Abstract: A computer controlled robot system for positioning a patient for radiation therapy or other medical procedures and the like. The robot is mounted at the top of a vertical shaft extending from the treatment room floor and includes horizontal arms arranged to maximize the available work envelope and eliminate “dead spots” in the envelope that the robot cannot reach. A double redundant coupling system for coupling devices to the robot is provided. A vision based docking system is employed for automatically coupling devices to the robot. Various enhanced safety features are provided, including device specific collision avoidance.

Abstract: A particle beam transport system used for particle radiation therapy is provided. A beam of particles exiting from an accelerator is transported at fixed energy for treatment of patients in one or more treatment rooms using permanent magnets. In one embodiment, the system includes a series of fixed-magnetic-field permanent magnets as beam focusing elements that transport the beam at fixed energy to a point where the constant energy beam can be modified for use independently in different treatment rooms. In some embodiments, the particle beam may be deflected using dipole or Lambertson magnets manufactured using permanent magnetic material. The system may also incorporate a matching section imposed as the beam exits the accelerator. The matching system includes diagnostic elements and feedback systems that verify the beam properties as it exits the accelerator, and modify it, if necessary, until the beam attains a desired energy value.

Abstract: A gantry for administering proton beam therapy with improvements which reduce the size, weight, costs and radiation beam loss associated with proton beam therapy systems currently commercially available. The gantry utilizes achromatic superconducting multi-function electromagnet systems wherein the magnets can include dipoles and quadrupoles. The achromatic properties of the rampable magnet systems allow for ease of transmission of the beam whose energy is rapidly changed through a large range of different energies without changing of the strength of the magnetic fields or dipole settings. The magnets may be made with either low or high temperature superconductors. The gantry design further integrates beam scanning but keeps the gantry isocentric. A much greater fraction of the beam can be transmitted through the gantry than with current art, thereby reducing radiation shielding requirements and the demand put on the accelerator to produce large quantities of proton beam.

Abstract: A patient support system includes a wheeled gurney having an upper support frame with at least one open side. A front support plate and a rear support plate are attached to the upper support frame, with the rear support plate spaced apart from the front support plate to correspond to the at least one open side. There is a first registration element positioned on the front support plate and a second registration element positioned on the rear support plate. The first and the second registration elements are repeatably moveable between a first registration configuration and a second registration configuration. A method of positioning a patient support on a gurney begins by identifying a registration feature on a surface of a patient support and then identifying a mating registration feature on wheeled patient gurney that corresponds to the registration feature.