The present invention relates to improvements to a patient support system (PSS) used with a Linear Accelerator (LINAC) for radiotherapy (also known as radiation therapy or radiation oncology).
A key factor in achieving accurate delivery of radiation therapy is patient positioning. It is important that patient positioning can be carefully controlled to accurately locate the target volume to be irradiated and avoid irradiation of surrounding healthy tissue. Existing patient support systems allow for movement of the patient in all six degrees of freedom. For example, the applicant's Precise™ treatment table allows for vertical, horizontal, longitudinal and lateral table movement and both column and isocentric rotation.
In addition to accurate patient positioning it is important to allow ease of access to the treatment table/couch for the patient. Patient support systems used with LINACs need to be positioned at a suitably low height (less than 600 mm) to enable patients to easily mount and dismount the treatment couch. It is also important that the PSS is moveable to a height in the region of 1700 mm above floor level to provide for a full range of treatment with unrestricted access to a wide range of LINAC positions. For example, it may be necessary to allow access beneath the couch and treatment at extended distances.
Existing PSS devices have achieved the required range of movement by providing a compact support system in combination with a long reaching lifting mechanism. Such a device is disclosed in the applicant's earlier U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,261 (the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). It is also known for the PSS device to be supported in a cavity or well in the floor of the treatment room. For example, a load bearing element in a well of the treatment room floor is used to mount a lifting column, which adjusts the height of a treatment couch.
It is also common for the LINAC and PSS to be used in addition to a further patient positioning system. For example, the applicant's HexaPOD™ robotic patient positioning platform, which improves the accuracy of patent positioning by highlighting and correcting for any positional discrepancies. The use of an additional patient positioning system increases the minimum height at which the patient can be positioned. This can make it more difficult for a patient to mount and dismount the treatment couch.
The present invention sets out to provide an improved patient support system which alleviates the problems described above by providing a patient support system with an “ultra-low” minimum height.
In a first aspect, the invention provides a patient support system comprising a floor cavity in the floor of a treatment room; a patient support device comprising a treatment table; a base; a first movement mechanism on which the treatment table is mounted; a second movement mechanism mounted on the base and attached to the first movement mechanism, wherein the first and second movement mechanisms are moveable independently of each other; the first movement mechanism is configured to raise and lower the treatment table and the second movement mechanism is configured to raise and lower the first movement mechanism such that in a lowered position the second movement mechanism is contained within the floor cavity.
Preferably, the patient support system is configured such that in a lowered position both the first and the second movement mechanism are contained within the floor cavity.
The patient support device and system of the present invention retains all of the functionality of existing PSS devices, whereby a patient can be accurately positioned for treatment across a full range of treatment distances, but in addition allows for a patient to safely and conveniently mount and dismount the treatment table.
Preferably, the patient support system of the present invention is configured to allow the treatment table to extend no more than about 700 mm above the rim of the floor cavity in a lowered position.
More preferably, the patient support system is configured to allow the treatment table to extend about 450 mm above the rim of the floor cavity in a lowered position.
Within this specification, the term “about” is interpreted to mean optionally ±20%, preferably optionally ±10%, more preferably optionally ±5%.
Preferably, the patient support system further comprises a moveable false floor, wherein the false floor is moveable across at least part of the opening of the floor cavity.
Optionally, the false floor is hydraulically or pneumatically powered.
Preferably, the false floor is resiliently biased.
More preferably, the false floor is slideable in a direction co-planar with the floor of the treatment room.
A false floor allows the opening of the floor cavity to be at least partially covered when the PSS is in a treatment position. This prevents anything falling into the floor cavity when treatment is being carried out and also stops the risk of anyone tripping on the rim of the exposed floor cavity.
Preferably, the patient support system comprises a rectangular floor cavity in the floor of the treatment room having a depth of about 220 to 235 mm, a length of about 1530 mm and a width of about 1400 mm.
More preferably, the patient support system comprises a rectangular floor cavity in the floor of the treatment room having a depth of about 220 to 235 mm, a length of about 530 to 1030 mm and a width of about 140 mm wherein the width of the floor cavity narrows to a width of about 600 mm.
It is envisaged that the ultra-low height of the PSS of the present invention can be achieved by providing a floor cavity sufficient to house only the second movement mechanism. If the width of the floor cavity is greater than that of the second movement mechanism, the floor cavity can also house the workings of the moveable false floor.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a patient support device comprising a treatment table; a base; a first movement mechanism on which the treatment table is mounted; a second movement mechanism mounted on the base and attached to the first movement mechanism, wherein the first and second movement mechanisms are moveable independently of each other, the first movement mechanism is configured to adjust the height of the treatment table and the second) movement mechanism is configured to adjust the height of the first movement mechanism.
For the purposes of clarity and a concise description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments; however it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.
These and other characteristics of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:
Referring to
Referring to
In the example embodiment of
As shown in
In the example embodiment of
Referring to
In a second example embodiment of the present invention, shown in
The values and dimensions provided herein are illustrative and in no way limiting of the present invention. Upon reading the present specification, one of skill in the art will appreciate a wide variety of other depths, dimensions, and the like that can be used to implement the PSS 1. All such alternatives and modifications are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Any suitable dimensions and values can be used to implement the PSS 1.
In each of the example embodiments shown in
Referring again to
Referring to
In the “set-up” position, both the first and second parallel arm mechanisms 5, 35 are contained within the floor cavity 43. With the patient mounted onto the treatment table 3, the second parallel arm mechanism 35 is used to raise the patient support system 1, including the base member 11 and the first parallel arm mechanism 5 out of the floor cavity 43 to above floor level. As shown in
Referring to the embodiment shown in
The above described embodiment has been given by way of example only, and the skilled reader will naturally appreciate that many variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, it is envisaged that the present invention can comprise any suitable movement mechanisms to allow the patient support system to be raised from and lowered into the floor cavity.
Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present invention. Details of the structure may vary substantially without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and exclusive use of all modifications that come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. It is intended that the present invention be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the applicable rules of law.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are to cover all generic and specific features of the invention described herein, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/453,532, filed Apr. 23, 2012, which is expressly and entirely incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13453532 | Apr 2012 | US |
Child | 14535809 | US |