Method for microbeam radiation therapy
US5339347A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 27, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 16, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 27, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2005/1091
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of performing radiation therapy on a patient, involving exposing a target, usually a tumor, to a therapeutic dose of high energy electromagnetic radiation, preferably X-ray radiation, in the form of at least two non-overlapping microbeams of radiation, each microbeam having a width of less than about 1 millimeter. Target tissue exposed to the microbeams receives a radiation dose during the exposure that exceeds the maximum dose that such tissue can survive. Non-target tissue between the microbeams receives a dose of radiation below the threshold amount of radiation that can be survived by the tissue, and thereby permits the non-target tissue to regenerate. The microbeams may be directed at the target from one direction, or from more than one direction in which case the microbeams overlap within the target tissue enhancing the lethal effect of the irradiation while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.