Abstract: A wireless treatment target positioning system for therapeutic radiation treatment includes a patient positioning system and a treatment target locating system. The treatment target locating system includes a room beam coordinate system and a localizing system. The room beam coordinate system includes devices for generating laser beams intersecting at a single point that is spatially coincident with an iso-center of the treatment system. The localizing system includes a movable reference object and a localizer for detecting and determining the position of the movable reference object. A method of positioning a treatment target to the iso-center of the treatment system includes a simulation process and real treatment positioning process. The simulation process includes positioning the treatment target to an iso-center of a simulation system and marking intersection points where laser beams intersect with an exterior of the patient's body.

Abstract: A patient positioning assembly for therapeutic radiation treatment includes a support device for supporting the patient during treatment, and a controller for controlling the motion of the support device so that the treatment target within the patient is properly aligned with respect to a radiosurgical treatment apparatus throughout the treatment. The controller generates motion command signals for implementing corrective motions of the support device. The corrective motions align the target so that the position and orientation of the target, as shown in near real time image data, substantially match the position and orientation of the target, as shown in pre-treatment scans. One or more user interface modules, for example a handheld remote control module and a user interface screen, allows the user to interactively control the motion of the support device, by implementing one or more user selectable functions.

Abstract: A method for preventing an emission head or arm assembly from entering an exclusion zone. The method may include calculating a variable dimension exclusion zone of a radiosurgery system, and preventing at least one of the emission head or arm assembly from entering the variable dimension exclusion zone. The method may also include establishing a exclusion zone of a radiosurgery system, the radiosurgery system comprising an x-ray source having an emission head, moving the emission head during treatment of a patient, wherein the exclusion zone travels with the emission head, and detecting a presence and location of an object in the traveling exclusion zone.

Abstract: A method for preventing an emission head or arm assembly from entering an exclusion zone or for preventing a collision between an object and the emission head and/or arm assembly. The method may include modeling a treatment room using a computer-aided design (CAD) tool, and calculating an exclusion zone for a radiosurgery system in the treatment room using the modeled treatment room.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radiosurgery and/or radiotherapy x-ray system including a collision avoidance subsystem for detecting and avoiding obstacles during treatment. The system includes an x-ray source having an emission head at a distal end of an articulated arm assembly extending from a base unit, with the head being adapted for selectively emitting an x-ray beam along a beam axis, and including an associated controller for selectively orienting the head whereby the beam extends along a succession of treatment axes. The system further includes a collision avoidance subsystem including means for preventing the head and arm assembly from effecting a collision with an object in one or more pre-computed exclusion zones.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively and accurately localizing and treating a target within a patient are provided. A three dimensional mapping of a region surrounding the target is coupled to a surgical intervention. Two or more diagnostic beams at a known non-zero angle to one another may pass through the mapping region to produce images of projections within the mapping region in order to accurately localize and treat the target wherein the images are captured using one or more image recorders.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing treatment on an internal target region while compensating for breathing and other motion of the patient is provided in which the apparatus comprises a first imaging device for periodically generating positional data about the internal target region and a second imaging device for continuously generating positional data about one or more external markers attached to the patient's body or any external sensor such as a device for measuring air flow. The apparatus further comprises a processor that receives the positional data about the internal target region and the external markers in order to generate a correspondence between the position of the internal target region and the external markers and a treatment device that directs the treatment towards the position of the target region of the patient based on the positional data of the external markers.

Abstract: A three-dimensional dosimetry system and method for calibrating and mapping the expected radiation dose to be applied to a particular volume of tissue. In one embodiment, a stack of film is positioned within a radiation generation apparatus and is exposed to radiation. The film is scanned by a scanner and the scanner output is sent to a computer where it is compared to reference data of the desired dose distribution.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a technique for carrying out stereotaxic radiosurgery or radiotherapy on a particular target region within a patient by a radiosurgical/radiotherapeutic beam of radiation which is at least intermittently directed along a beam path through the target region. One particular beam generating arrangement illustrated is carried by a robotic arm which is movable in at least three dimensions. In accordance with one embodiment disclosed herein, a method and apparatus are provided for moving the robotic arm and beam generating arrangement along a predetermined, non-circular and non-linear path transverse to the beam path while, at the same time, the beam path is directed into the target region. In this way, the radiosurgical/radiotherapeutic beam can be directed through the target region from particular treatment points along the transverse path so as to define a non-spherical target region.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are set forth for selectively irradiating a target within a patient. A 3-dimensional mapping is provided of a mapping region surrounding the target. A beaming apparatus emits a collimated beam. Diagnostic beams at a known non-zero angle to one another pass through the mapping region. They produce images of projections within the mapping region. Electronic representations of the images are compared with the reference data thereby locating the target. The relative positions of the beaming apparatus and the living organism are adjusted in such a manner that the collimated beam is focused on the target region. The comparison is repeated at small time intervals and, when the comparison so indicates, the adjusting step is repeated, as needed, and in such a manner that the collimated beam remains focused on to the target region.