JP5530967B2 - Radiation therapy tracking system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a moving body tracking apparatus for radiotherapy that tracks a moving body related to a treatment site by X-ray fluoroscopy in order to irradiate the treatment site with radiation.

  Conventionally, stereotactic radiotherapy of the head for the immobile head was first developed, and then the body was treated with radiation therapy assuming that the tumor at the treatment site did not move with the trunk fixed for the whole body Stereotactic radiotherapy for executives has been developed. However, when radiotherapy is performed in a state where the trunk is fixed for the whole body, physical and mental pains are imposed on the subject. Moreover, even if the trunk is fixed, the tumor at the treatment site does not always move and does not necessarily stay in place.

  Therefore, a marker is placed on the body surface of the subject, the marker placed on the body surface is tracked by utilizing the respiratory synchronization of the subject, and the treatment site is reached when it comes to a predetermined position by breathing (for example, expiratory period) In recent years, stereotactic radiotherapy has been developed in which radiation therapy is performed by irradiating the body with radiation. However, the movement of the marker placed on the body surface does not always match the movement of the tumor in the body.

  Therefore, a radiotherapy moving body tracking device has also been developed in recent years, in which a marker is embedded near a tumor in the body and the marker is tracked by X-ray fluoroscopy to track the tumor at the treatment site. In this moving body tracking device for radiotherapy, radiotherapy is performed by irradiating the treatment site with radiation when the marker reaches a predetermined position (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  A conventional radiotherapy moving body tracking apparatus includes an imaging system as X-ray fluoroscopy for tracking a moving body, and the imaging system includes an X-ray tube that emits X-rays and an X-ray detector that detects the X-rays ( For example, it comprises an image intensifier or a flat panel X-ray detector. When X-ray fluoroscopic imaging is performed at a desired position by moving the video system, a rail is laid and the video system is moved along the rail. For example, in an image system, an X-ray tube is mounted on a rail embedded under the floor, the X-ray tube is moved along the rail, and the X-ray detector is mounted on a rail laid on the ceiling surface. Then, the X-ray detector is moved along the rail. There is also an apparatus in which a rail and a circular movable pedestal are combined, an X-ray tube is placed on a rail laid under the floor, and a movable pedestal is placed on a ceiling surface to place an X-ray detector.

  A case where an X-ray tube is placed on a rail laid under the floor will be described as an example. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 6A and the front view of FIG. 6B, the X-ray tube T is placed on the rail R. A driving motor M (only shown in FIG. 6B) that drives the X-ray tube T along the rail R, and a moving mechanism 101 that supports the X-ray tube T and moves along the rail R by the driving motor M. I have. In addition, there is provided a rectilinear mechanism 102 (shown only in FIG. 6B) that converts drive rotation by the drive motor M into a rectilinear direction, and a moving mechanism 101 is interposed between the drive motor M and the rectilinear mechanism 102. The straight drive mechanism 102 converts the drive rotation by the drive motor M into a straight drive direction, and accordingly, the moving mechanism 101 moves along the rail R in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. When the moving mechanism 101 moves along the rail R, the X-ray tube T supported by the moving mechanism 101 is moved along the rail R.

Japanese Patent No. 3053389

  However, in the case of the structure shown in FIG. 6, since the moving mechanism 101 is bulky, for example, when the rail is embedded under the floor, it cannot be installed unless the depth of excavation under the floor is sufficient. There's a problem. Even if the rail is laid on the floor without being embedded under the floor, there is a problem that the bulk of the moving mechanism 101 increases the bulk of the X-ray tube T. Similarly, when an X-ray tube or an X-ray detector is mounted on a rail laid on the ceiling surface, the bulk of the X-ray tube or the X-ray detector increases due to the bulk of the moving mechanism.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, Comprising: It aims at providing the moving body tracking device for radiotherapy which can suppress the bulkiness of an imaging | video system.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention has the following configuration.
That is, the moving body tracking apparatus for radiotherapy according to the present invention is a moving body tracking apparatus for radiotherapy that tracks a moving body related to the treatment site by X-ray fluoroscopy in order to irradiate the treatment site with radiation. An X-ray tube that emits X-rays to perform fluoroscopic imaging, an image system that includes X-ray detection means for detecting the X-rays to perform X-ray fluoroscopic imaging, a rail, and the rail along the rail A driving unit that drives the video system; and a moving unit that supports the video system and moves along the rail by the driving unit. The moving unit is recessed between the rails toward the rail arrangement side. The image system is supported by the recessed portion.

  [Operation and Effect] According to the moving body tracking apparatus for radiotherapy according to the present invention, an image system comprising an X-ray tube and X-ray detection means, a rail, a drive means for driving the image system along the rail, and an image Moving means for supporting the system and moving along the rails by the driving means. Then, the moving means is recessed between the rails on the rail arrangement side, and the image system is supported by the recessed portion, so that the bulk of the moving means can be suppressed by the amount of depression between the rails. As a result, the bulkiness of the video system supported by the moving means can be suppressed.

  An example (the former) of the above-described invention is to place the video system on the above-described depressed portion and rail. The former can make the width of the rail narrower than the latter described later. Another example (the latter) of the above-described invention is to mount the video system only on the above-described recessed portion. The latter can further suppress the bulkiness of the video system than the former.

  In these inventions described above, it is more preferable that the moving means is recessed deeper than the rail arrangement side. By making it dent deeper than the rail arrangement side, the bulkiness of the moving means can be further suppressed, and as a result, the bulkiness of the video system supported by the moving means can be further suppressed.

  In these inventions described above, the rail is a rail for an X-ray tube, and the X-ray tube may be supported in a recessed portion. In this case, the bulkiness of the X-ray tube can be suppressed. In these inventions described above, the rail may be a rail for X-ray detection means, and the X-ray detection means may be supported in a recessed portion. In this case, the bulkiness of the X-ray detection means can be suppressed.

  According to the moving body tracking device for radiotherapy according to the present invention, the moving means is recessed between the rails on the rail arrangement side, and the image system is supported by the recessed portion, so that it is not recessed between the rails. As a result, the bulkiness of the moving means can be suppressed, and as a result, the bulkiness of the video system supported by the moving means can be suppressed.

It is the schematic of the moving body tracking device for radiotherapy which concerns on an Example, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a right view. It is the schematic when an X-ray tube is supported by the part and rail which hollowed the moving mechanism, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. It is the schematic when an X-ray tube is supported only to the part into which the moving mechanism was dented, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. It is a schematic front view with which it uses for description regarding the range of the hollow part, (a), (b) is a figure of the form hollowed in the back rather than the arrangement | positioning side of a rail, (c) is from the said range. It is a figure of the form which removed. It is the schematic when an X-ray detector is supported by the part and rail which hollowed the moving mechanism which concerns on a modification, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. It is the schematic when the conventional X-ray tube is supported, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a radiotherapy moving body tracking apparatus according to an embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the radiation therapy moving body tracking device includes an image system 2 (see the plan view of FIG. 1A) and is used in combination with the radiation therapy device 1. The radiation therapy apparatus 1 is a linear accelerator type called a linac or linac, or a particle beam apparatus type such as a proton beam or a carbon beam, and a radiation source 11 that irradiates a treatment site with radiation such as an X-ray or a particle beam. A gantry 12 having the radiation source 11 therein and rotatable in the direction shown in FIG. 1B around the y-axis center shown in FIG. 1C, and the floor or wall surface supporting the gantry 12 And a bed 14 on which a subject to be treated (not shown) is placed. The bed 14 includes a lifting platform 14A that can be moved up and down in the vertical direction, and a top plate 14B that can slide in the horizontal direction with respect to the lifting platform 14A and on which the subject is placed. The video system 2 corresponds to the video system in the present invention.

  As shown in the plan view of FIG. 1A, the video system 2 detects an X-ray tube 21 for irradiating X-rays for performing X-ray fluoroscopic imaging, and X-rays for performing X-ray fluoroscopic imaging. And an X-ray detector 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the X-ray tube 21 irradiates X-rays toward the tumor center corresponding to the treatment isocenter, and the X-ray detector 22 detects X-rays passing from the isocenter. The X-ray detector 22 is not particularly limited as long as it is a commonly used detector, as exemplified by an image intensifier, a flat panel X-ray detector, and the like. The X-ray tube 21 corresponds to the X-ray tube in the present invention, and the X-ray detector 22 corresponds to the X-ray detection means in the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, two sets of video systems 2 (see the plan view of FIG. 1A) are provided. Specifically, two X-ray tubes 21 and two X-ray detectors 22 are provided. The number of sets of the video system 2 is not particularly limited.

  In addition, the radiation therapy moving body tracking device includes a rail 31 embedded and laid under the floor. The X-ray tube 21 is moved along the rail 31. The radiation therapy moving body tracking apparatus includes a movable base 41 having a circular shape (see the plan view of FIG. 1A) disposed on the ceiling surface. The X-ray detector 22 is placed on the movable base 41 and moved. The rail 31 corresponds to the rail in the present invention, and also corresponds to the rail for the X-ray tube in the present invention.

  Next, a specific structure around the rail will be described with reference to FIG. 2 or FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic view when the X-ray tube is supported by the portion where the moving mechanism is recessed and the rail, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view when the X-ray tube is supported only by the portion where the moving mechanism is recessed. It is.

  First, FIG. 2 will be described. Similar to the conventional FIG. 6, the X-ray tube 21 is placed on the rail 31 as shown in the plan view of FIG. 2A and the front view of FIG. A drive motor 32 that drives the X-ray tube 21 along the rail 31 (only FIG. 2B is shown), and a moving mechanism 33 that supports the X-ray tube 21 and moves along the rail 31 by the drive motor 32. I have. In addition, a rectilinear mechanism 34 (only shown in FIG. 2B) that converts driving rotation by the drive motor 32 into a rectilinear direction is provided, and a moving mechanism 33 is interposed between the drive motor 32 and the rectilinear mechanism 34. The specific structure of the rectilinear mechanism 34 is not particularly limited, and may be constituted by a gear, pulley, belt (not shown) or the like fitted to the drive motor 32. The driving motor 32 corresponds to the driving means in the present invention, and the moving mechanism 33 corresponds to the moving means in the present invention.

  The straight drive mechanism 34 converts the drive rotation by the drive motor 33 into the straight drive direction, and accordingly, the moving mechanism 33 moves along the rail 31 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. When the moving mechanism 33 moves along the rail 31, the X-ray tube 21 supported by the moving mechanism 33 is moved along the rail 31.

  The description of the structure and driving up to this point is the same as in FIG. In FIG. 2, the moving mechanism 33 is recessed between the rails 31 on the rail 31 arrangement side. Reference numeral 33A is attached to the recessed portion as shown in FIG. The X-ray tube 21 is supported by the recessed portion 33A.

  3, similarly to FIG. 2, the moving mechanism 33 is recessed between the rails 31 on the rail 31 arrangement side, and the X-ray tube 21 is supported by the recessed portion 33 </ b> A. 2 shows the structure when the X-ray tube 21 is supported by the portion 33A and the rail 31 where the moving mechanism 33 is recessed. In FIG. 3, the X-ray tube 21 is only attached to the portion 33A where the moving mechanism 33 is recessed. This is the structure when supported. Any one of the structures shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be adopted depending on the situation of the room to be arranged.

  Next, a specific range of the recessed portion 33A will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view for explaining the range of the recessed portion. FIG. 4 is a diagram of a form in which when the X-ray tube 21 is supported only by the recessed portion 33A as shown in FIG. 3, the recessed portion 33A is recessed deeper than the arrangement side of the rail 31. is there.

  Although depending on the size of the tube of the X-ray tube 21, when the tube has a diameter of about 10 cm to 20 cm, the depressed portion 33 A and the rail, for example, as shown in FIG. When the X-ray tube 21 is supported by 31, the distance is about 4 cm. On the other hand, for example, when the X-ray tube 21 is supported only in the recessed portion 33A as shown in FIG. 3, it is recessed deeper than the arrangement side of the rail 31 as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). The recessed portion 33A has a range up to about the diameter of the tube (here, 10 cm to 20 cm).

  4A, the drive motor 32 is disposed on the rectilinear mechanism 34 with the moving mechanism 33 interposed between the drive motor 32 and the rectilinear mechanism 34 as in FIG. At this time, the upper limit of the bulkiness indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4A is the upper limit of the height of the X-ray tube 21 or the drive motor 32. On the other hand, when the drive motor 32 is disposed under the straight advance mechanism 34, the upper surface of the tube of the X-ray tube 21 and the upper surface of the rail 31 are substantially the same height as shown in FIG. As described above, the recessed portion 33A can be recessed deeper than the arrangement side of the rail 31. Therefore, the moving mechanism 33 can be recessed so that the recessed portion 33A is in a range about the diameter of the tube.

  On the other hand, when the upper surface of the tube of the X-ray tube 21 becomes lower than the upper surface of the rail 31, as shown in FIG. 4C, the arrow in FIG. As shown, the overall bulkiness becomes higher. For the above reason, as for the range of the recessed portion 33A, the range up to the diameter of the tube as shown in FIG. 4 (a) and FIG. 4 (b) is appropriate, as shown in FIG. 4 (c). Then, it is out of the range and cannot be said to be appropriate.

  FIG. 4 is a view of a form in which the recessed portion 33A is recessed deeper than the arrangement side of the rail 31 when the X-ray tube 21 is supported only by the recessed portion 33A as shown in FIG. When the step of the X-ray tube 21 is larger than the height of the rail 31, even when the X-ray tube 21 is supported by the recessed portion 33A and the rail 31 as shown in FIG. It is possible to dent deeper than the arrangement side.

  According to the radiation therapy moving body tracking apparatus according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the rail 31, the drive motor 32 that drives the X-ray tube 21 of the imaging system 2 along the rail 31, and the X-ray tube 21. And a moving mechanism 33 that moves along the rail 31 by the drive motor 32. Then, the moving mechanism 33 is recessed between the rails 31 on the side where the rails 31 are arranged, and the X-ray tube 21 is supported by the recessed portion 33A. The bulkiness of the X-ray tube 21 supported by the moving mechanism 33 can be restrained.

  In FIG. 2, the X-ray tube 21 is placed on the portion 33 </ b> A and the rail 31 where the moving mechanism 33 is recessed. The width of the rail 31 can be made narrower in FIG. 2 than in FIG. In FIG. 3, the X-ray tube 21 is mounted only on the portion 33A where the moving mechanism 33 is recessed. 3 can further suppress the bulkiness of the X-ray tube 21 than FIG. 2.

  As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, it is more preferable that the moving mechanism 33 is recessed deeper than the arrangement side of the rail 31. By making it dent in the back rather than the arrangement | positioning side of the rail 31, the bulkiness of the moving mechanism 33 can be suppressed further, As a result, the bulkiness of the X-ray tube 21 supported by the moving mechanism 33 can be suppressed further. it can.

  In this embodiment, the rail is a rail 31 for the X-ray tube 21, and the X-ray tube 21 is supported by the recessed portion 33 </ b> A. In this case, the bulkiness of the X-ray tube 21 can be suppressed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as follows.

  (1) In the embodiment described above, the rail is the rail 31 for the X-ray tube 21 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the X-ray tube 21 is supported by the recessed portion 33A. The video system 2 is not limited to the X-ray tube 21. For example, the rail is a rail 42 for the X-ray detector 22 shown in FIG. 5, and the X-ray detector 22 (in FIG. 5, the X-ray detector 22 is a flat panel X-ray detector) in the recessed portion 33A. The case may be supported). Further, as in the case of the X-ray tube 21 in FIG. 2, the X-ray detector 22 may be placed on the recessed portion 33 </ b> A and the rail 42, or as in the case of the X-ray tube 21 in FIG. 3, The X-ray detector 22 may be placed only on the recessed portion 33A. Thereby, the bulkiness of the X-ray detector 22 can be suppressed, and the X-ray detector 22 can be disposed even when the height of the ceiling surface is low as shown in FIG. Also in the X-ray detector 22, as shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the moving mechanism 33 may be recessed deeper than the arrangement side of the rail. In the modification (1), the rail 42 corresponds to the rail in the present invention, and also corresponds to the rail for the X-ray detection means in the present invention.

  (2) In the embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the rail 31 is used to move the X-ray tube 21 and the movable base 41 is used to move the X-ray detector 22. Both the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector may use rails to move the X-ray detector by moving the X-ray tube. In that case, the moving mechanism may be recessed on the X-ray detector side as in the modified example (1) described above, or the X-ray tube is not recessed on the X-ray detector side. Only the moving mechanism may be recessed. Further, when the moving mechanism is depressed on the X-ray detector as in the above-described modification (1), the moving mechanism is not depressed on the X-ray tube, and only the X-ray detector is depressed. May be. Conversely, a rail may be used to move the X-ray detector, and a movable pedestal may be used to move the X-ray tube.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the X-ray tube is disposed on the floor side and the X-ray detector is disposed on the ceiling surface. Conversely, the X-ray detector is disposed on the floor side, and the X-ray tube is disposed on the ceiling surface. You may arrange. In that case, the above-described modification (1) or modification (2) may be applied.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the rail is a U-shaped rail composed of two linear rails arranged opposite to each other and a curved rail connected to them. The shape of the rail is not particularly limited. A linear rail may be sufficient and an arc-shaped rail may be sufficient.

2 ... Video system 21 ... X-ray tube 22 ... X-ray detector 31, 42 ... Rail 32 ... Drive motor 33 ... Moving mechanism 33A ... Recessed part

Claims (6)

In order to irradiate a treatment site with radiation, a moving body tracking device for radiotherapy that tracks a moving body related to the treatment site by fluoroscopy,
An image system comprising an X-ray tube that emits X-rays for performing the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging, and an X-ray detection means for detecting the X-rays for performing the X-ray fluoroscopic imaging;
Rails,
Driving means for driving the video system along the rail;
Moving means for supporting the video system and moving along the rail by the driving means,
A moving body tracking apparatus for radiation therapy, wherein the moving means is recessed between the rails toward the rail arrangement side, and the imaging system is supported in the recessed portion. The moving body tracking device for radiotherapy according to claim 1,
A moving body tracking apparatus for radiation therapy, wherein the imaging system is placed on the recessed portion and the rail. The moving body tracking device for radiotherapy according to claim 1,
A moving body tracking apparatus for radiation therapy, wherein the image system is placed only on the recessed portion. In the moving body tracking device for radiotherapy according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A moving body tracking apparatus for radiation therapy, wherein the moving means is recessed deeper than the rail arrangement side. In the radiotherapy moving body tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The rail is a rail for an X-ray tube,
The radiotherapy moving body tracking device, wherein the X-ray tube is supported by the recessed portion. In the radiotherapy moving body tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The rail is a rail for X-ray detection means,
The X-ray detection means is supported by the depressed portion. A moving body tracking apparatus for radiotherapy.

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