Patent attributes
A radiation therapy system and method, especially for brachytherapy, monitors and verifies dose delivered at a plurality of points at or near the region to be irradiated, integrating verification with radiation delivery. In one procedure, mapping is used to determine the shape and location of the region to be irradiated. A treatment plan is developed using the mapping information and a dose prescription. As radiation is delivered to the target region internally, preferably using an electronic radiation source, the dose received at plural points is monitored and continually fed to a central processor. As needed based on feedback, the system modifies the treatment plan and delivery of radiation accordingly, to arrive substantially at the prescribed dose at all locations in the region. In a modified procedure the treatment is done according to a prescription dose but without a treatment plan by multiple iterations of source pullback and feedback and analysis of dose received in the tissue. Source radiation levels and/or pattern and dwell are modified for each successive iteration and preferably for different dwell points in an iteration.
