Radiotherapy device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a radiotherapy device. The radiotherapy device comprises a treatment head, a gantry for driving the treatment head to rotate along a first direction, an arc guide rail arranged on the gantry for carrying the treatment head to reciprocate along a second direction, the second direction being parallel to a rotation center axis of the gantry, and a swing angle driving device arranged on the gantry along the second direction and connected with the treatment head for driving the treatment head to swing along the arc guide rail. Thus, the space position of the gantry of the radiotherapy device in the circumferential direction can be released, so that other components required by the radiotherapy device can be arranged in the circumferential direction, and the space structure is optimized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular, to radiotherapy equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Radiation therapy (RT) is one of the main methods for treating tumors. During RT, high-energy rays (such as X-rays) are generated using radiation therapy equipment to precisely irradiate the target area within the body of the patient.

[0003] To achieve high-precision radiotherapy, the treatment head of the radiotherapy equipment needs to irradiate at different angles. By swinging the treatment head at different angles, combined with the rotation of the gantry, non-coplanar multi-angle irradiation can be achieved, making the high-dose area spatially highly consistent with the shape of the target area, while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

[0004] In radiotherapy equipment of this technology, a swing angle drive device is installed on the gantry to drive the swing angle of the treatment head. However, the swing angle drive devices are all arranged in the circumferential direction of the gantry, occupying the space of the gantry in that direction. Therefore, the circumferential space of the radiotherapy equipment is crowded, resulting in insufficient space to arrange other components or equipment. Utility Model Content

[0005] This section provides a general overview of this disclosure, rather than a full disclosure of the entire scope or all features of this disclosure.

[0006] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a radiotherapy device is provided. The radiotherapy device includes a treatment head, a gantry, an arc-shaped guide rail, and a swing-angle drive device. The gantry is used to drive the treatment head to rotate along a first direction. The arc-shaped guide rail is disposed on the gantry and is used to support the reciprocating motion of the treatment head along a second direction, the second direction being parallel to the rotational central axis of the gantry. The swing-angle drive device is disposed on the gantry along the second direction and connected to the treatment head, for driving the treatment head to swing along the arc-shaped guide rail.

[0007] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a radiotherapy device is also provided. The radiotherapy device includes a treatment head, a gantry, an arc-shaped guide rail, and a swing angle drive device. The gantry is used to drive the treatment head to rotate along a first direction. The arc-shaped guide rail is disposed on the gantry and is used to support the reciprocating motion of the treatment head along a second direction, the second direction being parallel to the rotational central axis of the gantry. The swing angle drive device includes a linear drive assembly and a connecting rod. The linear drive assembly is arranged along the second direction and includes a moving member capable of linear motion along the second direction. One end of the connecting rod is hinged to the moving member, and the other end is hinged to the treatment head.

[0008] In the technical solution provided by the embodiments of this disclosure, by arranging the swing angle drive device in a direction parallel to the rotation center axis of the gantry, the space of the gantry in its circumferential direction is effectively released, so that other components required for the radiotherapy equipment can be arranged in the circumferential direction, thus optimizing the spatial structure. Attached Figure Description

[0009] The features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become more readily understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not drawn to scale and some features may be enlarged or reduced to show details of specific components. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a radiotherapy device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the tilting drive device of a radiotherapy equipment, wherein the tilting drive device is connected to the treatment head supported on the gantry.

[0011] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Another schematic diagram of the swing angle drive device.

[0012] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A front view of the tilting drive device of the radiotherapy equipment, which shows the layout of the cross imaging system.

[0013] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the swing angle drive device in its initial position.

[0014] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the swing angle drive device in the swing angle position.

[0015] In the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding technical features or components are represented by the same or corresponding reference numerals. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and exemplary embodiments. It should be noted that the following detailed description of the present disclosure is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0017] It should be noted that, for clarity, not all features of a particular embodiment are described or shown in the specification and drawings. Furthermore, to avoid unnecessary details obscuring the technical solutions of interest in this disclosure, only the device structure closely related to the technical solutions of this disclosure is described and shown in the specification and drawings, while other details that are not closely related to the technical content of this disclosure and are known to those skilled in the art are omitted.

[0018] In radiotherapy equipment of related technologies, the tilting drive is arranged in the circumferential direction of the gantry (i.e., the direction of gantry rotation, hereinafter referred to as the first direction). However, this layout has serious space constraints.

[0019] Specifically, modern precision radiotherapy can achieve sub-millimeter-level irradiation accuracy in complex anatomical areas such as the skull base and spine. To achieve this accuracy, real-time image guidance must be used during radiotherapy to correct for target displacement caused by the patient's breathing, organ movement, or involuntary movements.

[0020] Typically, a cross-image system is used to achieve this high-precision real-time guidance. However, the ideal mounting position of the imaging device in a cross-image system, so that it can image around the treatment isocenter (i.e., the focal point of the treatment head), is precisely in the first direction of the gantry. Since the tilting drive already occupies space in the first direction of the gantry, the cross-image system cannot be placed in that space. Moreover, it is understandable that the tilting drive's occupation of space in the first direction of the gantry also prevents other components or devices required for radiotherapy from being placed in that space as well.

[0021] In view of this, a radiotherapy device is provided according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The following will refer to... Figures 1 to 6 The radiotherapy equipment 100 is described in detail.

[0022] First, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The radiotherapy equipment 100 includes a treatment head 120 and a gantry 140.

[0023] The treatment head 120 internally houses a radiation source and is equipped with a source assembly and a collimation assembly. The source assembly generates radiation rays S (e.g., high-energy X-rays, see...). Figures 4 to 6 The collimation component is used to conform the beam emitted by the source component to the shape of the target area, thereby preventing radiation damage to healthy tissue around the target area.

[0024] The frame 140 may have, for example, a ring-shaped or C-shaped structure. A ring-shaped frame, for example, is a roller, on which the treatment head 120 is carried. The following description uses a roller-shaped frame 140 as an example. (Refer to...) Figure 1 The gantry 140 is rotatable about its rotational axis L to drive the treatment head 120 to rotate along a first direction V1. Here, the first direction V1 is the circumferential direction in which the gantry 140 drives the treatment head 120 to rotate about its rotational axis L.

[0025] Reference Figure 3 The radiotherapy equipment 100 also includes an arc-shaped guide rail 160.

[0026] The arc-shaped guide rail 160 is disposed on the frame 140 (e.g., fixed to the structural surface 142 of the frame 140) for carrying the treatment head 120 along the second direction V2 (see Figure 1 The machine moves in a reciprocating motion, with the second direction V2 parallel to the rotation center axis L of the frame 140.

[0027] For example, such as Figure 3 As shown, the treatment head 120 can be mounted on the arc guide rail 160 via components such as the slider 162, so that it can reciprocate along the arc guide rail 160. This reciprocating motion enables the treatment head 120 to achieve the "swing angle" function required in radiotherapy.

[0028] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the radiotherapy device 100 also includes a swing angle drive device 200.

[0029] An angle-swing drive device 200 is disposed on the frame 140 along the second direction V2, and the angle-swing drive device 200 is connected to the treatment head 120 for driving the treatment head 120 to swing along the arc guide rail 160.

[0030] By arranging the oscillation drive 200 along a second direction V2 parallel to the rotation center axis L of the gantry 140, space in the first direction V1 of the gantry 140 is effectively freed up. This frees up space in the first direction (i.e., circumferential space) of the radiotherapy equipment, optimizing the spatial structure and facilitating the installation of other necessary components on the radiotherapy equipment, such as an imaging system to guide part or all of the radiotherapy process.

[0031] Reference Figure 4 The structure of the radiotherapy device 100 is schematically shown from the front (i.e., when viewed along the second direction V2).

[0032] It is conceivable that the radiotherapy equipment 100 may also include a cross-image system 300. Cross-image systems have more components, therefore generally requiring more installation space.

[0033] As discussed earlier, since the space in the first direction V1 of the rack 140 has been freed up, the cross imaging system 300 can be mounted on the rack 140 along the first direction V1.

[0034] It is conceivable that the cross-image system 300 may include at least two imaging devices. For example, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the cross imaging system 300 includes a first imaging device 320 and a second imaging device 340.

[0035] Each imaging device may include at least one set of X-ray tubes and detectors. For example, such as... Figure 4As shown, the first imaging device 320 includes a first X-ray tube 322 and a first detector 324; and the second imaging device 340 includes a second X-ray tube 342 and a second detector 344. Figure 4 The image shows a first X-ray tube 322, a first detector 324, a second X-ray tube 342, and a second detector 344 arranged on a first direction V1 of a frame 140.

[0036] The X-ray tube emits imaging rays, such as X-rays, which penetrate the target area within the body of the patient being treated. A detector, located on the opposite side of the tube, receives the rays passing through the target area and converts them into digital image signals. Through the coordinated action of the tube and detector, real-time imaging and tracking of the target area are possible.

[0037] In order to achieve high-precision image guidance, the intersection of the beam center axes of at least two imaging tubes (e.g., the first tube 322 and the second tube 342) coincides with the treatment isocenter O of the radiotherapy device 100.

[0038] By aligning the beam center axes of each X-ray tube with the treatment isocenter O, the three-dimensional spatial error of the target area within the body of the patient to be radiotreated relative to the treatment isocenter O can be accurately determined by taking at least two sets (e.g., orthogonal) images, thereby effectively improving the guidance accuracy of the cross-image system 300 during radiotherapy.

[0039] It is understood that the cross-image system 300 may also take any other suitable form, and this disclosure does not limit it.

[0040] Below, we will refer to again Figure 2 and Figure 3 and in conjunction with reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 The specific structure of the swing angle drive device 200 is described in detail.

[0041] The swing angle drive device 200 includes a linear drive assembly 220 and a connecting rod 240.

[0042] The linear drive assembly 220 is arranged along a second direction V2, and includes a moving member 222 capable of linear motion along the second direction V2. The link 240 is typically rigid. One end of the link 240 is hinged to the moving member 222, and the other end of the link 240 is hinged to the treatment head 120.

[0043] A hinge is a connection method that allows relative rotation between components, such as through ball joints, pin connections, or universal joints. In this embodiment, since the moving part 222 performs linear motion while the treatment head 120 performs circular motion, a hinge is used to allow the connecting rod 240 to change its own angle while transmitting power, thereby preventing mechanical interference or jamming.

[0044] In this manner, when the linear drive assembly 220 drives its moving part 222 to move linearly along the second direction V2 (e.g., the moving part 222 moves from...), Figure 5 Move to position in state Figure 6 (in the state of position), the linear motion is transmitted through the push and pull of the connecting rod 240 and converted into the arc swing motion of the treatment head 120 around the center of the arc guide rail 160, thereby realizing the swing angle of the treatment head.

[0045] In some implementations, such as Figure 3 as well as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the linear drive assembly 220 may further include a linear guide 224, on which the moving part 222 is slidably mounted. This ensures that the moving part 222 can perform linear motion with high precision.

[0046] like Figure 3 As shown, the moving component 222 may include, for example, a linear guide slider 2222, which is slidably mounted on the linear guide 224. The linear guide 224 and the linear guide slider 2222 may be, for example, high-precision mechanical standard parts, coupled by balls or rollers to achieve low-friction, high-rigidity linear motion. Because the linear guide slider 2222 is precisely constrained on the linear guide 224 and can only move along the extension direction of the linear guide 224, it can resist lateral forces from the connecting rod 240 (i.e., the component force perpendicular to the second direction V2), enabling the moving component 222 to perform linear motion with high precision.

[0047] It can be envisioned that the extension direction of the linear guide 224 (i.e., the direction of the motion trajectory of the linear guide slider 2222) is parallel to the second direction V2.

[0048] In this way, the coincidence between the movement direction of the moving part 222 and the second direction V2 can be improved, thereby improving the accuracy of the swing angle movement trajectory of the treatment head 120 along the second direction V2.

[0049] In some implementations, such as Figure 2 as well as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the swing angle drive device 200 also includes a swing angle mechanism mounting base 260, which is fixed to the frame 140, and the linear guide rail 224 is fixed to the swing angle mechanism mounting base 260.

[0050] The swing mechanism mounting base 260 serves as a rigid base, providing a mounting reference for other components of the swing drive device 200 to improve the overall structural stability of the device. Furthermore, by way of example, the aforementioned fixing can be achieved, for example, by bolts, welding, or as an integrally formed part of the frame 140.

[0051] By fixing the linear guide 224 to the swing mechanism mounting base 260, the stability of the position of the linear guide 224 relative to the frame 100 can be improved, thereby improving the accuracy of the motion trajectory of the moving part 222.

[0052] In some implementations, such as Figure 3 As can be clearly observed, the linear drive assembly 220 may include a power unit 226, a lead screw 228, a nut 221, and a nut seat (as a moving part) 222.

[0053] The power unit 226 may be, for example, a servo motor, a stepper motor, or other rotary motor, to provide controllable rotational power. The lead screw 228 is a precision transmission component with external threads on its surface. The lead screw 228 is connected to the power unit 226. The nut 221 has internal threads that match those of the lead screw 228 and engages with the external threads of the lead screw 228. The nut seat 222, as the aforementioned moving part, is connected to the nut 221 and may be mounted on the linear guide 224, for example, via a linear guide slider 2222.

[0054] In this manner, the power unit 226 can drive the lead screw 228 to rotate. Since the nut seat 222 is restricted in its rotational freedom by the linear guide 224 through the linear guide slider 2222 and can only move linearly, the rotational motion of the lead screw 228 is converted into linear motion of the nut 221 and the nut seat 222 along the axis of the lead screw 228 (i.e., the second direction V2). This lead screw and nut transmission method can improve the smoothness and accuracy of the transmission, thereby improving the smoothness and accuracy of the swing angle motion of the treatment head 120.

[0055] It is understood that the linear drive assembly 220 can also be any other structure capable of providing controlled linear motion in the second direction V2, such as a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, a rack and pinion mechanism, etc. This disclosure does not limit this.

[0056] It is conceivable that, in the case where the linear drive assembly 220 uses the aforementioned lead screw and nut transmission method, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the swing angle drive device 200 may also include a shaft end bracket 280, which is fixed to the frame 140. One end of the lead screw 228 is connected to the power device 226, and the other end is hinged to the shaft end bracket 280.

[0057] For example, the shaft end bracket 280 may have a bearing installed inside it, and the other end of the lead screw 228 may be mounted in the bearing to achieve hinge connection with the other end of the lead screw 228.

[0058] By hinged to the other end of the lead screw 228 with the shaft end bracket 280, the lead screw 228 can be allowed to rotate freely about its own axis, while providing rotational support for the lead screw 228. This prevents the lead screw 228 from vibrating or bending during rotation.

[0059] It is understood that the radiotherapy device 100 may also include a radiotherapy bed (not shown).

[0060] The radiotherapy table is used to support the patient to be radiotreated. In precision radiotherapy, the radiotherapy table itself can also be a high-precision electromechanical device, which typically has multiple degrees of freedom of motion (e.g., translational motion along three mutually orthogonal axes, and rotational motion about one or more of these three axes) to cooperate with the movement of the gantry 140 and the treatment head 120, as well as the guidance of the cross imaging system 300, to achieve precise alignment and irradiation of the target area within the patient's body.

[0061] The following is a detailed description of the oscillation process of the treatment head 120 of the radiotherapy device 100, by way of example.

[0062] When angled treatment is required (i.e., to achieve...) Figures 5 to 6 (Due to changes in the state), the control system (not shown) of the radiotherapy device 100 sends a command to the swing angle drive 200. The control system commands the power unit 226 to start and rotate according to predetermined parameters (e.g., a predetermined degree of rotation or a predetermined number of rotations).

[0063] The rotation of the power unit 226 is transmitted to the lead screw 228, driving the lead screw 228 to rotate. The rotation of the lead screw 228 then acts on the nut 221 through the threaded engagement between the lead screw 228 and the nut 221. Since the nut 221 is fixed on the nut seat 222, and the linear guide slider 2222 of the nut seat 222 is restricted by the linear guide 224, the nut seat 222 cannot rotate with the lead screw 228 and can only move linearly along the second direction V2. Thus, the rotational motion of the lead screw 228 is converted into the linear motion of the nut seat 222 along the linear guide 224.

[0064] The linear motion of the nut seat 222, through its hinge point with the connecting rod 240, pushes or pulls one end of the connecting rod 240. The other end of the connecting rod 240, through its hinge point with the treatment head 120, applies a pushing or pulling force to the treatment head 120. The treatment head 120 itself is constrained on the arc guide rail 160 by the arc guide rail slider 162, and can only perform arc motion. Ultimately, the pushing or pulling force of the connecting rod 240 drives the treatment head 120 to move along the arc guide rail 160 to achieve a swing angle.

[0065] In this disclosure, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used merely for descriptive purposes and should not be considered restrictive. Furthermore, although this disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described and shown herein. Various changes to the exemplary embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope defined by the claims of this disclosure.

[0066] The features mentioned and / or shown in the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of this disclosure may be combined in the same or similar manner with one or more other embodiments, combined with features in other embodiments, or substituted for corresponding features in other embodiments. Such combinations or substitutions should also be considered as including within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A radiotherapy device, characterized in that, include: Treatment head; The frame is used to drive the treatment head to rotate along the first direction; An arc-shaped guide rail is provided on the frame to support the reciprocating motion of the treatment head along a second direction, which is parallel to the rotation center axis of the frame. as well as An oscillation drive device is disposed on the frame along the second direction and connected to the treatment head, for driving the treatment head to oscillate along the arc guide rail.

2. The radiotherapy device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a cross-viewing system, which is mounted on the rack along the first direction; The cross imaging system includes at least two imaging devices, each comprising at least one set of X-ray tubes and detectors, wherein the intersection of the beam center axes of the X-ray tubes of the at least two imaging devices coincides with the treatment isocenter of the radiotherapy equipment.

3. The radiotherapy device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The swing angle driving device includes: A linear drive assembly, arranged along the second direction, includes a moving member capable of linear motion along the second direction; and A connecting rod, one end of which is hinged to the moving part and the other end of which is hinged to the treatment head.

4. The radiotherapy device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The linear drive assembly further includes a linear guide rail, on which the moving part is slidably mounted.

5. The radiotherapy device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The extension direction of the linear guide is parallel to the second direction.

6. The radiotherapy device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The swing angle drive device further includes a swing angle mechanism mounting base, which is fixed to the frame, and the linear guide rail is fixed to the swing angle mechanism mounting base.

7. The radiotherapy device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The linear drive component also includes: Power unit; The lead screw is connected to the power unit; Nut, which engages with the lead screw thread; and Nut seat, connected to the nut and serving as the moving part.

8. The radiotherapy device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The swing angle drive device also includes a shaft end bracket, which is fixed to the frame. One end of the lead screw is connected to the power device, and the other end is hinged to the shaft end bracket.

9. The radiotherapy device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes radiotherapy beds.

10. A radiotherapy device, characterized in that, include: Treatment head; The frame is used to drive the treatment head to rotate along the first direction; An arc-shaped guide rail is provided on the frame to support the reciprocating motion of the treatment head along a second direction, which is parallel to the rotation center axis of the frame. as well as The swing angle drive device includes: A linear drive assembly, arranged along the second direction, and including a moving element capable of linear motion along the second direction; as well as A connecting rod, one end of which is hinged to the moving part and the other end of which is hinged to the treatment head.

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