JPH10234874A - Particle beam treatment system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a false radiation to a patient from generating when a fitting mistake of a patient bolus or a patient collimator occurs for a particle beam treatment system using particle beam which are accelerated to a high energy. SOLUTION: A particle beam being accelerated to a high energy by an accelerator 1, is taken into a particle beam treatment device 4, and the particle beam is cast on a patient 3 from the treatment device 4 through a patient bolus 4j and a patient collimator 4k which adjust the energy distribution and the radiation range of the particle beam which is formed particuliarly to the patient 3 and transmits, an identification mark which is specific to an applicable treatment is added to the bolus 4j and the collimator, 4k, and at the same time, the identification mark of the bolus 4j and the collimator 4k being fitted on the radiation device 4 is read, and when the identification mark is judged to be correct, the entering of the particle beam to the radiation device 4 from the accelerator 1 is allowed. By this method, when a wrong bolus, collimator are fitted, the radiation of the particle beam to the patient becomes impossible, and the false radiation can be avoided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a particle beam therapy system for treating an affected part of a patient using a particle beam accelerated to high energy, and more particularly, to a system for preventing erroneous irradiation of a patient using an inappropriate particle beam. The present invention relates to a particle beam therapy system provided with a suitable safety device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a system for treating an affected part of a patient using a particle beam accelerated to high energy, for example, Nuclear Energy Industry Vol. 40, No. 11, p.
There is a system described in "MAC and Clinical Trials".
When treating an affected part of a patient with such a treatment system, irradiation of a particle beam is performed in the following procedure.

(1) The position, size, etc. of an affected part in a patient's body are identified by a diagnostic device.

(2) The result of the diagnosis is sent to a treatment planning device via an information network or an image network, where the treatment plan such as the irradiation direction, irradiation field, and dose distribution of the particle beam to the diseased part, and the shape of the diseased part peculiar to the patient The processing data of the patient bolus / patient collimator according to is determined.

(3) The determined processing data is sent to a patient bolus / patient collimator forming apparatus via a network, and is formed by machining. The patient bolus / patient collimator is unique to each patient (furthermore, it can be said that the patient's bolus / patient collimator is unique to each treatment because the affected part shrinks and the affected part shape changes as the patient's treatment proceeds. The shape of the affected area differs depending on whether the irradiation is performed from the front or from the side, so it can be said that the shape of the affected part is unique to each irradiation mode.) It is created so as not to be confused with the patient bolus and patient collimator of another patient. Sometimes a unique inscription is made.

(4) After the treatment assistant visually confirms the engraving of the patient bolus and patient collimator for the patient to be treated, they are attached to the snout provided at the tip of the irradiation field forming apparatus. I do.

(5) After mounting the patient bolus / patient collimator on the snout, an irradiation start signal is sent from the irradiation controller to the particle beam acceleration controller at the instruction of the doctor, and the high energy particle beam passes through the patient bolus / patient collimator. Irradiated to the patient.

[0008]

In the case of the conventional particle beam therapy system, it is necessary to check whether the correct bolus collimator to be used in the present treatment for the patient to be treated is visually confirmed by a treatment assistant. However, if an error occurs due to a mistake of the treatment assistant, the bolus collimator for another patient or the like is mounted on the snout. In this case, there arises a problem of erroneous irradiation that a patient to be treated is irradiated with a particle beam having an inappropriate energy distribution in an inappropriate irradiation range through an incorrect bolus collimator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a particle beam therapy system having a safety device for preventing erroneous irradiation of a patient due to mounting of a wrong bolus collimator on a snout.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a particle beam irradiation device which takes in a particle beam accelerated to high energy by an accelerator and adjusts the energy distribution and irradiation range of the particle beam formed and transmitted uniquely to the treatment target. In a particle beam therapy system for irradiating a particle beam from the particle beam irradiation apparatus to a treatment target through a bolus / patient collimator, an identification mark unique to the treatment is added to the patient bolus and the patient collimator, and the particle beam irradiation apparatus is used. This is achieved by reading the identification mark of the patient bolus / patient collimator attached to the device and providing safety means for permitting the incidence of the particle beam from the accelerator to the particle beam irradiation device when it is determined that the identification mark is correct. .

It is possible to irradiate the treatment target with a particle beam only when the mounted patient bolus / patient collimator is correct, and it becomes impossible to irradiate when the wrong patient bolus / patient collimator is mounted. Irradiation of the patient with a high particle beam is prevented.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a particle beam therapy system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This particle beam therapy system includes an accelerator 1 and a patient 3 placed on a treatment table 2 with a high-energy particle beam emitted from the accelerator 1.
A particle beam irradiation device 4 for irradiating the affected part of the subject, an accelerator control device 5 for controlling the accelerator 1, an irradiation control device 6 for controlling the particle beam irradiation device 4, and a database 7 storing a treatment plan
And an input device 8 for inputting a command from a doctor,
A network 9 interconnects 6, 7, 8 mutually.

The accelerator 1 comprises an ion source 1a, a pre-stage accelerator 1b for accelerating charged particles generated from the ion source 1a to a required energy, a plurality of bending electromagnets 1c, multipole electromagnets 1d, and a high frequency accelerating cavity 1e. And a circular accelerator 1f configured to be arranged in a row and take in the charged particle beam emitted from the pre-accelerator 1b and further accelerate and emit the beam.
Ion source 1a, pre-stage accelerator 1b, various electromagnets 1c, 1
d, the high-frequency accelerating cavity 1e and the like operate in response to a command from the irradiation control device 6. In the case of the present embodiment, a stopper 1g is provided as a safety means in the system for transporting the particle beam from the pre-accelerator 1b to the circular accelerator 1f, and the stopper 1g is provided by a command from the irradiation control device 6. Is driven to stop or pass the particle beam flowing in the transport system.

In the present embodiment, the particle beam irradiation device 4 includes electromagnets 4a and 4b that deflect the particle beam input from the accelerator 1 in response to a command from the irradiation control device 6, and the electromagnets 4a and 4b. A scattering plate 4c for diffusing the particle beam passing through the scattering plate 4b, a ridge filter 4d for adjusting the energy distribution of the particle beam passing through the scattering plate 4c, and a range shifter 4e are provided. After passing through the range shifter 4e, the particle beam passes through the fine degrader 4f and the block collimator 4g, and then the dose is measured by the dose monitor 4h. Thus, the affected part of the patient 3 is irradiated. The snout 4i is provided with identification means 4m for reading identification signs attached to the patient bolus 4j and the patient collimator 4k and sending the read result to the irradiation control device 6, as will be described in detail later.

The database 7 stores treatment plan data for each patient and each treatment. For example, as the second irradiation data of a certain patient A, processing data for perforating a patient collimator in accordance with the shape of the affected part when irradiating the patient from the front to the shape viewed from the front, and processing data in the depth direction of the affected part Processing data that adjusts the energy distribution of the penetrating particle beam to the depth of the affected part by engraving the hole of the patient bolus according to the shape, and data such as the irradiation direction, irradiation field, and dose distribution of the particle beam to the affected part are stored. I have. In the processed data of the patient collimator and the patient bolus, an identification mark (for example, “011101001” as a binary code) is added to the processed data.
Is attached correspondingly, and this processing data is not shown in NC
It is sent to a processing device or the like, and an identification mark corresponding to the processed patient bolus and patient collimator is attached.

FIG. 2 illustrates a patient bolus. A patient bolus 4j shown in FIG. 2 (a) is formed by molding a substance that transmits a particle beam into a three-dimensional shape, and a hole 20d is formed from the particle beam irradiation side.
Are drilled. The bottom surface of the machined hole 20 is formed to have the shape of the bottom surface of the affected part, and the energy of the particle beam transmitted through the patient bolus 4j is adjusted according to the shape of the affected part in the depth direction. This patient bolus 4j
Is used for the second treatment of the patient A in the above-described example, if a bolus for another patient B is used for the patient A, and even if the bolus for the patient A is the first bolus, If a second treatment bolus is used, the patient will be irradiated with an inappropriate particle beam through the bolus.

Therefore, the identification mark determined in the treatment plan for the second treatment for the patient A, that is, the identification mark “011101001” added to the processing data described above.
Is attached to the patient bolus 4j. In this embodiment, the identification mark 21 is engraved on the bolus 4j itself. That is, the bolus 4j is divided into eight equal parts from one side to the other side of the lower ridge facing the identification means 4m, and a portion corresponding to “0” of “011101001” is cut from the one side. . A ridge 22 and a ridge 23 wider than the ridge 22 are formed on both sides of the upper edge of the bolus 4j, so that the bolus 4j cannot be reversely inserted into the bolus snout 4i '.

The bolus snout 4i 'of the snout 4i (FIG. 1) is formed with guide rails 24, 25 which are aligned with the ridges 22, 23, and when the bolus 4j is correctly mounted on the snout 4i'. , An identification means 4m for reading the identification mark 21 is provided. In the case of the present embodiment, since the identification mark 21 is engraved on the bolus 4j with a shape that can be identified as an 8-bit code, the identification means 21
Is configured to be able to read an 8-bit marker. FIG. 2B shows a configuration in which one bit is read (FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part (a) denoted by reference numeral b).

In FIG. 2B, a conductor plate 31 is fixed to a fixed plate 30 made of an insulating material.
The conductor plate 32 is movably attached to a position slightly away from the conductor plate (the attachment structure of the conductor plate 32 is not shown). A predetermined voltage is applied to the conductor plate 32 from an electrode (not shown). When the conductor plate 32 comes into contact with the conductor plate 31, the conductor plate 31 has a predetermined potential. The fixed plate 30 has a coil spring 33
And a push button 34 is attached to the other end of the coil spring 33. A pin 35 whose end faces the conductor plate 32 through the center of the coil spring 33 on the conductor plate 31 side of the push button 34 Is protruding. Eight such components are provided in parallel to constitute the identification means 4m. Signal lines (not shown) are connected to each of the eight conductor plates 31, and these signal lines are connected to the irradiation control device 6 in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows the patient bolus 4j attached to the snout 4i '(attached in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2A).
When the bolus 4j is mounted on the snout 4i ', the corresponding push button 34 of the identification means 4m does not enter the cut portion of the identification mark 21 and the push button 34 is not pressed, but is cut. The push button 34 corresponding to the portion not being pressed is pushed in against the elastic force of the coil spring 33, and the tip of the pin 35 presses the conductor plate 32 against the conductor plate 31. As a result, the potential of the corresponding conductor plate 31 becomes the predetermined potential, and the potentials of the other conductor plates 31 become the ground potential. That is, the identification unit 4 m reads the identification sign “011101001” and sends the read result to the irradiation control device 6.

An identification mark similar to that of the patient bolus 4j shown in FIG. 2A is engraved on the patient collimator, and this identification mark is read by an identification means attached to the collimator snout, and the read result is irradiated. Although it is sent to the control device, its configuration is the same as that of the patient bolus, so that illustration and description thereof are omitted.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the particle beam therapy system having the above-described configuration. When performing the second particle beam therapy for the patient A in the above-described example, first, a technician who assists the therapy attaches a bolus and collimator for the patient to be treated to the snout (step 1). Next, the doctor uses the input device 8 (FIG. 1) to input a patient sign number indicating the patient A and an irradiation sign number (for example,
A marker number indicating the second treatment is input (step 2). The input patient sign number 40 and irradiation sign number 41 are taken into the irradiation control device 6, and the irradiation control device 6 requests the corresponding irradiation parameter information from the numbers 40 and 41 to the database 7 (step 3).
The irradiation parameter information includes the irradiation conditions in the second treatment of the patient A determined in the treatment plan, that is, the operation parameter groups of various devices used for forming the irradiation field in the particle beam irradiation device 4 and the devices of the accelerator 1. It includes a group of operation parameters and identification signs of the patient bolus 4j and the patient collimator 4k used in this treatment.

In response to this request, the database 7 retrieves the corresponding irradiation parameter information 42, and
2 is sent to the particle beam acceleration control device 5 and the irradiation control device 6 (step 4). The particle beam acceleration control device 5 uses this information 4
Even if 2 is received, control of the accelerator 1 is not performed immediately,
It waits until a command from the irradiation control device 6 is received.

Upon receiving this information 42, the irradiation control device 6 then identifies the identification means 4 attached to the snout.
m reads the identification mark read by m (step 5), and identifies the identification mark of the patient bolus and the identification mark of the patient collimator attached to the snout, and the identification mark of the patient bolus and the identification mark of the patient collimator included in the information 42 Compare and determine whether both match (Step 6) If the determination result in Step 6 is affirmative (match), the process proceeds to Step 7, and the irradiation control device 6 sets the particle beam accelerator to An irradiation permission signal 43 is issued to the control device 5. As a result, the stopper 1g is opened and the particle beam is incident on the circular accelerator 1f from the pre-accelerator 1b, and the particle beam accelerated to high energy by the circular accelerator 1f is input to the particle beam irradiation device 4, and irradiation control is performed. The particle beam irradiation device 4 is operated by the control signal from the device 6, and the patient is irradiated with a particle beam suitable for treatment (step 8).

If the determination result in step 6 is negative (not coincident), the process proceeds to step 9, where the irradiation control device 6 issues an irradiation prohibition signal 44 to the particle beam accelerator control device 5 and issues an alarm. Warn the doctor or treatment assistant. The particle accelerator control device 5 that has received the irradiation prohibition signal 44 closes the stopper 1g to prevent the particle beam from entering the circular accelerator 1f from the pre-accelerator 1b (step 10).

As described above, it is determined whether or not the identification mark attached to the patient bolus or the patient collimator is to be used for the treatment at that time, and the irradiation of the particle beam is permitted only when it is correct. As a result, erroneous irradiation of the patient with inappropriate particle beams is prevented. In this embodiment,
Although a stopper for stopping the particle beam from the pre-accelerator to the circular accelerator is used, without using this stopper, as a safety measure, the particle-beam accelerator control device 5 can stop the pre-accelerator or use a circular accelerator. The same effect can be obtained by adopting another configuration such as providing a stopper for preventing the incidence of the particle beam from the particle beam irradiation device to the particle beam irradiation device, or controlling the emission of the particle beam from the circular accelerator. Needless to say. Also, an example was described in which the bolus and collimator were physically cut out with identification marks,
For example, it is also possible to attach a sign such as a bar code, optically read the sign by the identification unit, and transmit the optical sign to the control device 6.

[0027]

According to the present invention, an incorrect patient bolus,
There is an effect that it is possible to prevent irradiation of a patient with an inappropriate particle beam due to the mounting of the patient collimator, and to configure a highly safe particle beam therapy system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a particle beam therapy system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the patient bolus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the patient bolus shown in FIG. 2 mounted on a snout.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure up to particle beam irradiation in the particle beam therapy system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Accelerator, 1b ... Pre-stage accelerator, 1f ... Circular accelerator, 1
g: stopper, 2 ... treatment table, 3 ... patient, 4 ... particle beam irradiation device, 4i ... snout, 4i '... bolus snout,
4j: patient bolus, 4k: patient collimator, 4m: identification means, 5: particle beam accelerator control device, 6: irradiation control device, 7: database, 8: input device, 9: network, 20: hole, 21: identification sign , 22,23 ... ridge, 2
4, 25: guide rail, 31, 32: conductor plate, 33: coil spring, 34: push button, 35: pin, 43: permission signal, 44: prohibition signal.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A particle beam accelerated to high energy by an accelerator is taken into a particle beam irradiation apparatus, and the particle beam is passed through a patient bolus / patient collimator for adjusting the energy distribution and irradiation range of a particle beam formed and transmitted unique to a treatment target. In a particle beam therapy system for irradiating a particle beam to a treatment target from an irradiation device, a patient bolus and a patient collimator attached to the particle beam irradiation device are added to the patient bolus and the patient collimator with an identification mark unique to the treatment. A particle beam therapy system, further comprising a safety means for permitting the accelerator to enter a particle beam from the accelerator to the particle beam irradiation device when the identification mark is read and the identification mark is judged to be correct. 2. A particle beam accelerated to high energy by an accelerator is taken into a particle beam irradiation apparatus, and the particle beam is passed through a patient bolus / patient collimator which adjusts the energy distribution and irradiation range of the particle beam formed and transmitted unique to the treatment target. In a particle beam therapy system for irradiating a particle beam to a treatment target from an irradiation device, a patient bolus and a patient collimator attached to the particle beam irradiation device are added to the patient bolus and the patient collimator with an identification mark unique to the treatment. A particle beam therapy system, further comprising a safety means for prohibiting the accelerator from entering the particle beam irradiation device when the identification mark is read and the identification mark is judged to be incorrect. 3. The particle beam therapy system according to claim 1, wherein the accelerator comprises a pre-stage accelerator and a circular accelerator for accelerating a particle beam incident from the pre-stage accelerator to high energy. system. 4. The transportation system according to claim 3, wherein the safety means is provided in the middle of a particle beam transport system from the pre-stage accelerator to the circular accelerator or a particle beam transport system from the circular accelerator to the particle beam irradiation device. A particle beam therapy system, which is a stopper for opening and closing the system. 5. The patient bolus / patient collimator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the identification mark attached to the patient bolus / patient collimator is constituted by irregularities engraved on the patient bolus / patient collimator itself. A particle beam therapy system, wherein a sign is read by reading the unevenness state. 6. The identification marker according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the determination of the correctness of the identification marker is performed on the processed data of the patient bolus / patient collimator defined in the treatment plan of the treatment target. A particle beam therapy system characterized in that the determination is made based on whether or not the particle beam therapy is performed. 7. An accelerator for generating a therapeutic particle beam and then accelerating it to high energy, taking in the particle beam emitted from the accelerator, adjusting it to a required range and energy, and irradiating the patient with a treatment through a patient bolus and a patient collimator. Particle irradiation device, an accelerator control device for controlling the accelerator, an irradiation control device for controlling the particle beam irradiation device, treatment plan data to be treated, and identification signs of a patient bolus and a patient collimator used in each treatment. In a particle beam therapy system comprising a database storing data of, an input device for inputting an irradiation command, and a network interconnecting the accelerator control device and the irradiation control device and the database and the input device,
The particle beam irradiation device includes identification means for reading an identification mark attached to the patient bolus / patient collimator, and the irradiation control device uses the identification mark read by the identification means and the object to be fetched from the database. Means for issuing an irradiation permission signal to the particle beam accelerator control device when they match with the identification mark of the patient bolus / patient collimator, and issuing an irradiation prohibition signal when they do not match, system.