Radiation therapy patient couch top compatible with diagnostic imaging
US9179880B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 2006 |
| Grant date | Nov 10, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2005/1097
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A radiation therapy patient couch top which provides optimal fields of treatment in a high-energy radiation therapy environment. In addition, the patient couch top provides superior imaging qualities when used in a diagnostic imaging x-ray environment. All metal is eliminated from the treatment/imaging area. This ensures that no metal will be in the way of the radiation treatment beam and that no artifacting will occur when used with diagnostic imaging techniques such as Computed Tomography. By employing moveable fiber reinforced support beams, the main patient support structure can be positioned so that a minimum of electron generation will occur through Compton scattering. By allowing for a removable insert, the top patient surface can be optimized for treatment, diagnostic imaging or the addition of other useful features. The novel design of these inserts allows the tip end of the beams to be free from any cross members, further improving the imaging and treatment qualities of the resulting patient couch top. Further, a CT simulator insert is provided which provides the same dosimetric properties for the patient couchtop and devices during patient treatment planning.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.