Particle beam therapy system and control system for particle beam therapy

Abstract

A particle beam therapy system comprises a charged particle beam generator for generating a charged particle beam, two or more treatment rooms provided with respective irradiation devices for irradiating the charged particle beam, a beam line for transporting the charged particle beam extracted from the charged particle beam generator to the irradiation device in selected one of the two or more treatment rooms, a beam detection processing/control unit for monitoring a beam state of the charged particle beam in one of the two or more irradiation devices, and a selector for switchably selecting one of the irradiation devices which is to be monitored by the beam detection processing/control unit. The selector is controlled such that the selector establishes connection with the irradiation device in the selected one treatment room to which the charged particle beam is transported through the beam line. The system configuration can be simplified while maintaining the operation efficiency.

1 . A particle beam therapy system for irradiating a charged particle beam to an affected part of the body for treatment, the therapy system comprising: 
 a charged particle beam generator for generating the charged particle beam;    a plurality of irradiation devices installed respectively in a plurality of treatment rooms and irradiating the charged particle beam;    a beam line for transporting the charged particle beam extracted from said charged particle beam generator to the irradiation device in selected one of said plurality of treatment rooms;    a monitoring unit for monitoring a beam state of the charged particle beam in one of said plurality of irradiation devices;    a selector for switchably selecting one of said plurality of irradiation devices which is to be monitored by said monitoring unit; and    a first control unit for controlling said selector such that said selector establishes connection with the irradiation device in selected one of said plurality of treatment rooms to which the charged particle beam is transported through said beam line.    
   
   
       2 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display unit for displaying the beam state of the charged particle beam in one of said plurality of irradiation devices, 
 wherein said selector switchably selects one of said plurality of irradiation devices to be displayed by said display unit.    
   
   
       3 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of irradiation devices includes a detector for detecting beam information of the charged particle beam, and said monitoring unit determines whether the beam information of the charged particle beam detected by said detector is within an allowable range.  
   
   
       4 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a second control unit for controlling said charged particle beam generator to stop extraction of the charged particle beam when said monitoring unit determines that the beam information of the charged particle beam exceeds the allowable range.  
   
   
       5 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 4 , further comprising a determining unit for determining whether said selector has established connection with the irradiation device in the selected one of said plurality of treatment rooms.  
   
   
       6 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 5 , further comprising a third control unit for controlling said charged particle beam generator to stop extraction of the charged particle beam when said determining unit determines that said selector has not established connection with the irradiation device in the selected one of said plurality of treatment rooms.  
   
   
       7 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of irradiation devices are constructed as irradiation devices utilizing the irradiation method.  
   
   
       8 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of irradiation devices are constructed as irradiation devices operating in accordance with passive irradiation.  
   
   
       9 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 8 , wherein each of said plurality of irradiation devices includes a profile monitor for measuring the centroid and width of the charged particle beam, an energy monitor for measuring energy of the charged particle beam, a flatness monitor for measuring uniformity of the charged particle beam in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the beam, and a dose monitor for measuring dose, and wherein said monitoring unit determines whether the beam information of the charged particle beam detected by said profile monitor, said energy monitor and said flatness monitor is within an allowable range, and whether the dose of the charged particle beam detected by said dose monitor has reached a preset value.  
   
   
       10 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of irradiation devices are constructed as irradiation devices operating in accordance with scanning irradiation.  
   
   
       11 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said plurality of irradiation devices includes a profile monitor for measuring the centroid and width of the charged particle beam, a spot position monitor for measuring the centroid and width of the charged particle beam bent by a bending magnet, and a dose monitor for measuring dose, and wherein said monitoring unit determines whether the beam information of the charged particle beam detected by said profile monitor and said spot position monitor is within an allowable range, and whether the dose of the charged particle beam detected by said dose monitor has reached a preset value.  
   
   
       12 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of irradiation devices include irradiation devices utilizing at least two kinds of different irradiation methods.  
   
   
       13 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of irradiation devices are made up of irradiation devices operating in accordance with passive irradiation and scanning irradiation.  
   
   
       14 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 13 , wherein each of said plurality of irradiation devices includes a profile monitor for measuring the centroid and width of the charged particle beam and a dose monitor for measuring dose, and wherein said monitoring unit determines whether the beam information of the charged particle beam detected by said profile monitor is within an allowable range, and whether the dose of the charged particle beam detected by said dose monitor has reached a preset value.  
   
   
       15 . A particle beam therapy system for irradiating a charged particle beam to an affected part of the body for treatment, the therapy system comprising: 
 a charged particle beam generator for generating the charged particle beam;    a plurality of irradiation devices installed respectively in a plurality of treatment rooms and irradiating the charged particle beam;    a beam line for transporting the charged particle beam extracted from said charged particle beam generator to the irradiation device in selected one of said plurality of treatment rooms;    a scan stroke control unit for controlling a scan stroke of the charged particle beam in one of said plurality of irradiation devices;    a selector for switchably selecting one of said plurality of irradiation devices to be controlled by said scan stroke control unit; and    a first control unit for controlling said selector such that said selector establishes connection with the irradiation device in the selected one of said plurality of treatment rooms to which the charged particle beam is transported through said beam line.    
   
   
       16 . The particle beam therapy system according to  claim 15 , wherein said scan stroke control unit controls a current value of said scanning magnet for scanning the charged particle beam.  
   
   
       17 . A control system for a particle beam therapy system having a plurality of treatment rooms each provided with an irradiation device for irradiating a charged particle beam, the control system comprising: 
 a beam line control unit for controlling a beam line such that the charged particle beam is transported to the irradiation device in selected one of said plurality of treatment rooms;    a monitoring unit for monitoring a beam state of the charged particle beam in one of said plurality of irradiation devices;    a selector for switchably selecting one of said plurality of irradiation devices which is to be monitored by said monitoring unit; and    a first control unit for controlling said selector such that said selector establishes connection with the irradiation device in the selected one of said plurality of treatment rooms to which the charged particle beam is transported through said beam line.    
   
   
       18 . The control system for the particle beam therapy system according to  claim 17 , wherein each of said plurality of irradiation devices includes a detector for detecting beam information of the charged particle beam, and said monitoring unit determines whether the beam information of the charged particle beam detected by said detector is within an allowable range.  
   
   
       19 . A control system for a particle beam therapy system having a plurality of treatment rooms each provided with an irradiation device for irradiating a charged particle beam in accordance with scanning irradiation, the control system comprising: 
 a beam line control unit for controlling a beam line such that the charged particle beam is transported to the irradiation device in selected one of said plurality of treatment rooms;    a scan stroke control unit for controlling a scan stroke of the charged particle beam in one of said plurality of irradiation devices;    a selector for switchably selecting one of said plurality of irradiation devices to be controlled by said scan stroke control unit; and    a first control unit for controlling said selector such that said selector establishes connection with the irradiation device in the selected one of said plurality of treatment rooms to which the charged particle beam is transported through said beam line.