is fixed or retractable relative to the patient. The treatment chamber 1 has an isocenter point 18. The beam window 11 is configured to be closed but open at different times. The beam window 11 is configured to open when the beam exit end 21 of the particle accelerator 2 moves to correspond with the beam window 11, i.e., the beam window 11 is only opened when a beam needs to pass through it.
[0050] Treatment room 1 may include a front wall 12, a rear wall 13, a left side wall 14, and a right side wall 15. Entrance 10 is located between the front wall 12 and the left side wall 14. A partition wall 16 separates the beam window 11 from the entrance 10, effectively blocking the beam window 11 from the entrance. The partition wall 16 is connected to the left side wall 14 and is spaced a certain distance from the right side wall 15, forming an opening 17 for the patient to pass through. The beam window 11 extends through the rear wall 13. Along the direction of the beam passing through the beam window 11, the projection of the isocenter point 18 onto the partition wall 16 lies within the projection of the beam window 11 onto the partition wall 16. This makes the structure of treatment room 1 more compact, optimizes the beam's movement path, saves beam transmission time, and further ensures improved treatment efficiency. Along the direction in which the beam passes through the beam window 11, the inlet 10 and the opening 17 are preferably located on both sides of the beam window 11 and the treatment head 9, respectively. This makes the structure of the treatment chamber 1 compact, reduces the overall size of the treatment chamber 1, and is conducive to the development of miniaturization.
[0051] Particle accelerator 2 can provide particle beam 22 to treatment chamber 1. Multiple treatment chambers 1 can share one particle accelerator 2, which reduces the cost of radiotherapy system 100. That is, radiotherapy system 100 can include multiple treatment chambers 1 and one particle accelerator 2, or it can include multiple treatment chambers 1 and multiple particle accelerators 2, wherein the number of treatment chambers 1 is greater than the number of particle accelerators 2.
[0052] Specifically, each treatment chamber 1 is equipped with a beam window 11. The beam window 11 allows the particle beam 22 generated by the particle accelerator 2 to pass through, enabling the particle beam 22 to reach the patient's treatment area within the treatment chamber 1. The beam window 11 is located on the side of the treatment chamber 1 facing the particle accelerator 2. The shape of the beam window 11 is, for example, rectangular, but it can also be other shapes, as long as it ensures that the particle beam 22 generated by the particle accelerator 2 can pass through. Figure 2As shown, each treatment room 1 can also be equipped with various treatment heads 9 and support devices (not shown). The treatment room 1 does not have a particle accelerator 2 or a rotating frame, simplifying the structure of the treatment room 1. The treatment head 9 is used to treat the patient. The treatment head 9 can cooperate with the particle beam 22 generated by the particle accelerator 2 to perform radiotherapy, that is, the particle beam 22 passes through the treatment head 9 before treating the patient. The treatment head 9 can be made retractable along the direction of the beam window 11, which can achieve more precise and effective treatment, while improving the patient's treatment experience and safety. In this embodiment, the treatment head 9 can be installed and fixed inside the rear wall 13 and extend into the interior of the treatment room 1. The treatment room 1 does not have a rotating frame, and the beam output direction of the treatment head 9 is fixed. The support device is used to support the patient and move the patient at various angles. That is, the support device is used to carry the patient and move the patient to the isocenter point 18 so that the beam irradiates the patient in a predetermined direction. The support device is, for example, a treatment chair, a treatment bed, etc.
[0053] Particle accelerator 2 is used to generate particle beam 22. Particle accelerator 2 can be moved outside different treatment chambers 1 and aligned with beam window 11. Particle accelerator 2 directs particle beam 22 into treatment chamber 1 through beam window 11, and particle beam 22 performs radiotherapy through treatment head 9 within treatment chamber 1. In some embodiments, after the particle beam (i.e., the beam stream) is extracted from particle accelerator 2, no beam transmission line, vacuum pipe, diode magnet, or quadrupole magnet is provided along the beam's path in the radiotherapy system 100 and its particle accelerator 2. This simplifies the overall design, reduces costs, avoids energy consumption generated by beam transmission lines, is more carbon-efficient, and aligns with technological development trends. The particles can be protons or heavy ions. Particle accelerator 2 is, for example, a proton accelerator, which can generate proton beams. Of course, particle accelerator 2 can also be other types of particle accelerators, which can be set according to actual needs. The direction of movement of the particle accelerator 2 is not parallel to the direction of beam exit of the treatment head 9 (the direction in which the particle beam 22 flows out of the treatment head 9). This makes the radiotherapy system 100 compact and reduces its overall size, which is beneficial for miniaturization.
[0054] As a preferred method, refer to Figures 1 to 5 The radiotherapy system 100 may further include a track 6, which is located outside the treatment room 1. The particle accelerator 2 is mounted on the track 6 and located within the radiation shielding space. The particle accelerator 2 moves along the track 6 to different treatment rooms 1. The extension direction of the track 6 is preferably parallel to the extension direction of the line connecting the centers of the beam windows 11. The distribution of the tracks 6 corresponds to the distribution of the multiple treatment rooms 1, allowing the particle accelerator 2 to move along the track 6 to different treatment rooms 1, thus ensuring that the particle accelerator 2 moves along a predetermined path. The track 6 is further preferably a sliding rail, which makes the movement of the particle accelerator 2 smoother and more stable, facilitating operation and avoiding or reducing operator fatigue.
[0055] In this application, multiple treatment rooms 1 share a single particle accelerator 2, reducing the required number of particle accelerators 2 and significantly lowering the construction cost of the radiotherapy system 100. By moving the particle accelerator 2 outside the treatment room 1 that requires the particle beam 22, the particle accelerator 2 fires the particle beam 22 into that treatment room 1 through the beam window 11. The particle beam 22 then delivers radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 within that treatment room 1. Simultaneously, other treatment rooms 1 can undergo treatment preparation processes that do not require the particle beam 22, such as patient positioning. When the treatment room 1 completes its treatment, the particle accelerator 2 moves to other treatment rooms 1 that require the particle beam 22 and begins treatment. This reduces the waiting time for the particle accelerator 2, improves its utilization efficiency, enhances treatment efficiency, and facilitates the treatment of more patients. Since the particle accelerator 2 can be moved to the treatment room 1 where the particle beam 22 is needed, the radiotherapy system 100 of this application does not need to be equipped with a beam transmission line. On the one hand, this reduces the overall size of the radiotherapy system 100 and saves the cost of the beam transmission line, thereby reducing the overall cost of the radiotherapy system 100. On the other hand, it eliminates the need to debug the beam transmission line, reducing the debugging difficulty of the radiotherapy system 100, shortening the debugging time and construction cycle of the radiotherapy system 100, and facilitating the early use of the radiotherapy system 100 to benefit patients.
[0056] In one specific embodiment, the particle accelerator 2 can move in one or more of the following ways: translating horizontally, translating vertically, rotating horizontally, and rotating vertically. In some embodiments, the particle accelerator 2 can also move by flipping. The movement of the particle accelerator 2 corresponds to the distribution of the treatment chambers 1; that is, the movement path of the particle accelerator 2 depends on the distribution of the treatment chambers 1, or in other words, the movement path of the particle accelerator 2 determines the distribution of the treatment chambers 1. The arrangement of the multiple treatment chambers 1 can be set according to actual needs, and the position of the particle accelerator 2 corresponds to the arrangement of the treatment chambers 1, as long as the particle accelerator 2 can move outside the treatment chamber 1 and align with the beam window 11.
[0057] As an example, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2Multiple treatment rooms 1 are arranged in a single row on a horizontal plane. A particle accelerator 2 is located on the same side of all treatment rooms 1. The particle accelerator 2 can be moved horizontally to different treatment rooms 1 and aligned with the beam window 11. That is, when one treatment room 1 requires the particle accelerator 2, the particle accelerator 2 can be moved horizontally to the outside of that treatment room 1. The particle accelerator 2 then fires a particle beam 22 into that treatment room 1 through the beam window 11. The particle beam 22 then performs radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 within that treatment room 1. Other treatment rooms 1 can then perform treatment preparation processes that do not require the particle beam 22, such as patient positioning.
[0058] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 5 Multiple treatment rooms 1 are arranged in a single row vertically, i.e., the multiple treatment rooms 1 are stacked. The particle accelerator 2 is located on the same side of the multiple treatment rooms 1. The particle accelerator 2 can be moved vertically to different treatment rooms 1 and aligned with the beam window 11. That is, when one of the treatment rooms 1 requires the particle accelerator 2, the particle accelerator 2 can be moved vertically to the outside of the treatment room 1 that requires the particle accelerator 2. The particle accelerator 2 then shoots the particle beam 22 into the treatment room 1 through the beam window 11. The particle beam 22 is then used for radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 inside the treatment room 1. Other treatment rooms 1 can then perform treatment preparation processes that do not require the particle beam 22, such as patient positioning.
[0059] Two treatment chambers 1 are positioned on either side of the particle accelerator 2 on a horizontal plane, or, as shown in the diagram... Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 Multiple treatment chambers 1 are arranged horizontally around a particle accelerator 2. The particle accelerator 2 can rotate horizontally, moving to different treatment chambers 1 and aligning with the beam window 11. That is, when one of the treatment chambers 1 requires the particle accelerator 2, the particle accelerator 2 can rotate horizontally to the outside of the treatment chamber 1 that requires the particle accelerator 2, and the particle accelerator 2 will shoot a particle beam 22 into that treatment chamber 1 through the beam window 11. The particle beam 22 will then perform radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 inside that treatment chamber 1. Other treatment chambers 1 can perform treatment preparation processes that do not require the particle beam 22, such as patient positioning.
[0060] Multiple treatment chambers 1 are positioned on either side of a particle accelerator 2 on a horizontal plane. The particle accelerator 2 can rotate and translate horizontally to move outside different treatment chambers 1 and align with the beam window 11. That is, when one treatment chamber 1 requires the particle accelerator 2, the particle accelerator 2 can rotate and / or translate horizontally to the outside of that treatment chamber 1. The particle accelerator 2 then delivers a particle beam 22 into that treatment chamber 1 through the beam window 11. The particle beam 22 then performs radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 within that treatment chamber 1. Other treatment chambers 1 can then perform treatment preparation processes that do not require the particle beam 22, such as patient positioning.
[0061] Two treatment chambers 1 are vertically positioned on either side of the particle accelerator 2, or multiple treatment chambers 1 are vertically arranged around the particle accelerator 2. The particle accelerator 2 can rotate vertically to move outside different treatment chambers 1 and align with the beam window 11. That is, when one of the treatment chambers 1 requires the particle accelerator 2, the particle accelerator 2 can rotate vertically to the outside of the treatment chamber 1 that requires the particle accelerator 2, and the particle accelerator 2 will shoot a particle beam 22 into that treatment chamber 1 through the beam window 11. The particle beam 22 will then perform radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 inside that treatment chamber 1. Other treatment chambers 1 can perform treatment preparation processes that do not require the particle beam 22, such as patient positioning.
[0062] Multiple treatment chambers 1 are vertically positioned on either side of the particle accelerator 2. The particle accelerator 2 can rotate and translate vertically to move outside different treatment chambers 1 and align with the beam window 11. That is, when one treatment chamber 1 requires the particle accelerator 2, the particle accelerator 2 can rotate and / or translate vertically to move outside the treatment chamber 1 requiring the particle accelerator 2. The particle accelerator 2 then delivers a particle beam 22 into that treatment chamber 1 through the beam window 11. The particle beam 22 then performs radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 within that treatment chamber 1. Other treatment chambers 1 can then perform treatment preparation processes that do not require the particle beam 22, such as patient positioning.
[0063] As a preferred method, refer to Figures 1 to 8 The radiotherapy system 100 may also include a support platform 3, a drive assembly 4, and a control assembly 5. (See reference...) Figure 1 , Figure 2The control component 5 includes a controller 51. The drive component 4 and the controller 51 can be connected by wires, or wirelessly. The controller 51 controls the drive component 4. The particle accelerator 2 is mounted on a support platform 3. The drive component 4 drives the support platform 3 to move, and the support platform 3 moves the particle accelerator 2. In this embodiment, the support platform 3 can be mounted on a track 6. The drive component 4 can drive the support platform 3 to move along the track 6 and move the particle accelerator 2. The drive component 4 can be one or more of various power devices such as pneumatic, electric, and hydraulic. By driving the particle accelerator 2 to move through the drive component 4, automated operation of the particle accelerator 2 is achieved. This not only improves the moving accuracy and efficiency of the particle accelerator 2, thereby improving its utilization efficiency and treatment effect, but also eliminates the need for manual movement of the particle accelerator 2, reducing the labor intensity of personnel and keeping personnel away from the particle accelerator 2, thus avoiding the harm of electromagnetic radiation.
[0064] Specifically, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 The drive assembly 4 may include a translation drive mechanism 41, which drives the support platform 3 to translate, thereby moving the particle accelerator 2 outside different treatment rooms 1. Specifically, the translation drive mechanism 41 can drive the support platform 3 to translate horizontally or vertically, which in turn drives the particle accelerator 2 to translate horizontally or vertically. The translation drive mechanism 41 may be a drive motor, which can drive the support platform 3 to move along the track 6 and move the particle accelerator 2, causing the particle accelerator 2 to translate outside different treatment rooms 1 and align with the beam window 11. The particle accelerator 2 then projects a particle beam 22 into the treatment room 1 through the beam window 11, and the particle beam 22 performs radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 inside the treatment room 1.
[0065] Reference Figure 7 , Figure 8The drive assembly 4 may further include a rotary drive mechanism 42, which drives the support platform 3 to rotate, thereby rotating the particle accelerator 2 outside different treatment rooms 1. Specifically, the rotary drive mechanism 42 can drive the support platform 3 to rotate horizontally or vertically, which in turn causes the particle accelerator 2 to rotate horizontally or vertically. In some embodiments, the rotary drive mechanism 42 can drive the support platform 3 to flip, thereby causing the particle accelerator 2 to flip. The rotary drive mechanism 42 may also be a drive motor, which can drive the support platform 3 to rotate and cause the particle accelerator 2 to rotate, so that the particle accelerator 2 rotates outside different treatment rooms 1 and aligns with the beam window 11. The particle accelerator 2 then projects a particle beam 22 into the treatment room 1 through the beam window 11, and the particle beam 22 performs radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 inside the treatment room 1.
[0066] As a preferred embodiment, the control component 5 may further include a first position sensor (not shown), which is connected to the translation drive mechanism 41 and / or the rotation drive mechanism 42. The first position sensor may also be connected to the controller 51. The first position sensor is used to detect the rotational movement of the translation drive mechanism 41 and / or the rotation drive mechanism 42 to obtain the position information of the carrier platform 3. The first position sensor is, for example, a rotary encoder. When the first position sensor can be coupled to the translation drive mechanism 41, the first position sensor can detect information such as the number of rotations and the direction of rotation of the translation drive mechanism 41. That is, by calculation, the distance moved by the carrier platform 3 can be obtained to obtain the real-time position information of the carrier platform 3, and then obtain the real-time position information of the particle accelerator 2. By comparing the real-time position information of the particle accelerator 2 with the preset position information of the particle accelerator 2, it can be determined whether the particle accelerator 2 is aligned with the beam window 11.
[0067] When the first position sensor can be coupled to the rotary drive mechanism 42, the first position sensor can detect information such as the number of rotations and the direction of rotation of the rotary drive mechanism 42. That is, the angle of rotation of the support platform 3 can be calculated to obtain the real-time position information of the support platform 3, and then obtain the real-time position information of the particle accelerator 2. By comparing the real-time position information of the particle accelerator 2 with the preset position information of the particle accelerator 2, it can be determined whether the particle accelerator 2 is aligned with the beam window 11.
[0068] The first position sensor can feed back the position information of the particle accelerator 2 to the controller 51. The controller 51 controls the translation drive mechanism 41 and / or the rotation drive mechanism 42 to rotate according to the feedback information of the first position sensor. This can accurately control the position of the particle accelerator 2 to ensure that the particle accelerator 2 is aligned with the beam window 11.
[0069] The control component 5 may also include a second position sensor (not shown), which is connected to the stage 3 or the particle accelerator 2. The second position sensor may also be connected to the controller 51. The second position sensor is used to detect the real-time position information of the stage 3 or the particle accelerator 2. By comparing the real-time position information of the particle accelerator 2 with the preset position information of the particle accelerator 2, it can be determined whether the particle accelerator 2 is aligned with the beam window 11.
[0070] The controller 51 controls the translation drive mechanism 41 and / or the rotation drive mechanism 42 to rotate based on the feedback information from the second position sensor, thus enabling more precise control of the particle accelerator 2's position. The second position sensor can be a sliding rheostat, a tensile displacement sensor, etc.; in this embodiment, it is a sliding rheostat. The second position sensor can be positioned on the path of the carrier platform 3 or the particle accelerator 2, for example, preferably on the track 6. The carrier platform 3 or the particle accelerator 2 has a contact portion (not shown) connected to the second position sensor. The number of contact portions can be one or more. The second position sensor obtains the position information of the carrier platform 3 or the particle accelerator 2 by acquiring the position of the contact portion on the second position sensor. In other words, the second position sensor can acquire the real-time position information of the particle accelerator 2 to ensure that the particle accelerator 2 is aligned with the beam window 11.
[0071] The first position sensor and the second position sensor are preferably independent of each other, that is, the first position sensor and the second position sensor will not interfere with each other. In this way, the support platform 3 has two or more independent position feedback devices, which further ensures the accuracy of the position of the support platform 3, that is, ensures the accuracy of the position of the particle accelerator 2, thereby ensuring that the particle accelerator 2 can be aligned with the beam window 11, and thus ensuring that the particle beam 22 can be accurately injected into the treatment room 1.
[0072] In some implementations, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 5A limiting device 7 for aligning with the beam window 11 in the forward and backward direction can be set along the path of the particle accelerator 2. For example, the limiting device 7 can be set on the track 6, and the limiting device 7 is used to mark the moving position of the particle accelerator 2. A scanning magnet is installed on the particle accelerator 2, and the particle accelerator 2 moves within a radiation-shielded space to avoid radiation hazards to personnel. The limiting device 7 can be a component that prevents the particle accelerator 2 or the support platform 3 from continuing to move, that is, the limiting device 7 is a hard limiting component, such as a limiting block. The limiting device 7 can also be a sensor, such as a Hall switch or a proximity switch, and the limiting device 7 can be connected to the controller 51. When the particle accelerator 2 or the support platform 3 moves to the limiting device 7, the limiting device 7 can feed back the position information of the particle accelerator 2 or the support platform 3 to the controller 51. The controller 51 controls the drive component 4 according to the feedback information of the limiting device 7, so that the drive component 4 stops operating.
[0073] As a preferred method, refer to Figures 1 to 8 The drive assembly 4 may further include an adjustment device 43, which is disposed on the support platform 3. Specifically, the adjustment device 43 is positioned between the support platform 3 and the particle accelerator 2. The adjustment device 43 is used for fine-tuning the particle accelerator 2, i.e., for precise adjustment of the particle accelerator 2, to make the position of the particle accelerator 2 more accurate. The adjustment device 43 may include an X-direction drive mechanism (not shown), a Y-direction drive mechanism (not shown), and a Z-direction drive mechanism (not shown). The X-direction drive mechanism, Y-direction drive mechanism, and Z-direction drive mechanism may each include a motor, for example. The X-direction drive mechanism can drive the particle accelerator 2 to translate along the X-axis and can also drive the particle accelerator 2 to rotate around the X-axis. The Y-direction drive mechanism can drive the particle accelerator 2 to translate along the Y-axis and can also drive the particle accelerator 2 to rotate around the Y-axis. The Z-direction drive mechanism can drive the particle accelerator 2 to translate along the Z-axis and can also drive the particle accelerator 2 to rotate around the Z-axis. The X, Y, and Z directions are perpendicular to each other. By setting up X-direction drive mechanism, Y-direction drive mechanism and Z-direction drive mechanism, the adjustment device 43 can precisely adjust the position of particle accelerator 2 in six degrees of freedom, so that particle accelerator 2 can be precisely aligned with the beam window 11 of different treatment rooms 1, thereby ensuring that particle beam 22 can be accurately shot into treatment room 1.
[0074] The control component 5 may also include a third position sensor (not shown), which is connected to the particle accelerator 2. The third position sensor may also be connected to the controller 51. The third position sensor detects the real-time position information of the particle accelerator 2. By comparing the real-time position information of the particle accelerator 2 with its preset position information, it can be determined whether the particle accelerator 2 is aligned with the beam window 11. The controller 51 controls the operation of the adjustment device 43 based on the feedback information from the third position sensor, thus enabling more precise control of the position of the particle accelerator 2.
[0075] In one specific implementation, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 4 , Figure 6 Each treatment room 1 may be equipped with a shielding door 8. More preferably, each treatment room 1 is equipped with a shielding door 8. The shielding door 8 is used to close or open the beam window 11. Preferably, the shielding door 8 and the isocenter point 18 are located on opposite sides of the beam window 11. When the particle accelerator 2 is working, it generates radiation, which can have adverse effects on the human body. The shielding door 8 can allow the radiation generated by the particle accelerator 2 to enter the treatment room 1, thereby preventing the personnel in the treatment room 1 from being exposed to unnecessary radiation. The closing or opening of the shielding door 8 is related to the position of the particle accelerator 2. Specifically, when the particle accelerator 2 moves outside the treatment room 1 that requires the particle beam 22, the shielding door 8 of that treatment room 1 opens, and the particle beam 22 enters the treatment room 1 through the beam window 11. The particle beam 22 is then used for radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 in that treatment room 1. The shielding doors 8 of other treatment rooms 1 are closed at this time, thus preventing the radiation generated by the particle accelerator 2 from entering other treatment rooms 1. When the particle accelerator 2 is moved away from a certain treatment room 1, the shielding door 8 of that treatment room 1 can be closed.
[0076] In some implementations, refer to Figure 8 The support platform 3 can also be equipped with shielding doors 8. There can be one or more shielding doors 8, which can move with the support platform 3, meaning they move synchronously with the particle accelerator 2. For example, the shielding doors 8 can translate or rotate with the support platform 3. Specifically, when the particle accelerator 2 moves to the beam window 11 of one of the treatment rooms 1, the shielding door 8 simultaneously moves to the beam windows 11 of other treatment rooms 1, closing the beam windows 11 of those other treatment rooms 1. When the particle accelerator 2 moves from the beam window 11 of one treatment room 1 to the beam window 11 of another treatment room 1, the shielding door 8 simultaneously moves to the beam windows 11 of those other treatment rooms 1, closing the beam windows 11 of those other treatment rooms 1. In this way, radiation generated by the particle accelerator 2 can also be prevented from entering treatment rooms 1 where the particle beam 22 is not needed.
[0077] The radiotherapy system 100 may include a particle beam delivery system for delivering a particle beam 22 from the particle accelerator 2 into the patient's body. The particle beam delivery system, controlled by a magnetic field, precisely delivers the particle beam 22 to the treatment location, ensuring accurate positioning and delivery. The particle beam delivery system may include components that the particle beam passes through during delivery, such as a scanning magnet, an ionization chamber, and an adaptive aperture. The scanning magnet, by appropriately changing the magnetic field, allows the particle beam 22 to move in the X and / or Y directions, with the X and Y directions perpendicular to each other. The ionization chamber can be used to measure the dose and / or position of the beam. The adaptive aperture can also form an adaptive aperture that can adaptively adjust according to the shape and size of the target area, so that the shape and size of the particle beam 22 can match the morphology of the tumor. The advantage of this adaptive irradiation is that it can better adapt to irregularly shaped tumors, improving the personalization and targeting of the irradiation plan. The combination of components such as scanning magnet, ionization chamber, range shifter, and adaptive grating enables precise and flexible radiotherapy to be provided to patients. The scanning magnet can be mounted on the particle accelerator 2 outside the treatment chamber 1, the ionization chamber can be mounted on the treatment head 9, and the range shifter and adaptive grating can be set as part of the treatment head 9. This configuration can meet the need for further miniaturization of the treatment chamber 1, making the treatment chamber 1 more compact and suitable for more application scenarios.
[0078] Reference Figure 9 The present invention also provides a particle accelerator moving method, which is used to move the particle accelerator 2 of the radiotherapy system 100 as described in any of the above claims, and includes the following steps: S100-S200.
[0079] Step S100: Move the particle accelerator 2 outside the first treatment room where the particle beam 22 is needed. The particle accelerator 2 docks with the beam window 11 of the first treatment room. After the beam window 11 is opened, the particle accelerator 2 starts to emit a beam and shoots the particle beam 22 into the first treatment room through the beam window 11. The particle beam 22 is used for radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 in the first treatment room.
[0080] Specifically, the controller 51 controls the drive assembly 4 to move the particle accelerator 2 outside the first treatment room where the particle beam 22 is needed. The output end 21 of the particle accelerator 2 is aligned with the beam window 11 of the first treatment room. After the beam window 11 opens, the particle accelerator 2 begins to emit a beam, which is then directed through the beam window 11 into the treatment room 1 as part of the particle beam 22 (also called a beam stream). The particle beam 22 undergoes radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 within the first treatment room. That is, after passing through the treatment head 9, the particle beam 22 reaches the patient's treatment site within the first treatment room. Other treatment rooms 1 can perform treatment preparation processes that do not require the particle beam 22, such as patient positioning. The treatment head 9 can extend or retract (extend / retract) along the direction of approaching or moving away from the isocenter point 18.
[0081] Step S200: After the first treatment room completes radiotherapy, the particle accelerator 2 stops emitting beams. Then, the particle accelerator 2 moves outside the second treatment room where the particle beam 22 is needed and docks with the beam window 11 of the second treatment room before emitting beams again.
[0082] Specifically, after the first treatment room completes radiotherapy, the particle accelerator 2 stops emitting its beam. The controller 51 then controls the drive assembly 4 to move the particle accelerator 2 outside the second treatment room where the particle beam 22 is needed. The beam-emitting end 21 of the particle accelerator 2 is aligned with the beam window 11 of the second treatment room. The particle accelerator 2 then resumes emitting its beam, projecting the particle beam 22 into the second treatment room through the beam window 11. The particle beam 22 then delivers radiotherapy through the treatment head 9 within the second treatment room, meaning the particle beam 22 can reach the patient's treatment area within treatment room 1. The treatment head 9 can extend or retract (extend / retract) along the direction of approaching or moving away from the isocenter point 18.
[0083] In one specific embodiment, moving the particle accelerator 2 outside the treatment room 1 where the particle beam 22 is required can be achieved by the following method.
[0084] The particle accelerator 2 can be moved outside the treatment room 1 where the particle beam 22 is needed via the translation drive mechanism 41. Specifically, when the treatment room 1 is arranged in a single row or a single column, the translation drive mechanism 41 can drive the support platform 3 to move the particle accelerator 2 along the track 6 to the outside of the treatment room 1 where the particle beam 22 is needed, so that the beam output end 21 of the particle accelerator 2 is aligned with the beam window 11 of the treatment room 1.
[0085] The particle accelerator 2 can also be rotated outside the treatment chamber 1 where the particle beam 22 is needed via the rotary drive mechanism 42. Specifically, when the treatment chamber 1 surrounds the particle accelerator 2, the rotary drive mechanism 42 can drive the support platform 3 to rotate the particle accelerator 2 outside the treatment chamber 1 where the particle beam 22 is needed, and align the beam output end 21 of the particle accelerator 2 with the beam window 11 of the treatment chamber 1.
[0086] When the treatment room 1 is arranged in a single row (non-linear), a single column (non-linear), a double row or multiple rows, or a double column or multiple columns, the carrier platform 3 can be driven by the translation drive mechanism 41 and the rotation drive mechanism 42 to translate or rotate the particle accelerator 2 to the outside of the treatment room 1 where the particle beam 22 is required, so that the beam output end 21 of the particle accelerator 2 is aligned with the beam window 11 of the treatment room 1.
[0087] As a preferred method, the position of the particle accelerator 2 can be precisely adjusted in six degrees of freedom by adjusting the X-direction drive mechanism, Y-direction drive mechanism and Z-direction drive mechanism of the adjustment device 43, so that the particle accelerator 2 is precisely aligned with the beam window 11 of the treatment room 1, thereby ensuring that the particle beam 22 can be accurately injected into the treatment room 1.
[0088] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the invention without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, and all such changes should fall within the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.
Claims
1. A method for moving a particle accelerator, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: The particle accelerator is moved outside the first treatment room where the particle beam is needed. The particle accelerator is docked with the beam window of the first treatment room. After the beam window is opened, the particle accelerator begins to emit a beam and shoots the particle beam into the first treatment room through the beam window. The particle beam is used for radiotherapy through the treatment head in the first treatment room. After the first treatment room completes radiotherapy, the particle accelerator stops emitting the beam, then moves to the second treatment room that requires the particle beam and docks with the beam window of the second treatment room before starting to emit the beam again. The particle accelerator can be moved in one or more of the following ways: horizontal translation, vertical translation, horizontal rotation, and vertical rotation; and the particle accelerator is in a radiation-shielded space during its movement, and the first treatment room and the second treatment room are independent enclosed spaces. The particle accelerator is equipped with a scanning magnet, and no beam transmission line is provided on the beam movement path after the particle beam is drawn out from the particle accelerator.
2. The particle accelerator moving method according to claim 1, characterized in that, A method of moving the particle accelerator outside the treatment room where the particle beam is required includes: The device is moved outside the treatment room where the particle beam is required by a translation drive mechanism; and / or, The particle accelerator is rotated outside the treatment room where the particle beam is required via a rotary drive mechanism; and / or, The position of the particle accelerator is precisely adjusted in six degrees of freedom by adjusting the X-direction drive mechanism, Y-direction drive mechanism and Z-direction drive mechanism of the device, so that the particle accelerator is precisely aligned with the beam window of the treatment room.
3. A radiotherapy system, characterized in that, include: A multi-chamber particle therapy chamber, comprising: multiple treatment chambers, each of which is provided with an entrance and a beam window corresponding to the beam output end of a particle accelerator outside the treatment chamber, the beam window and the entrance being located on different sides of the treatment chamber; The treatment chamber does not contain a particle accelerator, nor does it contain a scanning magnet, a diode magnet, or a quadrupole magnet. The treatment chamber contains a treatment head corresponding to the beam window. The treatment chamber has an isocenter point. The beam window is configured to be closed but open at different times. The beam window is configured to open when the beam exit end of the particle accelerator moves to the position corresponding to the beam window. The treatment room includes a front wall, a rear wall, a left wall, and a right wall. The entrance is located between the front wall and the left wall. The beam window is separated from the entrance by a partition wall, which is connected to the left wall. The partition wall is separated from the right wall by a certain distance, forming an opening for the patient to pass through. The beam window is opened through the rear wall, and the treatment head is installed on the inner side of the rear wall. Along the direction in which the beam passes through the beam window, the projection of the isocenter point on the partition wall is located within the projection of the beam window on the partition wall. The treatment room also includes a support device for supporting the patient and moving the patient to the isocenter point so that the beam irradiates the patient in a predetermined direction. A particle accelerator is used to generate a particle beam. The particle accelerator is a single unit capable of moving to different treatment rooms and aligning with a beam window. The particle accelerator directs the particle beam into the treatment room through the beam window. The particle beam then passes through a treatment head within the treatment room for radiotherapy. The radiotherapy system does not have a diode or quadrupole magnet. The particle accelerator is located within a radiation-shielded space during its movement. The multiple treatment rooms are independent, enclosed spaces. A scanning magnet is installed on the particle accelerator. After the particle beam is drawn from the particle accelerator, there are no beam transmission lines along its path.
4. The radiotherapy system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The treatment head is designed to be retractable along the direction of the beam window.
5. The radiotherapy system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The treatment head is mounted and fixed on the rear wall. The treatment chamber does not have a rotating frame, and the beam output direction of the treatment head is fixed.
6. The radiotherapy system according to claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes a support platform, a drive assembly, and a control assembly. The control assembly includes a controller for controlling the drive assembly. The particle accelerator is disposed on the support platform. The drive assembly is used to drive the support platform to move, and the support platform is used to drive the particle accelerator to move.
7. The radiotherapy system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The drive assembly includes a translation drive mechanism for driving the support platform to translate, thereby translating the particle accelerator to different locations outside the treatment chamber; and / or The drive assembly further includes a rotary drive mechanism for driving the platform to rotate, thereby rotating the particle accelerator to different locations outside the treatment chamber.
8. The radiotherapy system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control component further includes a first position sensor connected to the translation drive mechanism and / or the rotation drive mechanism. The first position sensor is used to detect the rotational movement of the translation drive mechanism and / or the rotation drive mechanism to obtain the position information of the platform; and / or, The control component further includes a second position sensor, which is connected to the platform or the particle accelerator and is used to detect the position information of the platform or the particle accelerator.
9. The radiotherapy system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The drive assembly further includes an adjustment device disposed on the support platform. The adjustment device includes an X-direction drive mechanism, a Y-direction drive mechanism, and a Z-direction drive mechanism. The X-direction drive mechanism is used to drive the particle accelerator to translate along the X-axis and / or drive the particle accelerator to rotate around the X-axis. The Y-direction drive mechanism is used to drive the particle accelerator to translate along the Y-axis and / or drive the particle accelerator to rotate around the Y-axis. The Z-direction drive mechanism is used to drive the particle accelerator to translate along the Z-axis and / or drive the particle accelerator to rotate around the Z-axis. The X-direction, the Y-direction, and the Z-direction are perpendicular to each other.
10. The radiotherapy system according to claim 9, characterized in that, The control component also includes a third position sensor connected to the particle accelerator, which is used to detect the position information of the particle accelerator.
11. The radiotherapy system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The treatment room is equipped with a shielded door, which is used to close or open the beam window. The shielded door and the isocenter point are located on opposite sides of the beam window, respectively; and / or, A shielding door is provided on the support platform. The shielding door can move with the support platform. When the particle accelerator moves to the beam window of one of the treatment rooms, the shielding door is used to close the beam windows of the other treatment rooms.
12. The radiotherapy system according to claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes a track, on which the particle accelerator is disposed, and the particle accelerator moves through the track to different treatment rooms, the track extending in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the line connecting the centers of the beam windows.
13. The radiotherapy system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The particle accelerator is provided with a limiting device along its movement path to align with the beam window in the forward and backward direction. The limiting device is used to mark the movement position of the particle accelerator.