The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Duke University

Sha X Chang

Otto Z Zhou

Ying Wu

The present subject matter relates to compact, non-synchrotron microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) systems and methods for cancer research and treatment based on a carbon nanotube distributed x-ray source array technology. The systems and methods can deliver microscopically discrete x-ray radiation at peak dose rate of 10 Gy per second or higher. The x-ray radiation can be provided by a spatially distributed x-ray source array. The technology can be used, for example and without limitation, for human cancer treatment, for intra-operative radiation therapy, and for pre-clinical cancer research on animal cancer models.

Compact microbeam radiation therapy systems and methods for cancer treatment and research

X-ray pixel beam array systems and methods for electronically shaping radiation fields and modulating radiation field intensity patterns for radiotherapy are disclosed. One exemplary pre-clinical system may include addressable electron field emitters () that are operable to emit a plurality of electron pixel beams (). Each electron pixel beam may correspond to an x-ray target () and x-ray pixel beam collimation aperture () to convert a portion of energy associated with the electron pixel beam to a corresponding x-ray pixel beam (). Further, the x-ray pixel beam array collimator () forms a one-to-one correspondence between individual electron pixel beam and its corresponding x-ray pixel beam. One exemplary clinical system may include a high-energy electron source (), an n-stage scanning system (), x-ray pixel beam targets (), and an x-ray pixel beam array collimator (). A controller () may sequentially direct electron beam pulses to predetermined x-ray pixel targets and produce an electronically controlled radiation field direction, pattern; and intensity pattern.

X-ray pixel beam array systems and methods for electronically shaping radiation fields and modulation radiation field intensity patterns for radiotherapy

Multi-pixel electron microbeam irradiator systems and methods are provided with particular applicability for selectively irradiating predetermined cells or cell locations. A multi-pixel electron microbeam irradiator system can include a plurality of individually addressable electron field emitters sealed in a vacuum. The multi-pixel electron microbeam irradiator system can include an anode comprising one or more electron permeable portions corresponding to the plurality of electron field emitters. Further, the multi-pixel electron microbeam irradiator system can include a controller operable to individually control electron extraction from each of the electron field emitters for selectively irradiating predetermined locations such as cells or cell locations.

Multi-pixel electron microbeam irradiator systems and methods for selectively irradiating predetermined locations

In a method for sequentially generating segment fields for use in delivering intensity modulated radiotherapy an input continuous intensity map is generated. A segment field is generated directly from the input intensity map. A residual continuous intensity map is generated that is based on the respective photon fluence contributions from the input intensity map and a fractionally intensity map corresponding to the segment field. These steps are repeated for a number of iterations to generate a like number of additional segment fields and residual maps derived therefrom. In each iteration, the residual map generated in the previous iteration is used as the input intensity map.

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Sha X Chang