CPC field-specific training MAGNETOTHERAPY (A61N2); RADIATION THERAPY (A61N5) Ewa Beck June 2018 Examiner, European Patent Office
CPC field-specific training
MAGNETOTHERAPY (A61N2); RADIATION THERAPY (A61N5)
Ewa Beck June 2018Examiner, European Patent Office
European Patent Office 2
Table of contents
▪ Introduction
▪ Therapy in A61N in comparison with surgery
and diagnosis in A61B
▪ A61N2 – main subclasses and examples
▪ A61N5 – main subclasses
▪ A61N5/02 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/06 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/10 – overview and examples
European Patent Office 3
Introduction
A61N and A61B in the CPC hierarchy
European Patent Office 4
Introduction
A61N in the CPC hierarchy; Main Groups in A61N
European Patent Office 5
Introduction
Electromagnetic radiationSource:
http://www.hearingreview.com/2017/06/wir
eless-hearing-aids-present-health-risk/
European Patent Office 6
Introduction
Laser-Tissue InteractionsSource:
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/9
78-3-642-03438-1_2
European Patent Office 7
Table of contents
▪ Introduction
▪ Therapy in A61N in comparison with surgery
and diagnosis in A61B
▪ A61N2 – main subclasses and examples
▪ A61N5 – main subclasses
▪ A61N5/02 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/06 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/10 – overview and examples
European Patent Office 8
Therapy in A61N in comparison with surgery and diagnosis in A61B
A61B Surgery vs. A61N Therapy
A61N NOTE derived from the IPC :
In this subclass,... "therapy" implies that
the treatment, when it aims at destroying
sick or abnormal cells, is performed within
the limits of healthy cell life, the
destruction thereof being undesired,
contrary to that which takes place with
instruments, devices or methods covered
by group A61B 18/00.
A61N Definitions:
Subclass A61N provides for medical treatment-type therapy by apparatus or
methods utilizing forms of energy other than direct mechanical energy when they
are not used for surgical purposes and they are intended to ... destroy, control, or
advance the recovery of sick or abnormal cells within body tissue while minimizing
undesirable destruction of adjoining healthy cells, or ...
A61B Definitions:
Surgery consists of the following medical procedures:
▪ ...
▪ repairing (e.g., fastening skin together, removing cancerous tissue) bodies, ...
These statements, however, do not accurately reflect some therapeutic
procedures under A61N:
A61N5/062, A61N5/10, A61N7/02, A61N2007/008, A61N2007/003 : concomitant
damage of healthy cells hardly avoidable and also in A61B17-18 the
undesirable destruction of tissue is to be minimized.
A61N7 ultrasound can also be seen as mechanical energy.
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Therapy in A61N in comparison with surgery and diagnosis in A61B
A61N 5/00 Radiation therapy
Surgery in A61B18/18 vs. Therapy in A61N5
In contrast to the therapeutic applications covered A61N5, surgery in A61B18/18 is
characterized by the immediate and direct destruction, transformation or
removal of the tissue (ablation, vaporization, coagulation...).
A61N5 also covers the applications where the effect in the tissue is induced with
rather lower intensity and power levels and/or longer pulse durations (photothermal,
photochemical reactions, biostimulation...). Thus, for instance, cell destruction by
photoactivation of an agent is to be classified in A61N5/062. Some devices may be
used for both applications depending on the operation mode.
Note that A61N5/1084 covers focused radiotherapy applications like "gamma knife"
and stereotactic radiotherapy which are sometimes also called "radiosurgery", which
is not to be confused with surgery in the sense of A61B18/00. When applying
ionizing radiation in A61N5/10, the killing and removal of the tumor cells is not
achieved immediately but on a longer time-scale (days-weeks) by inducing
apoptosis via generation of radicals incompatible with cell life and/or denaturalization
of the cell DNA.
European Patent Office 10
Therapy in A61N in comparison with surgery and diagnosis in A61B
A61B Diagnosis vs. A61N Therapy
Not to be interpreted as
excluding classification
in A61N when appropriate
(and vice versa) !
A61N Definitions derived from IPC:
Subclass A61B ... also provides for any surgical or diagnostic apparatus or methods that would otherwise be proper for subclass A61H or A61N when the apparatus or methods are used for both purposes or combined together. In particular, subclass A61B provides for surgical instruments, devices, or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body (e.g., electromagnetic radiation surgery) to alter or repair it....
A61B Definitions derived from IPC:
Subclass A61B also provides for any surgical or identification apparatus or methods when▪ the apparatus or methods are combined with diagnosis means or▪ the apparatus can be used for diagnosis and either surgery or identification.
A61B additionally provides for any diagnostic apparatus or methods combined with therapy apparatus or method normally covered by subclass A61H or A61N when
▪ the same apparatus or methods are used for both purposes or▪ combined together but only useable separately. ...Subclass A61N provides for diagnostic means or steps that are combined with medical treatment therapy apparatus or methods ... when the means or step is used solely for operational feedback purposes to enhance therapy.
European Patent Office 11
Therapy in A61N in comparison with surgery and diagnosis in A61B
A61N 5/00 Radiation therapy
ultrasound therapy A61N 7/00;
devices or apparatus applicable
to both therapy and diagnosis
A61B 6/00
Diagnosis in A61B vs. Therapy in A61N5
As previously indicated, the combination of both therapy and diagnosis is classified
not only in A61B. In CPC both aspects are considered and eventually classified
independently.
Relevant therapeutic aspects → A61N.
Relevant diagnostic aspects → A61B.
Double classification should be applied whenever both aspects are related to the
invention and/or are considered by the classifier to be of interest for search.
Note that the imaging or detection systems that merely serve to monitor the
treatment, e.g. surveillance of patient or instrument position, eventually to be used
as operational feedback to steer the treatment, may be relevant for A61N only
(e.g. 5/1049 breakdown ), as long as they do not provide information of diagnostic
value nor disclose substantial details of the detection/imaging system.
European Patent Office 12
Table of contents
▪ Introduction
▪ Therapy in A61N in comparison with surgery
and diagnosis in A61B
▪ A61N2 – main subclasses and examples
▪ A61N5 – main subclasses
▪ A61N5/02 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/06 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/10 – overview and examples
European Patent Office 13
A61N2Magnetotherapy
European Patent Office 14
A61N2 – main subclasses and examples
A61N 2/00 Magnetotherapy
A61N 2/002 . { in combination with another treatment
A61N 2/004 . { specially adapted for a specific therapy
A61N 2/006 . . for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
A61N 2/008 . . for pain treatment or analgesia
A61N 2/02 . using coils (A61N 2/12 takes precedence)
A61N 2/06 . using permanent magnets (A61N 2/12 takes precedence)
A61N 2/12 . using variable magnetic fields obtained by mechanical
movement
Try to allocate both the use aspect (e.g. A61N2/004/low, specific
therapy e.g. magnetic nerve stimulation) and the structural aspect
(e.g. A61N2/02 if the magnetic field is produced by coils)
European Patent Office 15
A61N2 – main subclasses and examples
Example: US2013317281
Claim 1: A method of non-invasively treating pain by the application of Transcranial
Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) using multiple TMS electromagnets to
preferentially stimulate a patient's dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus relative to
cortical brain regions, the method comprising:
positioning a top TMS electromagnet with an apex of the TMS
electromagnet between about a Cz and Fz location on the patient's head;
positioning a front TMS electromagnet with an apex of the TMS
electromagnet between about an Fz and Fpz location on the patient's
head; and
modulating pain levels by applying stimulation from the top and front TMS
electromagnets to the dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus, wherein the Cz, Fz and
Fpz locations are determined using a standard 10-20 system for scalp
electrode placement.
A61N2/008 (magnetic stimulation for pain treatment) had been correctly identified
BUT the structural part of the invention should be also classified:
using coils → A61N2/02
European Patent Office 16
Table of contents
▪ Introduction
▪ Therapy in A61N in comparison with surgery
and diagnosis in A61B
▪ A61N2 – main subclasses and examples
▪ A61N5 – main subclasses
▪ A61N5/02 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/06 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/10 – overview and examples
European Patent Office 17
A61N5Radiation therapy
European Patent Office 18
A61N5 – main subclasses
A61N 5/00 Radiation therapy
Therapeutic treatment of the human or animal body with electromagnetic or particle radiation.
Therapy implies the curing of a disease or malfunction of the body and includes prophylactic treatment like killing of germs, bacteria in or on the body by means of radiation as well as treatment of symptoms like pain by means of radiation.
→ See list of neighbouring fields in the CPC Definitions
▪ The following neighbouring fields are often used to index relevant aspects when no suitable code is available in A61N5:
▪ A61B2018/00773 or A61B2017/00022 (feedback at the treatment site), A61B2018/00988 (service life counter),
▪ A61B2018/2255 (features at the distal end of a light guide, e.g. diffusers).
▪ A61B90/10-90, e.g. 90/10 (stereotaxic), 90/03 (abutting means), 90/04 (local shielding), A61B2090/065 (contact detection), 90/39 (markers)
European Patent Office 19
A61N5 – main subclasses
A61N 5/00 Radiation therapy
. A61N2005/002{Cooling systemsapplies orthogonally to all A61N5
. A61N 5/01 Devices for producing movement of radiation source during therapy→ ( A61N5/1077 takes precedence )
. A61N 5/02 using microwaves no clear-cut of frequency range but roughly~ 300MHz - 300GHz (1m-1mm)
. A61N 5/06 using lightno clear-cut of wavelength range but roughly10 nm – 1 mm (124 eV – 1.24 meV)
. A61N 5/10
X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy;Particle-irradiation therapy (A61N 5/01 takes precedence; radiation diagnosis, e.g. combined with radiation therapy A61B6/00)Ionizing radiation (other than UV): KeV-MeV range, electrons, hadrons
European Patent Office 20
Table of contents
▪ Introduction
▪ Therapy in A61N in comparison with surgery
and diagnosis in A61B
▪ A61N2 – main subclasses and examples
▪ A61N5 – main subclasses
▪ A61N5/02 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/06 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/10 – overview and examples
European Patent Office 21
A61N5/02Microwave therapy
European Patent Office 22
A61N5/02 – overview and examples
A61N 5/02
A61N 5/02 . .
using microwavesA61N5/022… Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
▪ A61N5/025... Warming the body
A61N2005/027… using a phased array
A61N5/04… Radiators for near field treatment
▪ A61N5/045... specially adapted for treatment
inside the body
European Patent Office 23
A61N5/02 – overview and examples
Example: US2013166004
Claim 11: A system to heat body portions using controlled microwave energy ...
[0024] ... Microwave power assembly 10 is axially translationally movable relative to supportunit 5, and repositionable with respect thereto by removing and replacing the appropriatesegments 7 and translationally moving microwave power assembly 10 to the desired axialposition. Microwave power assembly 10 comprises an annular support frame or housing 12and microwave power supply devices or sources 20 (e.g., magnetrons with antennas, notseparately labelled), that are affixed to support rings 15 via respective movable couplings 17and robotic arms 25, and adapted to move, alternately independently and in tandem (jointly)with one another, radially and/or circumferentially relative to support frame or housing 12, and translationally therewith.
[0029] ...the breathing port element (e.g., breathing mask) 30 can include means for detecting the temperature of air exhaled bysubject 1. The means for detecting the temperature of air exhaled by subject 1 are in electronic communication through line35 with central processor unit 40 to correlate and control microwave emission based on the temperature of air exhaled by subject 1.
[0039] Brain temperature during treatment must be maintained at safe levels.
[0030] Sprayers 400 and 401 each generate a fine mist of coolant to effect a rapidand controlled cooling of the brain of a patient, ...
Claim 16: Apparatus to cool the brain of a patient, ...
European Patent Office 24
Table of contents
▪ Introduction
▪ Therapy in A61N in comparison with surgery
and diagnosis in A61B
▪ A61N2 – main subclasses and examples
▪ A61N5 – main subclasses
▪ A61N5/02 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/06 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/10 – overview and examples
European Patent Office 25
A61N5/06Light therapy
European Patent Office 26
A61N5/06 – overview and examples
A61N 5/06
A61N 5/06 . .
Light therapyA61N 5/0601 . . {Apparatus for use inside the body e.g. blood vessels, body
cavities, interstitial
A61N 5/0613 . . {Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment e.g. tanning, skin, circadian, PDT, neurostimulation, sterilization, warming
A61N 2005/0626 . . Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methodse.g. sequential activation of sources in an array
A61N 2005/063 . . comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
A61N 2005/0632 . . Constructional aspects of the apparatus, e.g. hinged arm mounting...
A61N 2005/0635 . . characterised by the body area to be irradiated (actually also a constructional aspect)
e.g. full-body (H/V), Handheld, Wearable
A61N 2005/065 . . Light sources therefor, e.g. LEDs, lampsconsider also lasers 2005/067 and polarization 2005/073( “..” listed to match IPC)
A61N 2005/0658 . . characterised by the wavelength (not necessary when 5/0614)
A61N 2005/0664 . . Details, e.g. reflectors, filters, adapted for moist environment
European Patent Office 27
A61N5/06 – overview and examples
A61N 5/0601
A61N 5/0601 . .
Apparatus for use inside
the bodyA61N2005/0602... for treatment of blood vessels
A61N5/0603...for treatment of body cavities
▪ specified cavities
A61N2005/0612... using probes penetrating tissue; interstitial probes
European Patent Office 28
A61N5/06 – overview and examples
A61N 5/0613
A61N 5/0613 . .
Apparatus adapted for
a specific treatment
A61N5/0614... Tanning
A61N5/0616... Skin treatment other than tanning
A61N5/0618... Psychological treatment
A61N5/0619... Acupuncture
A61N5/062... Photodynamic therapy
A61N5/0621... Hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice treatment
A61N5/0622... Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
A61N5/0624... for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body
A61N5/0625... Warming the body
European Patent Office 29
A61N5/06 – overview and examples
A61N 2005/0635
A61N 2005/0635 . .
characterised by the body area
to be irradiated
A61N2005/0636... Irradiating the whole body
▪ A61N2005/0637... in a horizontal position
▪ A61N2005/064... in a vertical position
A61N2005/0642... Irradiating part of the body at a certain distance
A61N2005/0643... Applicators, probes irradiating specific body areas in
close proximity
▪ A61N2005/0644... Handheld applicators
▪ A61N2005/0645... Applicators worn by the patient
▪ A61N2005/0649... using suction to fix the
applicator to the tissue
European Patent Office 30
A61N5/06 – overview and examples
Example: US2011296643
[0041] ... the toothbrush 10 includes a handle at its proximal end to be held in the user's hand while using the toothbrush 10and a brush head 16, typically including one or more groups of bristles 18,... and one or more violet light emitters 20 thatemit violet light 22 in the 410 nm+/-10 nm and at an average power level of less than 5 watts. ... is highly effective indestroying potentially harmful bacteria, microorganisms and/or other contaminants or compounds without harming humancells contained within the mouth. [0042] ... In addition, the light emitting source or diode 26A can be either fixed and sealed to the brush head 16 adjacent thebristles 18, alternatively, the light emitting source or diode can be fixed and sealed with respect to the neck 26 of the handle 12.[0046].. with the violet light 22 being conducted along the handle to violet light emitters 20 located within the head 16 bymeans of violet light optical conductors 26B ...[0044] The presently preferred photocatalytic agents, for use with radiation within the 400 nm to 420 nm"violet light" band include, for example, modified TiO2 semiconductor type materials and possibly othercatalytic n-type semiconductor particles as well as various organic dyes already known in the art.[0046-47] The interior of head 16 includes a violet reflective surface 30 formed as facets30F wherein the violet light reflective properties of reflective surface 30 ...
European Patent Office 31
A61N5/06 – overview and examples
Example: US2013060306
[0001] The invention relates to the efficient modulation of circadian and related systems
using optimized wavelength light therapy delivered through eyelids of a subject
using a sleep mask.
[0026] The target of the light therapy plan are the intrinsically photosensitive Retinal
Ganglion Cells. The intrinsically photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells are a type
of nerve cell in the retina that do not participate directly in vision. ...
[0047] The timing and/or intensity are controlled by controller 56...
[0048] ... mask 10 may include one or more sensors 58 for sensing certain conditions
at or near a subject's eyes such as, for example, light levels, eye movement,
eyelid position, and/or other conditions...
[0052] ... to provide one or more of the following additional features: automated light
level titration, sleep stage/state dependent operation, eye-opening detection,
eye-movement detection, illuminance estimation, exposure time logging/
limitation, safety warning, safety shut down, and/or other functions
European Patent Office 32
A61N5/06 – overview and examples
Example: US2014039581
LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASEAbstract: Systems are provided for delivering visible or infrared biostimulatory energy to bone marrow to subjects havingor developing Alzheimer's disease. The radiation is delivered to sites remote from the brain at a dose sufficient to causestimulated mesenchymal stem cells to appear in the brain and degrade beta-amyloid. The energy may be coherent lightand can be administered transcutaneously, subcutaneously, or via an intramedullary probe.[0046] an appliance 28 for alignment of therapeutic laser output with desired locations in the human iliac bone 30 ...
to be fitted around the pelvic girdle of a patient ...[0047] ... appliance 28 may be elaborated into a body vest suitable for ... many bones simultaneously.[0048] ... non-invasive, or invasive...adapted to insertion through a skin puncture or incision. .... trephine that can
penetrate the cortex 24 for application directly into the medullary cavity 26, using known light-handlingtechniques such as fiberoptics.
[0050] ... the laser probe 12 may be fluid-cooled ... [0056] ... GaAlAs lasers, ... emission at 790-830 nm. ... 630-910 nm.
European Patent Office 33
Table of contents
▪ Introduction
▪ Therapy in A61N in comparison with surgery
and diagnosis in A61B
▪ A61N2 – main subclasses and examples
▪ A61N5 – main subclasses
▪ A61N5/02 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/06 – overview and examples
▪ A61N5/10 – overview and examples
European Patent Office 34
A61N5/10X-ray therapy;
Gamma-ray therapy;
Particle-irradiation therapy
European Patent Office 35
A61N5/10 – overview and examples
A61N 5/10
A61N 5/10 . .
X-ray therapy;
Gamma-ray therapy;
Particle-irradiation therapy
A61N 5/1001 . . { Brachytherapy
intraluminal, intracavitary, interstitial, superficial
introduction means, sources
A61N 5/103 . . { Treatment planning
leaf sequence, 4D-image-based, adaptive, functional-image-based
[ ≠ 5/1053 , 5/1055 ]
A61N 5/1042 . . { Spatial modulation of the radiation beam (field) within the
treatment head.
scanning , MLC ( IMAT)
A61N 5/1048 . . { Monitoring, verifying, controlling
Position monitor (cf breakdown 2005/105- 2005/1062)
feedback (physiological gating, adjustment of beam or of
target position )
Dose delivery verification, QA phantoms, GUIs
A61N 5/1077 . . { Beam delivery systems: fixed, multi-room, gantries*, robotic,
multi-source
A61N 2005/1085 . . Type of particles applied to the patient
ions, protons, electrons, neutron, KV not MV
A61N 2005/1092 . . Details: Shielding, Filters, Wedges, Boluses, Immobilizers
European Patent Office 36
A61N5/10 – overview and examples
A61N 5/1001
A61N 5/1001 . .
BrachytherapyA61N5/1002... Intraluminal radiation therapy
A61N5/1007...Arrangements and means for the introduction of
sources into the body
A61N5/1014... Intracavitary radiation treatment
▪ A61N5/1015... Treatment of resected cavities
created by surgery
▪ A61N5/1016... Gynecological radiation therapy
▪ A61N5/1017... Treatment of the eye
A61N5/1027... Interstitial radiation treatment
A61N2005/1019... Sources therefor
A61N5/1028...using radiation sources applied onto the body
▪ A61N5/1029... Radioactive dressings
European Patent Office 37
A61N5/10 – overview and examples
Example: US2005187422
[0001] The invention relates to a device for implementing endovascularbrachytherapy, whereby in the area of the catheter tip, a beta orgammaradiator used to prevent restenosis after the removal of plaque fromvessel walls emits radioactive radiation in order to suppress the structuralvessel alteration, with simultaneous OCT-monitoring.
[0029] The combined brachytherapy OCT catheter according to FIG.1 comprises a catheter sheath 1 with a radiator 3 arranged in the region of the rounded catheter tip 2, which can be configured as a beta radiator or also as a gamma radiator, whereby this radiator must not necessarily be designed in a wrap-around radiating manner, but can obviously also be configured such that it deliberately only radiates in one direction, whereby the radiation direction can be precisely adjusted by means of a rotatable diaphragm and/or by a corresponding twisting of the catheter sheath, according to the results achieved with the OCT examination of the inner wall of the vessel.
[0034] The typical process using a combined brachytherapy OCT catheter according to the invention is as follows; insertion of the catheter using X-ray monitoring.
Claim 24: The device according claim 14, further comprising a plurality of magnets arranged at the catheter tip allowing for a magnetic navigation of the device... an inflatable balloon and a balloon with several cavities can also be applied to the tip in order to position the radiator in the desired axial position and/or to retain it there
European Patent Office 38
A61N5/10 – overview and examples
A61N 5/103
A61N 5/103 . .
Treatment planning systemsA61N5/1031... using a specific method of dose optimization
A61N5/1036... Leaf sequencing algorithm
A61N5/1037... taking into account the movement of the target
A61N5/1038...taking into account previously administered plans
applied to the same patient
A61N5/1039... using functional images, e.g. PET or MRI
A61N2005/1041...using a library of previously administered radiation
treatment applied to other patients
European Patent Office 39
A61N5/10 – overview and examples
A61N 5/1042
A61N 5/1042 . .
with spatial modulation of
the radiation beam within the
treatment head
A61N5/1043... Scanning the radiation beam
▪ A61N5/1044... with multiple repetitions of
the scanning pattern
A61N5/1045... using a multi-leaf collimator, e.g. IMRT (intensity
modulated radiation therapy)
▪ A61N5/1047... with movement of the radiation
head during application of radiation, e.g. IMAT
(intensity modulated
arc therapy)
European Patent Office 40
A61N5/10 – overview and examples
A61N 5/1048
A61N 5/1048 . .
Monitoring, verifying, controllingA61N5/1049... for verifying the position of the patient with respect
to the radiation beam
▪ subclasses for using different imaging modalities
A61N5/1064... for adjusting radiation treatment in response to
monitoring
▪ A61N5/1065... Beam adjustment
▪ A61N5/1068... Gating the beam as function of
physiological signal
▪ A61N5/1069... Target adjustment
A61N5/1071...for verifying the dose delivered by
the treatment plan
A61N5/1075... for testing, calibrating or quality assurance
European Patent Office 41
A61N5/10 – overview and examples
A61N 5/1077
A61N 5/1077. .
Beam delivery systemsA61N5/1078... Fixed beam systems
A61N5/1079... Sharing beam by multiple treatment stations
A61N5/1081...
Rotating beam systems with a specific
mechanical construction
▪ A61N5/1082... having multiple beam rotation axes
A61N5/1083... Robot arm beam systems
A61N5/1084...for delivering multiple intersecting beams at the
same time
European Patent Office 42
A61N5/10 – overview and examples
Example: US2011091015
Not A61N5/1081 !Claim 14: System for delivering radiation treatment using single arc
dose painting, comprising ... a multiple leaf collimator having a plurality
of leafs for shaping the radiation beam; ...structure for generating an
unconstrained optimization map of intensity profiles of densely-spaced
radiation beams; ... structure for aligning each intensity profile to a pair
of multiple leaf collimation (MLC) leaves; and structure for applying a
shortest path algorithm, said, shortest path algorithm converting each
pair of MLC leaves to a set of leaf aperture sequences forming a
shortest path single arc thereof, said shortest path algorithm further
connecting each single arc of leaf apertures to form a final treatment
single arc effective for single arc dose painting. ...
Claim 15. ... the shortest path algorithm further adjusting a shape of the
leaf aperture as a radiation dose delivery angle changes along the final
treatment single arc.
European Patent Office 43
A61N5/10 – overview and examples
Example: US5818902
Not A61N5/1081 !Utilizes continuous gantry motion in which field shape, which is
conformed with a multi-leaf collimator changes during gantry rotation.
Using multiple superimposing arcs, arbitrary two-dimensional beam
intensity distribution at different beam angles can be delivered,
giving arbitrary dose distribution in the patient to maximize the
therapeutic ratio.
European Patent Office 44
A61N5/10 – overview and examples
Example: US2013053616
Abstract: A system includes a patient support and an outer gantry on
which an accelerator is mounted to enable the accelerator to move
through a range of positions around a patient on the patient support.
The accelerator is configured to produce a proton or ion beam having
an energy level sufficient to reach a target in the patient. An inner
gantry includes an aperture for directing the proton or ion beam
towards the target.
European Patent Office 45
Thank you for your attention!