452 results about "Radiation treatment delivery" patented technology

A radiation therapy system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system combined with an irradiation system, which can include one or more linear accelerators (linacs) that can emit respective radiation beams suitable for radiation therapy. The MRI system includes a split magnet system, comprising first and second main magnets separated by gap. A gantry is positioned in the gap between the main MRI magnets and supports the linac(s) of the irradiation system. The gantry is rotatable independently of the MRI system and can angularly reposition the linac(s). Shielding can also be provided in the form of magnetic and / or RF shielding. Magnetic shielding can be provided for shielding the linac(s) from the magnetic field generated by the MRI magnets. RF shielding can be provided for shielding the MRI system from RF radiation from the linac.

A radiotherapy apparatus includes an irradiation head section, an X-ray source section and a sensor array section. The irradiation head section irradiates therapeutic radiation to a therapeutic field of a target substance. The X-ray source section irradiates diagnostic X-rays to the therapeutic field of the target subject. The sensor array section detects the diagnostic X-rays which have transmitted the target subject, and outputs diagnostic X-ray image data based on the detected diagnostic X-rays. The sensor array section moves in conjunction with movement of the irradiation head section.

A method and apparatus for quality assurance of an image guided radiation treatment delivery system. A quality assurance (“QA”) marker is positioned at a preset position under guidance of an imaging guidance system of a radiation treatment delivery system. A radiation beam is emitted from a radiation source of the radiation treatment delivery system at the QA marker. An exposure image of the QA marker due to the radiation beam is generated. The exposure image is then analyzed to determine whether the radiation treatment delivery system is aligned.

The present invention relates to a device for simultaneously treating a tumor or cancerous growth with both hyperthermia and X-ray radiation using brachytherapy. The device includes a needle-like introducer serving as a microwave antenna. Microwaves are emitted from the introducer to increase the temperature of cancerous body tissue. The introducer is an inner conductor of a coaxial cable. The introducer contains a hollow core which houses an X-ray emitter. The X-ray emitter is connected to a high voltage miniature cable which extends from the X-ray emitter to a high voltage power source. The X-ray emitter emits ionizing radiation to irradiate cancerous tissue. A cooling system is included to control the temperature of the introducer. Temperature sensors placed around the periphery of the tumor monitor the temperature of the treated tissue.

A radiotherapy apparatus includes an irradiation head section, an X-ray source section and a sensor array section. The irradiation head section irradiates therapeutic radiation to a therapeutic field of a target substance. The X-ray source section irradiates diagnostic X-rays to the therapeutic field of the target subject. The sensor array section detects the diagnostic X-rays which have transmitted the target subject, and outputs diagnostic X-ray image data based on the detected diagnostic X-rays. The sensor array section moves in conjunction with movement of the irradiation head section.

The present disclosure describes a computer-implemented method of transforming a low-resolution MR image to a high-resolution MR image using a deep CNN-based MRI SR network and a computer-implemented method of transforming an MR image to a pseudo-CT (sCT) image using a deep CNN-based sCT network. The present disclosure further describes a MR image-guided radiation treatment system that includes a computing device to implement the MRI SR and CT networks and to produce a radiation plan based in the resulting high resolution MR images and sCT images.

A method, code and system for planning the treatment a lesion on or adjacent to the retina of an eye of a patient are disclosed. There is first established at least two beam paths along which x-radiation is to be directed at the retinal lesion. Based on the known spectral and intensity characteristics of the beam, a total treatment time for irradiation along each beam paths is determined. From the coordinates of the optic nerve in the aligned eye position, there is determined the extent and duration of eye movement away from the aligned patient-eye position in a direction that moves the patient's optic nerve toward the irradiation beam that will be allowed during treatment, while still maintaining the radiation dose at the patient optic nerve below a predetermined dose level.

A general imaging scheme is proposed for applications of CBCT. The approach provides a superior CBCT image quality by effective scatter correction and noise reduction. Specifically, in its implementation of CBCT imaging for radiation therapy, the proposed approach achieves an accurate patient setup using a partially blocked CBCT with a significantly reduced radiation dose. The image quality improvement due to the proposed scatter correction and noise reduction also makes CBCT-based dose calculation a viable solution to adaptive treatment planning.

An imaging system comprises: a ring of positron emission tomography (PET) detectors; a PET housing at least partially surrounding the ring of PET detectors and defining a patient aperture of at least 80 cm; a coincidence detection processor or circuitry configured to identify substantially simultaneous 511 keV radiation detection events corresponding to electron-positron annihilation events; and a PET reconstruction processor configured to reconstruct into a PET image the identified substantially simultaneous 511 keV radiation detection events based on lines of response defined by the substantially simultaneous 511 keV radiation detection events. Radiation planning utilizing such an imaging system comprises: acquiring PET imaging data for a human subject arranged in a radiation therapy position requiring a patient aperture of at least about 80 cm; reconstructing said imaging data into a PET image encompassing an anatomical region to undergo radiation therapy; and generating a radiation therapy plan based on at least the PET image.

A system and method for accurately locating and tracking the position of a target, such as a tumor or the like, within a body. In one embodiment, the system is a target locating and monitoring system usable with a radiation delivery source that delivers selected doses of radiation to a target in a body. The system includes one or more excitable markers positionable in or near the target, an external excitation source that remotely excites the markers to produce an identifiable signal, and a plurality of sensors spaced apart in a known geometry relative to each other. A computer is coupled to the sensors and configured to use the marker measurements to identify a target isocenter within the target. The computer compares the position of the target isocenter with the location of the machine isocenter. The computer also controls movement of the patient and a patient support device so the target isocenter is coincident with the machine isocenter before and during radiation therapy.

A radiotherapeutic apparatus using high-energy electron beams to radiate the bed of removed tumor and the residual tumor tissue in excision operation features that the CT or MRI 3D imaging software is used to determine the position of tumor focal, an analog technique is used to determine the incident direction, angle and position of electron beam, a radiotherapeutic plan system is used to calculate the radiation dosage, and a laser locator on the radiating head with straight-line electron accelerator is used to align the electron beam to the tumor focal.

A system and method for aligning the position of a target within a body of a patient to a predetermined position used in the development of a radiation treatment plan can include an ultrasound probe used for generating live ultrasound images, a position sensing system for indicating the position of the ultrasound probe with respect to the radiation therapy device, and a computer system. The computer system is used to display the live ultrasound images of a target in association with representations of the radiation treatment plan, to align the displayed representations of the radiation treatment plan with the displayed live ultrasound images, to capture and store at least two two-dimensional ultrasound images of the target overlaid with the aligned representations of the treatment plan data, and to determine the difference between the location of the target in the ultrasound images and the location of the target in the representations of the radiation treatment plan.

A radiation therapy system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system combined with an irradiation system, which can include one or more linear accelerators (linacs) that can emit respective radiation beams suitable for radiation therapy. The MRI system includes a split magnet system, comprising first and second main magnets separated by gap. A gantry is positioned in the gap between the main MRI magnets and supports the linac(s) of the irradiation system. The gantry is rotatable independently of the MRI system and can angularly reposition the linac(s). Shielding can also be provided in the form of magnetic and / or RF shielding. Magnetic shielding can be provided for shielding the linac(s) from the magnetic field generated by the MRI magnets. RF shielding can be provided for shielding the MRI system from RF radiation from the linac.

The present invention relates to a device and method for monitoring and verification of the quality of a radiation treatment beam in conformal radiation therapy, and in particular for IMPT (Intensity Modulated Particle Therapy) applications. The device comprises a 2D electronic detector measuring 2D responses to the delivered treatment beam. These 2D responses are compared with predicted 2D responses and differences in responses are signalled. Based on the measured 2D responses the effectively delivered 3D dose distribution in the target can be reconstructed.

A treatment planning method and system for optimizing a treatment plan used to irradiate a treatment volume including a target volume, such as a tumor, is disclosed. According to the method, two dose calculation algorithms are used to develop the optimized treatment plan. A first dose calculation algorithm is used to obtain substantially complete dose calculations and a second, incremental, dose calculation algorithm is used to make more limited calculations. The incremental calculations may be performed, for example, with less precision, less accuracy or less scope (e.g., focused on a specific subvolume within the treatment volume) in order to reduce the time required to achieve an optimized plan. Each of the dose calculation algorithms may be iterated a plurality of times, and different cutoff criteria can be used to limit the number of iterations in a given pass. A treatment planning system of the invention uses software for implementing the complete and incremental dose calculation algorithms. The method and system are especially useful for IMRT and arc therapy where treatment plan optimization is particularly challenging.

Methods, systems, devices, and computer program products include positioning disposable single-use radiation sensor patches that have adhesive means onto the skin of a patient to evaluate the radiation dose delivered during a treatment session. The sensor patches are configured to be minimally obtrusive and operate without the use of externally extending power chords or lead wires.

Systems and methods for tracking targets in real time for radiation therapy and other applications. In one embodiment, a method includes collecting position information of a marker implanted within a patient at a site relative to the target at a time tn, and providing an objective output indicative of the location of the target based on the position information collected at time tn. The objective output is provided to a memory device, user interface, and / or radiation delivery machine within 1 ms to 2 seconds of the time tn when the position information was collected. This embodiment of the method can further include providing the objective output at a periodicity of 10-200 ms during at least a portion of a treatment procedure. For example, the method can further include generating a beam of ionizing radiation and directing the beam to a machine isocenter, and continuously repeating the collecting procedure and the providing procedure every 10-200 ms while irradiating the patient with the ionizing radiation beam.

A patient positioning system for use with a radiation therapy system that monitors the location of fixed and movable components and pre-plans movement of the movable components so as to inhibit movement if a collision would be indicated. The positioning system can also coordinate movement of multiple movable components for reduced overall latency in registering a patient. The positioning system includes external measurement devices which measure the location and orientation of objects, including components of the radiation therapy system, in space and can also monitor for intrusion into the active area of the therapy system by personnel or foreign objects to improve operational safety of the radiation therapy system.

Method and systems are disclosed for radiating a moving target inside a heart. The method includes acquiring sequential volumetric representations of an area of the heart and defining a target tissue region and / or a radiation sensitive structure region in 3D for a first of the representations. The target tissue region and / or radiation sensitive structure region are identified for another of the representations by an analysis of the area of the heart from the first representation and the other representation. Radiation beams to the target tissue region are fired in response to the identified target tissue region and / or radiation sensitive structure region from the other representation.

A system records and documents both external beam radiation therapy and radiation from implanted sources applied to an anatomical area, in a comprehensive consolidated record of radiation treatment that also documents detected radiation emission levels from internal patient sources measured externally to the patient. A system processes data concerning patient radiation treatment. The system includes an input processor for receiving data identifying a first radiation dose received by a particular anatomical part of a patient, from a radiation source external to a patient and a second radiation dose, received by the particular anatomical part of the patient from a radiation source internal to the patient. A data processor combines data representing the first and second dose to provide a combined dose value. A storage processor stores the combined value in a record associated with the patient

A system includes acquisition of a three-dimensional cone beam image, and determination of a dose to be delivered based on the three-dimensional image and on parameters of a treatment beam to deliver the dose. Some systems may include modification of a three-dimensional cone beam image to correct for scatter radiation, and determination of a dose based on the modified three-dimensional cone beam image.

A method, code and system for planning the treatment a lesion on or adjacent to the retina of an eye of a patient are disclosed. There is first established at least two beam paths along which x-radiation is to be directed at the retinal lesion. Based on the known spectral and intensity characteristics of the beam, a total treatment time for irradiation along each beam paths is determined. From the coordinates of the optic nerve in the aligned eye position, there is determined the extent and duration of eye movement away from the aligned patient-eye position in a direction that moves the patient's optic nerve toward the irradiation beam that will be allowed during treatment, while still maintaining the radiation dose at the patient optic nerve below a predetermined dose level.

A method of targeting therapy such as radiation treatment to a patient includes: identifying a target lesion inside the patient using an image obtained from an imaging modality selected from the group consisting of computed axial tomography, magnetic resonance tomography, positron emission tomography, and ultrasound; identifying an anatomical feature inside the patient on a static ultrasound image; registering the image of the target lesion with the static ultrasound image; and tracking movement of the anatomical feature during respiration in real time using ultrasound so that therapy delivery to the target lesion is triggered based on (1) movement of the anatomical feature and (2) the registered images.

Embodiments of the invention include a vertebral implant configured to replace at least a portion of a central vertebra and to direct therapeutic radiation toward at least a treatable portion of tissue. The treatable portion of tissue may include one or more adjacent treatable vertebra.

A system automatically compares radiotherapy 3D X-Ray images and subsequent images for update and re-planning of treatment and for verification of correct patient and image association. A medical radiation therapy system and workflow includes a task processor for providing task management data for initiating image comparison tasks prior to performing a session of radiotherapy. An image comparator, coupled to the task processor, in response to the task management data, compares a first image of an anatomical portion of a particular patient used for planning radiotherapy for the particular patient, with a second image of the anatomical portion of the particular patient obtained on a subsequent date, by image alignment and comparison of image element representative data of aligned first and second images to determine an image difference representative remainder value and determines whether the image difference representative remainder value exceeds a first predetermined threshold. An output processor, coupled to the image comparator, initiates generation of an alert message indicating a need to review planned radiotherapy treatment for communication to a user in response to a determination the image difference representative remainder value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

The present invention relates to a device and method for monitoring and verification of the quality of a radiation treatment beam in conformal radiation therapy, and in particular for IMPT (Intensity Modulated Particle Therapy) applications. The device comprises a 2D electronic detector measuring 2D responses to the delivered treatment beam. These 2D responses are compared with predicted 2D responses and differences in responses are signalled. Based on the measured 2D responses the effectively delivered 3D dose distribution in the target can be reconstructed.

A modified Fletcher-Suit tandem tube applicator includes a balloon which can be inflated to both positionally secure the applicator within the vaginal canal and to distend the confronting vaginal wall thereby increasing the distance of such tissue from the radioactive source contained in the tandem tube of applicator and correspondingly reducing radiation damage to nearby tissues and organs such as the rectum and bladder.

A method of providing intensity modulated radiation therapy to a moving target is disclosed. The target moves periodically along a trajectory that is projected onto a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) plane. The MLC plane is divided into thin slices parallel to the movement of the target. The present invention optimizes the leaf sequence such that, within each slice, if a point receives radiation, all other points in that slice that receive the same amount or more fluence are also receiving radiation at the same time.

The present invention relates to a particle therapy apparatus used for radiation therapy. More particularly, this invention relates to a gantry for delivering particle beams which comprises means to analyse the incoming beam. Means are integrated into the gantry to limit the momentum spread of the beam and / or the emittance of the beam.