Abstract: We provide a radiotherapeutic apparatus comprising a patient support, magnetic coils disposed around the patient support for creating a magnetic field therewithin, a radiation source producing a beam of radiation directed toward the patient support and mounted on a rotatable support thereby to rotate the radiation source around the patient support, a slip ring for conveying electrical power to the radiation source and located around the patient support, including at least one electrical interruption therein. This creates a slip ring in which there is no continuous circumferential path, and one in which the current is therefore forced to take a route via one side or the other.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose a radiotherapy apparatus comprising a source of radiation configured to emit a beam of radiation and a collimator structure configured to limit a lateral extent of the beam, the collimator structure including a primary collimator configured to shape the beam, a first collimator comprising a plurality of adjacent elongate leaves, the leaves being extendable into the beam in a first direction transverse to the beam, and a block collimator including an aperture configured to permit the beam to pass through, the block collimator being extendable into the beam in a second direction transverse to the beam and transverse to the first direction. In some embodiments, the aperture may be cone-shaped or a through-hole, which may be empty or filled with a radiotransparent material. In some embodiments, the block collimator may include a plurality of apertures, which may be of varying dimensions.

Abstract: The present invention introduces a method for adjusting interference signal estimates provided by multichannel biomagnetic field measurements. A so-called Signal Space Separation method (SSS) is applied in the calculatory analysis of the measurement signals, providing for the division of the sources causing the fields in objects of interest and external interferences. When the signal basis representing the interferences has been estimated, this interference signal estimate is adjusted by measuring the fields without the object to be measured and without changing the sensor assembly. Interference components obtained in this manner are analyzed in such a way as to include only the most significant interference components. An adjusted interference subspace is formed, by means of which signal processing and the analysis of the useful signals can be continued.

Abstract: A radiotherapy apparatus includes a source of radiation, a patient support for locating a patient in the field of the source of radiation, a position detector for determining a position of a patient relative to the radiotherapy apparatus, a comparator for comparing the output of the position detector with a predetermined position, and a feedback system for informing the patient of the output of the comparator.

Abstract: A collimator for a radiotherapy apparatus comprising a block of radiation-attenuating material having a front face forming the leading edge of the block and at least one main rear face defining the trailing edge of the block, in which the least one main rear face has a material disposed thereon and is non-parallel to the front face. The collimator may form part of a radiotherapy apparatus, and methods of operation of such apparatus are described.

Abstract: A patient support system includes a floor cavity in the floor of a treatment room; a patient support device comprising a treatment table; a base; a first movement mechanism on which the treatment table is mounted; a second movement mechanism mounted on the base and attached to the first movement mechanism, wherein the first and second movement mechanisms are moveable independently of each other; the first movement mechanism is configured to raise and lower the treatment table and the second movement mechanism is configured to raise and lower the first movement mechanism such that in a lowered position the second movement mechanism is contained within the floor cavity.

Abstract: A collimator for a radiotherapy apparatus, comprising a block of radiation-attenuating material having a front face forming the leading edge of the block and at least one main rear face defining the trailing edge of the block, in which the or each rear face is substantially planar in the direction of the depth of the block and non-parallel to the front face. The collimator may form part of a radiotherapy apparatus, and methods of operation of such apparatus are described.

Abstract: A radiotherapy apparatus includes a rotatable drum on which is mounted a gantry arm carrying a radiation source. The arm extending from the drum to a location of the radiation source is offset from the axis of rotation of the drum and oriented towards the axis. The radiotherapy apparatus further includes a mechanism configured to apply a tilt to the arm at one or more rotational orientations of the drum. The rotatable drum is supported on wheels beneath the drum, and the mechanism is an eccentric mechanism within the wheels and is configured to apply the tilt to the arm via the wheels.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a system for controlling radiotherapy equipment in a treatment environment includes a controller for receiving, from one or more image capture devices, data indicating the position of one or more objects in the treatment environment. Based on the position data, the controller defines one or more exclusionary zones from which the radiotherapy equipment is excluded. Each zone has a buffer area surrounding one or more of the objects. The controller further directs the radiotherapy equipment such that a radiotherapy treatment plan is delivered without the equipment entering into the exclusionary zones.

Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods for Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), utilises an iterative approach which adjusts a treatment plan based on inter- or intra-fraction images to improve the accuracy of the radiation delivered during the overall treatment. The prescribed dose of radiotherapeutic radiation is mapped onto the patient's anatomy using an image acquired of the region, which is to be the target for radiotherapeutic radiation. Following beam-angle-optimisation, fluence optimisation and segmentation, the efficiency of delivery of each segment is determined using an objective function, and the segments ranked according to their efficiency. The plan proceeds with the choice of the most efficient segment (or segments) to be delivered first.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a positioning system in a radiation therapy system is disclosed, including a radiation therapy unit having a fixed radiation focus. The method includes the steps of irradiating a calibration tool including at least one reference object, capturing at least one two-dimensional image including cross-sectional representations of reference objects of the calibration tool and determining image coordinates of the representation of each reference object. Based on the reference objects image coordinates, positions of the reference objects in the stereotactic coordinate system relative to an origin of the calibration tool and the position of the origin of the calibration tool relative to the imaging unit, a position difference between the position of the calibration tool in the stereotactic coordinate system and a position of the calibration tool in an imaging system coordinate system including a translational and rotational position difference is calculated.

Abstract: A radiotherapy apparatus comprises a rotatable gantry, supporting a source of therapeutic radiation and a source of diagnostic radiation, the two sources being rotationally (or angularly) spaced apart around a rotation axis of the gantry, with at least one collimator associated with the source of therapeutic radiation and arranged to limit the cross-sectional area of a beam produced by that source, a control means arranged to conduct a treatment fraction using the apparatus by causing the apparatus to i. acquire images of a patient using the source of diagnostic radiation, ii. retain those images at least temporarily, iii. subsequently, after further rotation of the gantry, select a retained image acquired when the source of diagnostic radiation was at a rotational position corresponding to the instantaneous rotational position of the source of therapeutic radiation, and iv. control the beam relative to the patient using information derived from the selected image.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of systems for radiotherapy. Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a carousel to display the plurality of images to a user and receive an input from the user for selecting one or more images displayed in the carousel. A graphical user interface may be provided for displaying to the user the one or more images selected from the carousel.

Abstract: A radiotherapy apparatus comprises a rotatable gantry, supporting a source of therapeutic radiation and a source of diagnostic radiation. The two sources may be rotationally spaced apart around a rotation axis of the gantry, with at least one collimator associated with the source of therapeutic radiation and arranged to limit the cross-sectional area of a beam produced by that source. A control means may be arranged to conduct a treatment fraction using the apparatus by causing the apparatus to acquire images of a patient using the source of diagnostic radiation, retain those images at least temporarily, select a retained image acquired when the source of diagnostic radiation was at a rotational position corresponding to the instantaneous rotational position of the source of therapeutic radiation, and control the beam relative to the patient using information derived from the selected image.

Abstract: A radiotherapy apparatus includes a rotatable drum on which is mounted a gantry arm carrying a radiation source, the arm extending from the drum to locate the source is offset from the axis of rotation of the drum and oriented towards the axis, and a mechanism to apply a tilt to the arm depending on the rotational orientation of the drum.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a radiotherapy delivery apparatus having a radiation source for emitting a beam of radiation and rotatable around an axis intersecting the beam through a range of at least x degrees, an imaging device, and a control unit for controlling the source and imaging device. The apparatus further comprises a treatment planning computer configured to receive a first image of a patient, and receive parameters defining the operations of the radiotherapy delivery apparatus. The parameters include an available range of rotation for the source defined as x-e, where e>0. The treatment planning computer is further configured to generate a treatment plan for the patient based on the received image and parameters. The control unit determines a patient position using the imaging device, determines a rotation r of the patient around the axis relative to the first image, and compensates for the rotation by offsetting the source by a rotation equal to r when r<e.

Abstract: An apparatus for placement of an optical marker for radiotherapy onto a surface, wherein the optical marker has a reflective element positioned on a body having an outline and shaped and configured such that the reflective element is in a predetermined position relative to the outline of the body, the apparatus comprising a sheet of material having a hole therethrough which is shaped and configured to conform to the outline of the body and which has an upper surface with markings thereon configured for aligning with an image projected onto the surface on which the optical marker is to be placed.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a system for controlling radiotherapy equipment in a treatment environment includes a controller for receiving, from one or more image capture devices, data indicating the position of one or more objects in the treatment environment. Based on the position data, the controller defines one or more exclusionary zones from which the radiotherapy equipment is excluded. Each zone has a buffer area surrounding one or more of the objects. The controller further directs the radiotherapy equipment such that a radiotherapy treatment plan is delivered without the equipment entering into the exclusionary zones.