171 results about "Therapeutic radiation" patented technology

A photo-therapy device emits photo-therapeutic radiation to treat. living tissue. The device incorporates an array of emitters, the photo emissions of which is dependent on their temperature. Temperature feedback is provided to a voltage supply that supplies current to the emitters, to regulate the voltage supply level and the temperature of the emitters. Additionally, the wavelength of the radiation is dependent on the temperature of the emitters, so the wavelength is moved closer to an optimum wavelength for absorption by the tissue by controlling the temperature of the emitters. Furthermore, the useful life of the emitters is extended by pulsing the emitters on and off by sequentially applying an activation signal to one group of emitters at a time. Also, the device can operate on a wide range of voltage input levels since it utilizes a switching regulator, which can convert a voltage level in the range to the level required to drive the array of emitters. The photo-therapeutic infrared light may be used to treat insect bites and to relieve headaches in human beings. The infrared light emitters may be incorporated into a mouthpiece for treating gum tissues.

Methods and systems are disclosed for detecting overheating in an optical device before harmful consequences, such as severe local heating, can result. In one embodiment of the invention, a blackbody emitter is disposed in close proximity to a therapeutic optical fiber to absorb therapeutic radiation at a fault and re-emit blackbody (infrared) radiation. The emitter can be coupled to the fiber but, during normal operation, lies outside the optical path between the output of the laser radiation and the site of treatment. Systems and catheters incorporating such emitters are also described for effective monitoring of the laser power transmitted along the optical fiber within the phototherapy device.

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 invention relates to a device for performing and verifying therapeutic radiation. An x-ray beam (4) is arranged across from a target volume (3) of the beam source (11) for the high-energy beam (1) in such a way that the beams (1, 4) run in essentially opposite directions (5, 6). The invention also relates to a computer program and a control method for operating said device. The inventive device makes it possible to exactly verify areas (16, 16′, 16″) that are subjected to different levels of radiation, the entire anatomy of the target volume (3), and the surroundings thereof in addition to the contour of the therapy beam (1). The x-ray beam (4) detects the anatomy and position of the patient (21) within the range of the target volume (3) before the high-energy beam (1) is applied and the shape of the applied high-energy beam (1) is then detected and areas (16, 16′, 16″) that are subjected to different levels of radiation as well as at least one partial segment of the target volume (3) during the emission breaks of the high-energy beam (1). The detected data is used for correcting the treatment plan.

A method of treating an object with radiation that includes generating volumetric image data of an area of interest of an object and emitting a therapeutic radiation beam towards the area of interest of the object in accordance with a reference plan. The method further includes evaluating the volumetric image data and at least one parameter of the therapeutic radiation beam to provide a real-time, on-line or off-line evaluation and on-line or off-line modification of the reference plan.

A radio-therapy apparatus includes a radiation head configured to irradiate a therapeutic radiation, and an image processing section configured to generate an image of a diseased portion of a specimen from a result of detection of the diseased portion while tracking the diseased portion to which the therapeutic radiation is irradiated from the radiation head. A control section controls the radiation head and the image processing section such that a period containing the generation of the image and the irradiation of the therapeutic radiation is repeated and the detection of the diseased portion in a next period is started prior to an end of a current period. A recording section records the image of the diseased portion generated by the image processing section in order.

A method for delivering therapeutic radiation during a radiation treatment procedure to a tumor moving within a patient due to physiological activity of the patient includes:

• • in a preliminary procedure, monitoring motion of the tumor to generating and record a surrogate signal representing the tumor motion;
  • determining a radiation therapy plan for the patient including a planned sequence of varying parameters of a radiation beam to track the tumor motion and a planned rate of execution of the planned sequence;
  • configuring a radiation therapy device to deliver radiation in accordance with the radiation therapy plan, positioning the patient within the device, and activating the device to perform the planned sequence;
  • monitoring tumor motion during the procedure to provide a treatment surrogate signal;
  • determining the difference between the estimated and treatment surrogate signals; and

regulating the speed of the radiation treatment procedure by varying the rate of execution of the sequence of beam parameters in accordance with the difference between the estimated and treatment surrogate signals.

An accurate method for inversely verifying a therapeutic radiation dose delivered to a patient via an x-ray delivery system without involving any computational iteration was developed. The usage of it includes detecting the transmitted radiation dose image after passage through the patient, imaging the patient during treatment to anatomically record information of the patient, followed by inversely verifying through use of both the detected radiation image and the imaging data, the actual radiation dose delivered to the patient, and comparing the level of the dose delivered to a previously planned dose to determine whether the planned dose was delivered, or whether an overdose or underdose occurred.

An ocular brachytherapy device, generally comprising a catheter and wire, impregnated with radioactive material, are provided. The wire is formed having a desired treatment shape and size such that it can be placed near an area requiring treatment and effectuate treatment while not affecting adjacent areas. For ease in placement near such areas the wire is preferably formed using materials having properties that permit formation into a desired shape while allowing the wire to be straightened for retraction into the catheter, the shape returning upon removal from the catheter. The wire is preferably impregnated with radioactive material. When the catheter is placed near the area of treatment and the wire is pushed out of the catheter, the wire retakes the desired form and provides a therapeutic radioactive treatment to the area. Preferably, the radioactive material is placed on one edge of the wire, such that the radiation can be directed to the affected area, and non-affected areas can be shielded from radiation.

A structure that can be partially assembled at one location, transported to a site in modules, and then fully assembled into a structure suitable for housing a therapeutic radiation source is disclosed. The modules include reinforced walls that are filled with radiation shielding fill material to form a barrier around a central treatment area. Additional modules are placed over the first set of modules and form a barrier above the treatment room. A door with a selectively retractable threshold provides access to the treatment room. The module including the radiation equipment is included in removable portions so that the radiation equipment can be removed and replaced. The modules also form a patient waiting room and control area separated from the treatment by the barrier.

A breast radiation imaging and therapy apparatus for performing radiation imaging of a breast and having a therapy function of applying radiation to an affected part in the breast. The apparatus includes: (i) a table formed with an opening for allowing a breast of an examinee to pass through; (ii) an imaging unit including a first radiation generating unit for applying an imaging radiation beam and a radiation detecting unit for detecting the radiation beam to output detection signals; (iii) a therapy unit including a second radiation generating unit for applying a therapeutic radiation beam, the second radiation generating unit being movable in a tangential direction of a rotational track around a rotational axis and movable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the table; and (iv) at least one rotational driving device for rotating the imaging unit and the therapy unit around the rotational axis.

A radiation therapy planning apparatus is provided with; a three-dimensional data collection part collecting three-dimensional data representing a plurality of positions where a plurality of portions of a subject are positioned; a marker position measurement part measuring a motion of a marker; and a dose calculation part calculating, when the subject is irradiated with therapeutic radiation changing on the basis of the motion of the subject, the dose of the therapeutic radiation with which each of the plurality of portions is irradiated, based on the motion and the three-dimensional data. The radiation therapy planning apparatus thus constructed can calculate the dose of the therapeutic radiation with which each of the respective portions of the subject is irradiated, more accurately, and reduce the dose of radiation with which the subject is irradiated in calculating the motions of the plurality of portions of the subject.

A combined MRI and radiation therapy system has MRI imaging equipment and radiation therapy equipment. The MRI imaging equipment includes a shielded solenoidal magnet including a number of main magnet coils arranged coaxially along an axis, and a shielding arrangement arranged coaxially with the axis, at a greater radius from the axis than the main magnet coils. The radiation therapy equipment includes a LINAC assembly, that includes a linear electron accelerator arranged with an electron beam path parallel to the axis, and electron beam deflection arrangement and a target for generating a beam of therapeutic radiation. The linear electron accelerator is located at a position radially between the main magnet coils and the shielding arrangement.

The present invention provides a radiotherapy apparatus for applying therapeutic radiation to a target region of a patient, comprising a patient support, a source of radiation, a collimator comprising a plurality of leaves, a sensing system and control circuitry. The position of a target region is determined and resolved into two components orthogonal to the radiation beam axis. One component is assigned to the patient support, and the other to the collimator leaves, such that movement of the target region is compensated for and the radiation beam intersects is correctly targeted.

A catheter for the positioning of a radioactive material for therapeutic radiation treatment of the body is disclosed. The catheter includes a radioactive source positioned at the distal end thereof and is sufficiently flexible and strong to navigate in the body to the desired treatment location. The radioactive source may be provided to the catheter in a number of different ways. In one set of embodiments, the radioactive source is bonded to the inner or outer surface of the catheter body, a catheter attachment or a carrier positionable within the catheter body. In another set of embodiments, one of the catheter body, catheter attachment or carrier positionable within the catheter body includes a cavity within which the radioactive source is placed. In this set of embodiments, the radioactive source may be provided in a variety of different forms, depending upon the particular needs of the treatment method. The radioactive source may also be immobilized in a polymeric material such as an elastomer, gel, hydrogel, foam or other similar deformable material. Finally, the catheter body or carrier may include a removable portion which provides access to the cavity within which the radioactive source is housed.

A therapeutic radiation source includes an in situ radiation detecting system for monitoring in real time an amount of the therapeutic radiation that has been generated. An electron source generates electrons in response to light that is transmitted through a fiber optic cable and impinges upon the electron source. The electrons are accelerated toward the target and strike the target, causing the target to emit therapeutic radiation, such as x-rays. A scintillator is disposed along a path of a portion of the emitted therapeutic radiation, and generates scintillator light corresponding to the intensity of the therapeutic radiation that is incident upon the scintillator. A photodetector in optical communication with the scintillator produces a signal indicative of the intensity of the therapeutic radiation incident upon the scintillator.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a fluid and reduced-toxicity optical media with optical analysis and therapeutic energy delivery. An aspect of the invention provides an aqueous solution of increased-salinity of between about 1% and 35%. An increasing salinity in accordance with the invention provides improved transmissive efficiency at many wavelengths and less toxicity than many existing systems and methods. A catheter having integrated fibers for probing or treating internal lumens or other tissues can include a liquid-inflatable balloon or flushing mechanism using the solution for displacing blood or other obstructions in an optical path between the fiber and targeted tissue. Methods including spectroscopy can be employed with the solution for diagnosing medical conditions associated with diseased vessels or other tissues while reducing the risk of permanent damage resulting from the diagnosis. Additional applications include the deliver of therapeutic radiation externally and internally to tissues through h the solution media.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand-held radiation device for treating bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections found on the skin of a patient and in various of the body's anatomical orifices. The device of the invention is particularly effective in treating Methicillin resistant staphlococcus aureus (MRSA) colonies in the nose and on the skin surface of a patient. The device includes a reusable UV light source and a UV-transparent disposable cover for covering the probe portion of the reusable UV light source. The device further includes a combination probe cover ejector and disabling assembly for safely ejecting the probe cover after use without the necessity of the operator touching the contaminated probe cover and for disabling the device if the cover is not in place over the probe.

There is described a radiotherapy device having an integrated unit composed of a therapeutic radiation unit for treating an area of a body of a patient and an image recording apparatus for recording images of the area of the body using an element configured as a radiation source and an element configured as a radiation detector. To generate images for a reliable identification and precise localization of a tumor and consequently achieve good patient accessibility the image recording apparatus comprises an angiography CT.

The present invention relates to a radiation treatment planning system and a corresponding computer program product. The system comprises means for graphically displaying an image representing a target area 10 to be treated with a set o therapeutic radiation beams and an adjacent structure comprising healthy tissue 14 and/or organs at risk 12, and for displaying corresponding dose values according to a preliminary treatment plan. The system further comprises means for allowing a user to interactively input a local dose variation, local dose variation means for revising the preliminary treatment plan such as to account for the local dose variation inputted by the user and dose recovery means comprising means for revising the treatment plan again such as to at least partially compensate for a change of dose in a predetermined recovery area caused by said dose variation.