Imaging and treatment beam energy modulation utilizing an energy adjuster

Abstract

Electromagnetic waves for an accelerating structure of the radiation delivery system are generated by a microwave source. The electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave source are adjusted by an energy adjuster to an imaging energy level. A kilovolt (kV) imaging beam is generated by the accelerating structure based on the imaging energy level. The electromagnetic waves generated by the magnetic source are adjusted by the energy adjuster to a treatment energy level. A megavolt (MV) treatment beam is generated by the accelerating structure based on the treatment energy level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A radiation delivery system, comprising:
 a linear accelerator (LINAC), comprising:
 a microwave source to generate electromagnetic waves; 
 an energy adjuster operatively coupled to the microwave source, the energy adjuster to modulate the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave source; 
 an accelerating structure operatively coupled to the energy adjuster, the accelerating structure to generate a kilovolt (kV) imaging beam and a megavolt (MV) treatment beam based on the modulated electromagnetic waves; and 
 a control system operatively coupled to the microwave source, the energy adjuster and the accelerating structure, the control system to cause the modulation of the electromagnetic waves by the energy adjuster to cause the accelerating structure to generate the kV imaging beam and the MV treatment beam. 
   
     
     
         2 . The radiation delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy adjuster comprises a power variator. 
     
     
         3 . The radiation delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein the power variator comprises a T-junction. 
     
     
         4 . The radiation delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein the power variator comprises a rapid electromagnetic, ferrite-based short-circuit design to modulate a short-circuit position of the power variator. 
     
     
         5 . The radiation delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein the power variator comprises a mechanical sliding short to modulate a short-circuit position of the power variator. 
     
     
         6 . The radiation delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a multi X-ray target assembly comprising a first target for the kV imaging beam and a second target for the MV treatment beam.   
     
     
         7 . The radiation delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processing device to generate a two-dimensional projection using the kV imaging beam.   
     
     
         8 . The radiation delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processing device to generate a three-dimensional model using a plurality of two-dimensional images captured using the kV imaging beam.   
     
     
         9 . The radiation delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the kV imaging beam and the MV treatment beam are delivered during one or more rotations of a gantry. 
     
     
         10 . The radiation delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the gantry comprises one of a ring gantry, a C-arm gantry, or a robotic arm. 
     
     
         11 . The radiation delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the kV imaging beam and the MV treatment beam are interleaved. 
     
     
         12 . The radiation delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the kV imaging beam has a first energy level between 50-1,000 kV and wherein the MV treatment beam has a second energy level between 1-20 MV. 
     
     
         13 . A method of controlling a radiation delivery system, the method comprising:
 generating, by a microwave source of the radiation delivery system, electromagnetic waves for an accelerating structure of the radiation delivery system;   adjusting, by an energy adjuster of the radiation delivery system, the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave source to a first energy level;   generating, by the accelerating structure, a kilovolt (kV) imaging beam based on the first energy level;   adjusting, by the energy adjuster, the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave source to a second energy level; and   generating, by the accelerating structure, a megavolt (MV) treatment beam based on the second energy level.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the energy adjuster comprises a power variator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the power variator comprises a T-junction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the power variator comprises a rapid electromagnetic, ferrite-based short-circuit design to modulate a short-circuit position of the power variator. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the power variator comprises a mechanical sliding short to modulate a short-circuit position of the power variator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave source are dynamically adjusted by the energy adjuster during a treatment session. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 generating, by a processing device, a three-dimensional model using a plurality of two-dimensional images captured using the kV imaging beam.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the kV imaging beam and the MV treatment beam are delivered during one or more rotations of a gantry. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions which, when executed by a processing device of a radiation delivery system, cause the radiation delivery system to:
 generate, by a microwave source of the radiation delivery system, electromagnetic waves for an accelerating structure of the radiation delivery system;   adjust, by an energy adjuster of the radiation delivery system, the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave source to an imaging energy level;   generate, by the accelerating structure, a kilovolt (kV) imaging beam based on the imaging energy level;   adjust, by the energy adjuster, the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave source to a treatment energy level; and   generate, by the accelerating structure, a megavolt (MV) treatment beam based on the treatment energy level.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein the processing device is further to:
 generate a three-dimensional model using a plurality of two-dimensional images captured using the kV imaging beam.   
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein the processing device is further to:
 generate a two-dimensional projection using the kV imaging beam.   
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave source are dynamically adjusted by the energy adjuster during a treatment session.