Radiotherapy machine including magnetic resonance imaging system
US6198957A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2005/1063
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A radiotherapy machine beam treats a region of a subject while the region and volumes abutting the region are imaged by a magnetic resonance imaging system. The beam and an excitation coil assembly of the imaging system are arranged so the beam is not incident on the coil assembly and magnetic fields derived from the coil assembly do not interact with the beam. The excitation coil assembly includes two spaced winding segments for producing a main DC magnetic field; the segments are located on opposite sides of the region. In one embodiment, wherein the excitation coil assembly is mounted independently of movement of an axis of the beam, the winding segments have a common axis generally aligned with an axis about which the beam axis turns. A treatment couch for the subject fits within aligned central openings of the winding segments. The coil produces main magnetic field lines that extend generally in the same direction as the axis about which the beam turns. In other embodiments, the coil assembly moves with the beam axis and the treatment couch is between the coil segments. In one such embodiment, each winding segment includes a central opening (1) through which the beam axis exte…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.