Abstract: A system for immobilizing tissue during upright radiotherapy including a first support element and a second support element tilted with respect to each other and operative to apply pressure on opposite sides of a patient positioned therebetween so as to generally immobilize a target located in the patient, the first and second support elements being mounted on mounting members that are connected to a turntable operative to rotate the patient about a vertical rotational axis.

Abstract: A method for radiotherapy of a non-recumbent patient, including immobilizing a region containing a target determining a spatial position of the target in a non-recumbent treatment position by applying a formula to images acquired by recumbent-only imaging in a recumbent position and by general imaging in a non-recumbent position, the formula calculating the non-recumbent treatment position as a function of the target position relative to anatomical and/or other markers as calculated from recumbent-only imaging, and the position of the markers relative to a treatment device as calculated from general imaging in the non-recumbent position, positioning the patient for treatment in the non-recumbent treatment position according to the markers' position, and irradiating the target with a radiation beam while the target is in the non-recumbent treatment position.

Abstract: An attenuator system for attenuating a radiation beam, including a first attenuating element placed in a path of a radiation beam for attenuation thereof, a second attenuating element placed distal to the first attenuating element for further attenuation of the radiation beam, a first positioner operatively connected to the first attenuating element, which moves the first attenuating element along a first direction, a first processor operatively connected to the first positioner for controlling motion of the first attenuating element, a second positioner operatively connected to the second attenuating element, which moves the second attenuating element along a second direction, and a second processor operatively connected to the second positioner for controlling motion of the second attenuating element, wherein a two-dimensional attenuation distribution of the first attenuating element varies linearly with respect to at least one coordinate.

Abstract: A support system for breast irradiation including a turntable for supporting and rotating a patient about a generally vertical rotational axis, a body-leaning support for supporting the patient leaning thereupon throughout rotation of the patient about the vertical rotational axis, and a radiation shield arranged for shielding non-breast anatomy of the patient from stray radiation, wherein the body-leaning support and the radiation shield are separated from each other by a gap in which breasts of the patient are placeable for irradiation by a horizontal radiation beam.

Abstract: A method for radiotherapy of a non-recumbent patient, including immobilizing a region containing a target determining a spatial position of the target in a non-recumbent treatment position by applying a formula to images acquired by recumbent-only imaging in a recumbent position and by general imaging in a non-recumbent position, the formula calculating the non-recumbent treatment position as a function of the target position relative to anatomical and/or other markers as calculated from recumbent-only imaging, and the position of the markers relative to a treatment device as calculated from general imaging in the non-recumbent position, positioning the patient for treatment in the non-recumbent treatment position according to the markers' position, and irradiating the target with a radiation beam while the target is in the non-recumbent treatment position.

Abstract: A radiotherapy system including a radiation source operable to produce a radiation beam towards a target, an orientation changer operable to change a relative position of the radiation source with respect to the target, and a multileaf attenuator including attenuating leaves including respective spatially varying attenuation properties and a positioner in communication with the orientation changer, each of the attenuating leaves having a leaf length, leaf thickness, leaf center and leaf direction, wherein the leaf direction is a line intersecting the leaf center along the leaf thickness, wherein the radiation beam includes one or more beam segments, wherein a beam segment is the part of the beam intercepted by one of the attenuating leaves, and wherein the target includes one or more target segments, wherein a target segment is that part of the target that intercepts a corresponding one of the beam segments, wherein each of the attenuating leaves is operative to modulate an intensity of a corresponding beam s

Abstract: An article including a food plate including a plurality of slender elements spanning over a surface for placing food thereon, wherein ends of the slender elements are supported in a frame and wherein adjacent slender elements are movable laterally with respect to one another so as to accommodate various fork tine spacings.

Abstract: An image-guided radiotherapy system including a magnet assembly operable to produce a horizontal imaging field in an imaging region, and a non-imaging field in a non-imaging region, a positioner operable to rotate an object in the imaging region about a generally vertical rotational axis, a magnetic resonance (MR) imager in communication with the horizontal imaging field, a collimator operable to collimate a generally horizontal radiation beam directed towards the object, and a radiation source operable to produce a radiation beam of charged particles substantially parallel to the non-imaging field in the non-imaging region.

Abstract: A radiotherapy system including a stationary radiation source that emits a radiation beam towards an isocenter located at a target, a skull attachment attachable to a patient's skull, a coupler attached to the stationary radiation source and to the skull attachment, wherein the coupler is operable to translate the skull attachment and to rotate the skull attachment about first and second rotational axes of the coupler.

Abstract: An attenuator system for attenuating a radiation beam, including a first attenuating element placed in a path of a radiation beam for attenuation thereof, a second attenuating element placed distal to the first attenuating element for further attenuation of the radiation beam, a first positioner operatively connected to the first attenuating element, which moves the first attenuating element along a first direction, a first processor operatively connected to the first positioner for controlling motion of the first attenuating element, a second positioner operatively connected to the second attenuating element, which moves the second attenuating element along a second direction, and a second processor operatively connected to the second positioner for controlling motion of the second attenuating element, wherein a two-dimensional attenuation distribution of the first attenuating element varies linearly with respect to at least one coordinate.

Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) scanning system including a source operable to emit a cone beam of radiation toward an object, a detector operable to detect radiation emitted by the source and to produce detector values related to projections of an object attenuation, a turntable operable to rotate the object about a rotational axis, and a source mover operable to move the source so as to vary an angle between the cone beam and the rotational axis.

Abstract: An upright treatment system including a source housing including a radiation source operable to emit an orientated radiation beam, a source positioner operable to rotate the source housing through an elevation angle about a source housing elevation rotation axis which generally intersects a center of gravity of the source housing, and a target positioner operable to position a target linearly along a generally vertical target rotation axis for interception with the radiation beam, wherein the target positioner is further operable to rotate the target about the target rotation axis.

Abstract: An acoustic wave device including an acoustic wave transducer adapted to generate an acoustic wave in a propagation liquid, the acoustic wave transducer having an inner contour defined by rotating a curve about a rotation axis of symmetry, wherein the curve and the acoustic wave are not parallel to the rotation axis of symmetry, and a focusing lens arranged with respect to the acoustic wave transducer so as to focus the acoustic wave emanating from the acoustic wave transducer to a focal point.

Abstract: A radiotherapy system including a collimator operable to shape and steer a radiation beam in at least one dimension, a turntable for supporting a patient thereupon adapted to rotate the patient about a rotational axis, the patient having a target therein for irradiation by the radiation beam, a detector adapted for measuring a position of the target relative to the radiation beam, and a processor adapted to receive target positional data from the detector, the processor being in communication with the collimator for causing the collimator to steer the radiation beam in a direction to the target.

Abstract: Apparatus including a first electromagnetic energy element that includes protrusions that jut into recesses formed in a second electromagnetic energy element, and a source of electromagnetic energy connected to the first and second electromagnetic energy elements for operating the first and second electromagnetic energy elements as bipolar electrodes. The first and second electromagnetic energy elements may be both formed with protrusions and recesses that interleave with each other.

Abstract: An article including a food plate including a surface for placing food thereon, the surface including an orderly series of protrusions spaced from one another, wherein a spacing between adjacent protrusions equals a distance between tines of a fork.

Abstract: An upright treatment system including a source housing including a radiation source operable to emit an orientated radiation beam, a source positioner operable to rotate the source housing through an elevation angle about a source housing elevation rotation axis which generally intersects a center of gravity of the source housing, and a target positioner operable to position a target linearly along a generally vertical target rotation axis for interception with the radiation beam, wherein the target positioner is further operable to rotate the target about the target rotation axis.

Abstract: A target positioner including a radiation source disposed in a source housing, the radiation source adapted to emit a radiation beam, a target holder adapted to be attached to and generally immobilize a target organ, the target holder being rotatingly attached to a bearing assembly, a patient support table for supporting a patient thereon, a rotator for turning the patient support table about a rotation axis, and a source arm fixedly attached at one portion thereof to the source housing and at another portion thereof to the bearing assembly, such that when the target holder is attached to a target organ and the rotator turns the patient support table about the rotation axis, the target holder constrains the target organ from translating with respect to the radiation source and the source housing, and wherein the target holder permits the target organ to rotate by means of the bearing assembly relative to the source housing while experiencing slight translations with respect to the patient support table, so th

Abstract: An image scanning system including a plurality of spatially-distributed radiation beam sources, each source operative to emit a radiation beam characterized by a distinguishing parameter unique to each radiation beam source, and a common detector arranged with respect to the radiation beam sources such that the radiation beam sources emit their radiation beams onto the common detector which is operable to receive and distinguish the radiation beams on the basis of their respective distinguishing parameters so as to acquire partial projections sets of an object through which the radiation beams pass, wherein a union of the partial projections sets forms a projection set sufficient for reconstruction of an image of the object.

Abstract: A shockwave generating system comprising a first shockwave source device that is formed with an aperture through which a second shockwave source device is adapted to transmit shockwaves. The second shockwave source device may be disposed at least partially in the aperture.