KR20180010758A - Multi-energy image therapy device - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, disclosed is a multi-energy image treatment device which comprises: a body unit in which a subject to be treated can enter; a photographing treatment unit installed in the body unit to move toward the subject, and performing at least one of diagnosis and treatment by making the subject irradiated with a plurality of energies having different intensities; a driving unit for driving the photographing treatment unit for the body unit; and a control unit for controlling the intensity of energy irradiated through the photographing treatment unit, and performing a simulation treatment plan on the basis of an image photographed through the photographing treatment unit to control the subject to be treated through the photographing treatment unit. According to the present invention, diagnosis and treatment of a subject can be performed through one image treatment device, and thus, economic feasibility and efficiency thereof are improved.

Description

[0001] MULTI-ENERGY IMAGE THERAPY DEVICE [0002]

The present invention relates to a multi-energy imaging apparatus, and more particularly, to a multi-energy imaging apparatus capable of performing diagnosis and treatment of an object to be treated through a single device.

In general, prior to radiotherapy, mock treatment and treatment planning are needed. Here, the CT simulator and the X-ray simulator, which perform CT imaging and X-ray imaging, respectively, are used in the simulation treatment, and the treatment planning process is also performed based on CT and X-ray imaging.

Simulation using a CT scan uses a rotating X-ray tube and a detector to cut and image the interior of the object into sections. CT images taken for these simulations can record small differences in soft tissues such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, white matter, and tumors, which are difficult to identify by general X-ray imaging. Images can be implemented.

On the other hand, cost and space and time constraints are imposed on CT imaging and X-ray equipment construction by separately performing CT and X-ray imaging for simulated treatment and independently performing simulated treatment. In addition, space and equipment for radiation therapy are also required separately after the simulated and treatment planning procedures are performed.

Accordingly, in recent years, there has been a continuing research on image therapy apparatus free from cost, space, and time constraints.

Korean Patent Publication No. 2013-0131390 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-179565

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-energy image therapy apparatus capable of diagnosing and treating an object requiring treatment with one equipment, thereby improving the efficiency.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-energy image therapeutic apparatus comprising: a body unit capable of entering and exiting a target object; a plurality of energy sources, each having a different size, A photographic processing unit for performing at least one of diagnosis and treatment by irradiating the photographic subject to a subject, a drive unit for driving the photographic treatment unit to the body unit, and a controller for controlling the size of the energy irradiated through the photographic- And a control unit for performing a simulated treatment plan based on the image photographed through the photographic treatment unit and controlling the treatment of the object through the photographic treatment unit.

According to one aspect, the photographic treatment unit includes a photographing unit for photographing and diagnosing the object with a first energy, and a treatment unit for treating the object with a second energy higher than the first energy.

According to one aspect, the photographing unit and the treatment unit are integrally formed and controlled by the control unit to irradiate the object with any one of the first and second energies.

According to one aspect, the control unit controls the magnitude of the first energy so that the photographing unit photographs the object with either the X-ray for a two-dimensional image or the CT for a three-dimensional image.

According to one aspect, the photographing unit performs two-dimensional X-ray imaging of the object with the first energy, the treatment unit performs three-dimensional CT imaging of the object with the second energy, It is possible.

According to one aspect, the drive unit rotates the photographic treatment unit about the object.

According to one aspect, the driving unit drives the photographing treatment unit so that the height of the subject is adjusted.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the drive unit drives the treatment unit so that the height of the treatment unit is adjusted with respect to the target object.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the body unit includes a gantry in which the object is provided with an access opening for diagnosis and treatment, and a treatment table capable of being placed in and out of the opening, , The subject is held upright by the fixture on the treatment table.

According to one aspect, the body unit is located inside a shield box formed of a shieldable material including a lead glass.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the imaging unit includes a compensation unit disposed between the object and the photographic treatment unit to adjust the intensity of radiation radiated to the object through the photographic treatment unit and guide the object to the object.

According to one aspect, the compensation unit includes any one of a multi-leaf collimator and a compensator manufactured by a three-dimensional printer so that the light amount of the transmitted energy can be adjusted.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multiple energy image therapy apparatus comprising: a body unit capable of entering and exiting a target object for treatment; first and second energies A driving unit for rotating the imaging and treatment unit about the object, a driving unit for moving up and down the object, and a control unit for controlling the magnitude of the first and second energies And a control unit for performing a simulation treatment plan based on the image photographed through the imaging and treatment unit and controlling the treatment of the object through the imaging and treatment unit.

According to one aspect, the photographic treatment unit includes a photographing unit for photographing and diagnosing the object with the first energy, and a treatment unit for treating the object with the second energy higher than the first energy.

According to one aspect, the photographing unit and the treatment unit are integrally formed and controlled by the control unit to irradiate the object with any one of the first and second energies.

According to one aspect, the control unit controls the magnitude of the first energy so that the photographic treatment unit photographs the object with either the X-ray for a two-dimensional image or the CT for a three-dimensional image.

According to one aspect, the photographing unit performs two-dimensional X-ray imaging of the object with the first energy, the treatment unit performs three-dimensional CT imaging of the object with the second energy, It is possible.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the drive unit drives the treatment unit so that the height of the treatment unit is adjusted with respect to the target object.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the body unit includes a gantry in which the object is provided with an access opening for diagnosis and treatment, and a treatment table capable of being placed in and out of the opening, , The subject is held upright by the fixture on the treatment table.

According to one aspect, the body unit is located inside a shield box formed of a shieldable material including a lead glass.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compensation unit disposed between the object and a photographic treatment unit so as to be capable of adjusting the light quantity of the radiation irradiated to the object through the photographic treatment unit, and the compensation unit is manufactured by a three-dimensional printer .

According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, first, diagnosis and treatment for a target object are performed through a single device, so that the economical efficiency is improved compared with the conventional one in which expensive equipment is individually provided.

Second, unlike conventional diagnosis and treatment, it is possible to apply integrated diagnosis and treatment, which can contribute to precise treatment and improved treatment reliability.

Third, optimized treatment is possible by adjusting the height of the image capturing unit corresponding to the size of various objects.

Fourth, the posture of the subject is fixed, and the dose of radiation can be controlled, which makes safe and high-precision radiation treatment possible.

Fifth, integrated diagnosis and treatment are possible through one device, so it is freed from space restriction.

1 is a front view schematically showing a multi-energy imaging apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the multiple energy image therapy apparatus shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a front view schematically showing the rotation operation of the multi-energy imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a front view schematically showing a height adjusting operation of the multi-energy imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a modification in which the multiple energy image therapy apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a compensation unit.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a multi-energy imaging apparatus 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a body unit 10, a photographic treatment unit 20, a drive unit 50, and a control unit 80 .

For reference, the multi-energy image therapeutic apparatus 1 described in the present invention is an apparatus capable of performing two-dimensional X-ray and three-dimensional CT imaging for the treatment of animals such as rats, cats, dogs and the like, . That is, in the present embodiment, the object (A) for treatment to be described is exemplified as an animal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is natural that the multi-energy imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is also applicable to the treatment of a person including an animal.

The body unit 10 is provided so that a subject A for treatment can go in and out. The body unit 10 includes a gantry 11 and a treatment table 12.

The gantry 11 is provided with an opening 13 through which the object A can enter and exit for diagnosis and treatment. The opening 13 of the gantry 11 is formed so as to extend in the horizontal direction in the central region so that the object A can enter and exit the inside of the gantry 11 in the horizontal direction as shown in Fig. The gantry 11 has a cylindrical shape in which an opening 13 is formed in the horizontal direction, and is supported by a support 14.

The gantry 11 is formed of a material that can enclose the opening 13 so as to be shieldable so that the radiation irradiated through the photographic processing unit 20 to be described later is prevented from being leaked to the outside of the gantry 11, .

The treatment table 12 is accessible through the opening 13 and positions the object A so as to face the photographic treatment unit 20. [ Although the treatment table 12 is not shown in detail, the object A is provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, and goes into and out of the gantry 11 through the opening 13. [

The object (A) placed on the treatment table (12) is fixed in position by the fixture (15). The fixing body 15 is formed of a material that is flexible and deformable corresponding to the object A and does not interfere with the radiation. Such a fixture 15 minimizes the movement of the object A and reproduces and fixes the position of the object A, the treatment posture. That is, the fixture 15 fixes the object A on the treatment table 12 so that the object A does not move during imaging or treatment, thereby improving the quality of the image to be imaged and improving the reliability of the treatment .

1 and 2, the fixture 15 is shown fixing the rim of the object A to the treatment table 12, but it is not limited to the illustrated example. In other words, various modifications and embodiments are possible in which the fixture 15 can fix the object A to the treatment table 12.

The body unit 10 as described above is located inside the shield box 16. The shield box 16 is formed of a shieldable material such as lead glass, thereby shielding radiation radiated for internal imaging and diagnosis.

The photographing and treatment unit 20 irradiates a plurality of energies E1 and E2 having different sizes to the object A so as to be movable toward the object A and photographs the object A Diagnosis and radiation therapy. The photographic treatment unit 20 includes a photographing unit 30 and a treatment unit 40. [

The photographing unit 30 photographs the object A with the first energy E1. The first energy E1 is an energy wavelength range for CT imaging, and is low in the range of about 10 to 100 KV in the present embodiment. The photographing section 30 includes a first optical body 31 for irradiating a beam of a first energy E1 for photographing to a target A and a second optical body 31 for irradiating the target body A And a first sensing element 32 for sensing a beam of the first energy E1 that has passed.

1 and 2, the first optical body 31 and the first sensing body 32 are formed so as to have a diameter (diameter) on the inner peripheral surface of the opening 13 of the gantry 11 such that the first optical body 31 and the first sensing body 32 face each other with the object A interposed therebetween, As shown in Fig. Although not shown in detail, the first optical body 31 may include a light source for generating a beam of a first energy E1 whose size can be adjusted, a power supply means for the light source, Means and the like.

On the other hand, the photographing unit 30 photographs the object A with either the X-ray photographing for acquiring a two-dimensional image or the CT photographing for acquiring a three-dimensional image. The size of the first energy E1 of the photographing unit 30 is controlled by the control unit 80 to be described later and the configuration of the photographing unit 30 is the same as that of the control unit 80 Will be described later in more detail.

The treatment unit 40 treats the object A with the second energy E2 higher than the first energy E1. The second energy E2 is an energy range larger than the magnitude of the first energy E1, and is about 100 to 500 KV in the present embodiment. The treatment section 40 includes a second optical body 41 for irradiating a beam of a second energy E2 for treatment to the object A and a second optical body 41 irradiated from the second optical body 41 to irradiate the object A And a second sensing element 42 for sensing a beam of the second energy E2 that has passed through it. The second optical body 41 and the second sensing body 42 are also spaced apart from each other in the radial direction on the inner peripheral surface of the opening 13 of the gantry 11 so as to face each other with the object A interposed therebetween .

Meanwhile, when the imaging unit 30 performs the two-dimensional X-ray imaging, the treatment unit 40 may control the magnitude of the second energy E2 so that a radiation therapy can be performed together with the 3D CT imaging Do. That is, the treatment unit 40 can photograph the three-dimensional CT image together with the imaging unit 30, and can be used for the treatment diagnosis of the target object A, and can perform the radiation treatment.

The second optical body 41 may also include a light source for generating a beam of the second energy E2, a power supply for the light source, and a crosshair, as in the case of the first optical body 31 And optical means to be shown.

The photographing unit 30 and the treatment unit 40 are positioned to be spaced apart from each other by 90 degrees along the inner circumferential surface of the opening 13 of the gantry 11. More specifically, at a position spaced circumferentially at 90 degrees from the first optical body 31 and the first sensing body 32 of the photographing unit 30, (41) and the second sensing element (42) are positioned. The distance between the photographing unit 30 and the treatment unit 40 is not limited to the example shown in the drawing and the distance between the photographing unit 30 and the treatment unit 40 may vary depending on the condition of the object A, The condition of the space in which the body unit 10 is installed, the size of the body unit 10, and the like.

The driving unit 50 drives the photographic processing unit 20 to the body unit 10. [ 2, the drive unit 50 includes a first drive unit 60 for rotating the photographic processing unit 20 and a second drive unit 70 for moving up and down.

3, the first driving unit 60 drives the photographic processing unit 20 to rotate around the target object A, thereby moving the photographic unit 20 ). The first driving unit 60 includes a first driving source 61 for generating a rotational force and a first driving unit 62 connected to the first driving source 61 to rotate the imaging and treatment unit 20 do.

Here, the first driving source 61 includes a rotating motor for generating a rotating force. The first driving body 62 receives the rotational force from the first driving source 61 and rotates the photographing unit 30 and the treatment unit 40 of the photographing treatment unit 20 along the inner circumferential surface of the gantry 11 And is rotated in the circumferential direction. The first driving body 62 includes driving rails which are rotatable in the circumferential direction along the inner circumferential surface of the gantry 11 while supporting the photographing unit 30 and the treatment unit 40 although not shown in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first driving body 62 may be provided with various rotation driving means such as a rotary belt capable of rotating the imaging unit 30 and the treatment unit 40 along the inner peripheral surface of the gantry 11 It is natural that it can be transformed into any one of them.

A driving force transmitting means such as a gear or a belt for transmitting the driving force of the first driving source 61 to the first driving body 62 is provided between the first driving source 61 and the first driving body 62 Can be intervened.

The second driving unit 70 adjusts the spaced distance between the object A and the photographic treatment unit 20 by moving the photographic processing unit 20 up and down with respect to the target object A as shown in Fig. do. The second driving unit 70 includes a second driving source 71 for generating a driving force and a second driving unit 71 for receiving the driving force of the second driving source 71, And a second driving body 72 for raising and lowering the second driving body.

The second driving source 71 includes a motor capable of generating a linear driving force and the driving force of the second driving source 71 is transmitted to the second driving body 72 by a driving force transmitting means such as a gear and a belt.

The second driver 72 is installed in the treatment unit 40 and adjusts the height of the treatment unit 40 to treat the target object A according to whether the driving force of the second driving source 71 is transmitted or not. In this embodiment, the second driving body 72 supports the second optical body 41 of the treatment unit 40 such that the second optical body 41 can be raised and lowered in multiple steps. At this time, the second driving body 72 may be provided in the photographing unit 30 to move the photographing unit 30 up and down.

The height of the treatment section 40 with respect to the target object A is controlled by the driving force of the second driving section 70 so that accurate radiation treatment can be performed in accordance with the type of the target object A.

The control unit 80 controls the target object A to be treated by performing a mock treatment plan based on the image photographed through the photographic processing unit 20 and diagnosing the target. The control unit 80 controls the size of the first energy E1 so that the photographing unit 30 photographs the object A either in the X-ray photographing for the two-dimensional image or the CT photographing for the three- do. Further, the control unit 80 controls the treatment unit 40 to generate a beam of the second energy E2 for the radiation therapy of the object A.

For reference, in the above embodiment, the photographing unit 30 and the treatment unit 40 are installed along the inner circumferential surface of the gantry 11 separately, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the imaging unit 30 and the treatment unit 40 are formed integrally with each other, that is, the imaging unit 30 and the treatment unit 40 are configured to include one optical body and a sensing body, It is needless to say that the unit 80 may be configured so that the magnitude of energy may be varied as needed.

The diagnosis and treatment of the multi-energy imaging apparatus 1 according to the present invention having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG.

2, the object A placed on the treatment table 12 is horizontally moved in a state of being fixed by the fixed body 15 and is guided through the opening 13 of the gantry 11 to the gantry 11 ). Thereafter, when the object A placed on the treatment table 12 reaches the position facing the imaging unit 30, the first optical body 31 of the imaging unit 30 is moved in the two-dimensional The first energy E1 for photographing the X-ray image is irradiated to the object A and the first sensing element 32 senses the beam of the first energy E1 that has passed through the object A, Unit 80 as shown in FIG.

At this time, the photographing unit 30 obtains a two-dimensional X-ray image of the object A while rotating in the circumferential direction of the gantry 11 by the driving force of the first driving unit 60. [ For reference, the treatment table 12 on which the object A is placed in conjunction with the imaging by the imaging unit 30 can also be moved in the horizontal direction according to the condition of the object A, the diagnosis condition, and the treatment purpose .

When the photographing unit 30 obtains a three-dimensional image of the object A, the control unit 80 varies the magnitude of the first energy E1 irradiated from the photographing unit 30, Into a first energy (E1) for 3D CT imaging. Then, the photographing unit 30 photographs the object A while being rotated by the first driving unit 60 at a predetermined angle. More specifically, the photographing unit 30 photographs the object A while being reciprocally rotated by the first driving unit 60 by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction along the inner circumferential surface of the gantry 11, and the object A And reciprocates in the horizontal direction inside the gantry 11 to acquire an image of the object A. [

As described above, the treatment section 40 is not operated during the photographing of the object A by the photographing section 30. [

Based on the image of the object A photographed through the photographing unit 30, the control unit 80 establishes a treatment plan for calculating / predicting the optimal radiation dose and dose for treatment of the object A . According to the treatment plan thus established, the photographing unit 30 controls the magnitude of the second energy E2 so that the treatment unit 40 treats the object A. [

The second optical body 41 of the treatment section 40 is controlled to have a magnitude of the second energy E2 controlled by the control unit 80 so as to face the object A as shown in Fig. After being rotated by the first driving unit 60, is fixed to the position or is rotated at a predetermined angle, the object A is treated. When the treatment of the object A is completed by the treatment unit 40, the object A moves in the horizontal direction while being supported on the treatment table 12, and is released from the gantry 11.

On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 4, when the size of the object A placed on the treatment table 12 is smaller than the size of the object A shown in Figs. 1 to 3, The treatment section 40 is adjusted by the second drive section 70. [ That is, the distance between the treatment unit 40 and the object A is controlled by the second driving unit 70. Because of the height adjustment of the treatment section 40, optimized treatment can be provided regardless of the type and the size of the object A.

5, there is shown a modification in which the multiple energy image therapy apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes a compensation unit 80. [ 5, the compensation unit 80 adjusts the intensity of the radiation having the magnitude of the first and second energy E1 (E2) irradiated to the object A through the photographic processing unit 20 To the target object (A). The compensation unit 80 may include a multi-leaf collimator as described above. However, in the modification example, the compensation unit 80 may be a three-dimensional (3D) laser printer manufactured by a three-dimensional printer so that the light amount of the transmitted energy E1 It is exemplified as including a compensator.

The compensation unit 80 including the compensator has a shape that increases a dose to a site where photographing or treatment is required and transmits only a minimum dose to an unnecessary peripheral region. The shape and size of this compensation unit 80 are not limited to the example shown in Fig.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. It can be understood that

1: Multi-energy imaging apparatus 10: Body unit
11: Gantry 12: Treatment zone
20: photographing treatment unit 30: photographing unit
40: treatment section 50: drive unit
60: first driving part 70: second driving part
80: control unit 90: compensation unit

Claims (21)

A body unit into which an object for treatment is accessible;
A photographic processing unit which is installed in the body unit so as to move toward the target object and which performs at least one of diagnosis and treatment by irradiating a plurality of energies having different sizes to the target object;
A driving unit that drives the photographic treatment unit with respect to the body unit; And
A control unit for controlling the magnitude of the energy irradiated through the photographic treatment unit and controlling the subject to be treated through the photographic treatment unit by performing a simulation treatment plan based on the photographed image through the photographic treatment unit, unit;
And a plurality of energy imaging apparatuses. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the photographic treatment unit comprises:
A photographing unit photographing and diagnosing the object with a first energy; And
A treatment unit for treating the subject with a second energy higher than the first energy;
Wherein the multi-energy image processor comprises: 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the photographing unit and the treatment unit are integrally formed and controlled by the control unit to irradiate the object with any one of the first energy and the second energy. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the control unit controls the magnitude of the first energy so that the imaging unit photographs the object with either the X-ray imaging for a two-dimensional image or the CT imaging for a three-dimensional image. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the photographing unit performs two-dimensional X-ray photography on the object with the first energy,
Wherein the treatment unit performs three-dimensional CT imaging of the target with the second energy, and is capable of radiotherapy. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the drive unit rotates the photographic treatment unit around the object. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the driving unit drives the photographic processing unit to raise and lower the object with respect to the object. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the drive unit drives the treatment unit so that the height of the treatment unit is adjusted with respect to the target object. The method according to claim 1,
The body unit includes:
A gantry provided with an opening through which the subject can enter and exit for diagnosis and treatment; And
A treatment table which is accessible through the opening and in which the object is positioned to face the photographic treatment unit;
/ RTI >
Wherein the object is posture-fixed by the fixture on the treatment table. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the body unit is located inside a shielding box made of a shieldable material including lead glass. The method according to claim 1,
A compensation unit disposed between the object and the photographic treatment unit to adjust the intensity of the radiation irradiated to the object through the photographic treatment unit and guide the object to the object;
And a plurality of energy imaging apparatuses. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the compensation unit comprises any one of a multi-leaf collimator and a compensator manufactured by a three-dimensional printer so that the light amount of the transmitted energy can be adjusted. A body unit into which an object for treatment is accessible;
A photographic processing unit installed in the body unit so as to be movable with respect to the object and performing at least one of diagnosing and treating the object with different first and second energies;
A drive unit that rotates or raises / lowers the photographic treatment unit about the object; And
A control unit for controlling the magnitude of the first and second energies and controlling the object to be treated through the imaging and treatment unit by performing a simulation treatment plan based on the image photographed through the imaging and treatment unit;
And a plurality of energy imaging apparatuses. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the photographic treatment unit comprises:
A photographing unit photographing and diagnosing the object with the first energy; And
A treatment unit for treating the object with the second energy higher than the first energy;
Wherein the multi-energy image processor comprises: 15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the photographing unit and the treatment unit are integrally formed and controlled by the control unit to irradiate the object with any one of the first energy and the second energy. 15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the control unit controls the magnitude of the first energy so that the photographic treatment unit photographs the object with either the X-ray for a two-dimensional image or the CT for a three-dimensional image. 15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the photographing unit performs two-dimensional X-ray photography on the object with the first energy,
Wherein the treatment unit performs three-dimensional CT imaging of the target with the second energy, and is capable of radiotherapy. 15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the drive unit drives the treatment unit so that the height of the treatment unit is adjusted with respect to the target object. 14. The method of claim 13,
The body unit includes:
A gantry provided with an opening through which the subject can enter and exit for diagnosis and treatment; And
A treatment table which is accessible through the opening and in which the object is positioned to face the photographic treatment unit;
/ RTI >
Wherein the object is posture-fixed by the fixture on the treatment table. 20. The method of claim 19,
Wherein the body unit is located inside a shielding box made of a shieldable material including lead glass. 14. The method of claim 13,
A compensation unit disposed between the object and the photographic treatment unit so as to be capable of adjusting a light amount of the radiation irradiated to the object through the photographic treatment unit;
/ RTI >
Wherein the compensation unit is manufactured by a three-dimensional printer.

Images