Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for therapeutically irradiating a chosen area using a diagnostic computer tomography scanner

US4998268A · kind A · utility

81Cited by
6References
27Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 9, 1989
Grant dateMar 5, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 9, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N2005/1098
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In combination with a diagnostic CT scanner using radiant energy for imaging, an apparatus for therapeutically irradiating a target, comprising a mask that partially attenuates the radiant energy passing therethrough, but transmits through an aperture sufficient radiant energy for imaging. The mask, intermediate the radiant energy source and the target, passes an unattenuated portion of the radiant energy to irradiate the target. The cross-sectional shape and spatial position of the mask aperture can be selectively varied. A post-mask is aligned with the mask aperture and attenuates the radiant energy passing therethrough to an energy level essentially uniform with that of the radiant energy passing through the mask to permit continued imaging during therapeutic irradiation of the target. A method of using the invention in combination with a diagnostic CT scanner using radiant energy for imaging is also provided.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.