Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for designing a ridge filter for a charged particle accelerator, for depositing with beams of accelerated particles (100.i) specific doses (Dij) into specific locations within a treatment volume (V) of tissue comprising tumoral cells (3t) by single layer pencil beam scanning (PBS), according to a predefined treatment plan (TP), the method comprising the following steps, Defining an array of spots (Si) defining the bases of cylindrical subvolumes (Vi) defining the treatment volume (V); the subvolumes (Vi) are divided into N cells (Cij). The ridge filter is designed comprising the same number of energy degrading units (11.i) as there are spots (Si). Each energy degrading unit (11.i) is formed by N cylindrical degrading subunits (11.ij) of lengths (Lij) and area (Aij). The lengths (Lij) of each degrading subunit (11.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for assessing a quality of a beam shaping device (11) manufactured according to a planned device design (11d) for shaping a beam (100.i) of accelerated particles emitted by a particle accelerator system, the method comprising, (a) establishing with a treatment planning system (TPS) the planned device design (11d) of the beam shaping device, (b) manufacturing the beam shaping device according to the planned device design, (c) establishing a CT-scan of the beam shaping device to yield an actual CT-image (11a), (d) determining dimensions and local materials densities from the actual CT-image, (e) determining a calculated dose distribution in the treatment volume (V) obtained by virtually irradiating the treatment volume with the beam through a virtual beam shaping device having a geometry and a density defined by the device actual CT-image, (f) comparing the calculated dose distribution (cDD) with a reference dose distribution (rDD).

Abstract: A particle therapy apparatus configured to scan a charged particle beam over a target according to a pre-defined treatment field which covers a treatment surface in an isocenter plane of the apparatus. The apparatus is capable of scanning the beam over a reachable surface which covers and is larger than the treatment surface. A beam stopper is arranged downstream of the scanning magnets of the apparatus, at a position to prevent the beam from reaching at least a portion of the reachable surface and to allow the beam to reach any portion of the treatment surface. A control system is configured to control the apparatus to direct the beam to the beam stopper and to meanwhile measure a position of the beam, to calculate a difference between a desired position and the measured position of the beam when directed to the beam stopper, and to scan the beam over the target according to the pre-defined treatment field by taking into account the calculated difference.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for optimizing tolerance values of operating parameters of a particle accelerating system allowing a plurality of beamlets of particles accelerated along an irradiation axis, to deposit doses by pencil beam scanning into a structure of interest of a patient according to a treatment plan. The method calculates the dose (rate) volume histograms for a statistically representative number N of values randomly selected within a defined confidence level in preselected tentative statistical distributions of the operating parameters and compares the obtained calculated dose (rate) volume histogram with an acceptable band of variation of a target dose (rate) volume histogram. Once a tentative statistical distribution yields N calculated dose (rate) volume histograms which all fall within the acceptable band of variation, it is set as the final statistical distribution, and the particle accelerating system can be programmed with the final statistical distribution.

Abstract: A particle therapy system that is adapted to irradiate a target volume (1) with charged particles in compliance with a desired 3-D dose distribution. Such a desired 3-D dose distribution is achieved while delivering a plurality of particle energy distributions at the output of an energy-shaping device (10) crossed by an incident mono-energetic charged particle beam (6). The energy-shaping device comprises a plurality of groups (12, 22) of energy-shaping elements (11, 21), each of them comprising an individual layer of fluid or solid material (13), which thickness is adapted individually by a control unit (14). The use of configurable layers of fluids or solid materials makes the energy-shaping device reusable for treating different patients.

Abstract: A treatment device includes a pulsed particles accelerator and a processor for controlling the latter to deliver a treatment plan by deposition at HDR of charged particles into a flash volume (Vht) by PBS. To shorten the time for depositing a target dose (Dti) into the cells spanned by the flash spots (Si) of the flash volume (Vht), the flash spots are combined into k sets of n flash spots (Si). After depositing a jth pulse dose (Dij) into the cells spanned by a ith flash spot (Si) the beam commutes from the ith flash spot (Si) to a next (i+1)th flash spot according to a flash scanning subsequence to deposit a jth dose into the cells spanned by each of the subsequent flash spots of the flash scanning subsequence, until returning to the ith flash spot to deposit a (j+1)th dose (Di(j+1)), and so on When all the cells spanned by all the flash spots of a set have received their corresponding target dose, the beam moves to a next set of combined flash spots and repeats the foregoing pulse deposition steps.

Abstract: A treatment planning system for generating a plan for treatment by radiation with charged particles beams applied by pencil beam scanning onto a target tissue comprising tumoral cells is provided. The treatment planning system performs a dose definition stage defining the doses to be deposited within the peripheral surface, a beam definition stage defining positions and dimensions of the beamlets of the PBS during the at least one high rate fraction, the beams definition stage including a dose rate definition stage comprising at least one high rate fraction, and a beamlets scanning sequence stage defining a scanning sequence of irradiation of the beamlets. The beamlets scanning sequence stage optimizes a time sequence of beamlets emission such that at the end of a fraction j, a dose is deposited onto at least a predefined fraction of each specific volume at a mean deposition rate superior or equal to a predefined value.

Abstract: A treatment planning system for generating a plan for treatment with charged particles beams, of a target tissue including tumoral cells enclosed within a peripheral surface, which is surrounded by healthy cells the plan including N fractions of irradiation including irradiation of volumes including tumoral cells and healthy cells at a conventional dose deposition rate, irradiation of volumes including tumoral cells and healthy cells at an ultra-high dose deposition rate, wherein an equivalent healthy fraction dose does not exceed a maximum equivalent healthy fraction dose for preserving the healthy cells after each fraction, and a total equivalent healthy dose delivered to and cumulated in a volume of a healthy tissue at the end of N fractions does not exceed a maximum equivalent healthy dose for preserving the healthy cells at the end of the N fractions.

Abstract: A treatment planning system for generating a plan for treatment by radiation with charged particles beams applied by pencil beam scanning onto a target tissue comprising tumoral cells is provided. The treatment planning system performs a dose definition stage defining the doses to be deposited within the peripheral surface, a beam definition stage defining positions and dimensions of the beamlets of the PBS during the at least one high rate fraction, the beams definition stage including a dose rate definition stage comprising at least one high rate fraction, and a beamlets scanning sequence stage defining a scanning sequence of irradiation of the beamlets. The beamlets scanning sequence stage optimizes a time sequence of beamlets emission such that at the end of a fraction j, a dose is deposited onto at least a predefined fraction of each specific volume at a mean deposition rate superior or equal to a predefined value.

Abstract: A device is provided for positioning a target volume, such as a phantom or a patient, in a radiation therapy apparatus. The apparatus directs a radiation beam towards the target. The apparatus can include a target support whereon the target is immobilized, a two dimensional radiation detector fixed with fixations means in a known geometric relationship to the target support, the radiation detector being capable of detecting the position of intersection of the radiation beam with the detector, and correcting means for correcting the relative position of the beam and the target support, based on the detected intersection position.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a measurement system for characterization of luminescence properties, the method comprises irradiating the luminescent material with a pulse of excitation light, providing a triggering signal correlated to the pulse of excitation light; detecting with a photodetector such as a photomultiplier tube (PMT) a plurality of photons emitted from the luminescent material as result of the pulse of excitation light, the photodetector providing an output signal upon the event of detection of a photon; determining for each detected photon a photon arrival time and providing an output suitable for inputting to an analysing module wherein an output comprises zero, one, or more photon arrival time for each excitation, receiving said outputs in an analysing module; and determining in the analysing module, characteristics properties of the luminescent material by performing a statistical analysis based on Bayesian inference.

Abstract: A device is provided for positioning a target volume, such as a phantom or a patient, in a radiation therapy apparatus. The apparatus directs a radiation beam towards the target. The apparatus can include a target support whereon the target is immobilized, a two dimensional radiation detector fixed with fixations means in a known geometric relationship to the target support, the radiation detector being capable of detecting the position of intersection of the radiation beam with the detector, and correcting means for correcting the relative position of the beam and the target support, based on the detected intersection position.

Abstract: Device for positioning a target volume (112) such, as a phantom or a patient in a radiation therapy apparatus, said apparatus directing a radiation beam (405) towards said target (112), characterized in that it comprises:—a target support (100) whereon the target is immobilized; a two dimensional radiation detector (103) fixed with fixations means (101, 102, 104, 106 107; 301, 302, 304, 305, 306; 208, 209) in a known geometric relationship to said target support (100), said radiation detector (103) being capable of detecting the position of intersection of said radiation beam (105) with said detector (103); correcting means for correcting the relative position of said beam (105) and said target support 100), based on said detected intersection position.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer has a first photodetector (24) and a second photodetector (25) which is displaced spatially from the first photodetector in the direction of increasing wavelength in the spectrum. At any given time the second photodetector receives light at a wavelength which is substantially greater than that being received simultaneously by the first photodetector at that time. The first photodetector has first range of wavelengths over which it is operable and a first upper operating limit, and the second photodetector has a second range of wavelengths over which it is operable and a second upper operating limit, the second range overlapping the first range and the second upper operating limit being greater than the first upper operating limit. Thus the range of operation is extended, and data in two different ranges is processed simultaneously.

Abstract: Device for positioning a target volume (112) such, as a phantom or a patient in a radiation therapy apparatus, said apparatus directing a radiation beam (405) towards said target (112), characterized in that it comprises:—a target support (100) whereon the target is immobilized; a two dimensional radiation detector (103) fixed with fixations means (101,102, 104, 106 107; 301, 302, 304, 305, 306; 208, 209) in a known geometric relationship to said target support (100), said radiation detector (103) being capable of detecting the position of intersection of said radiation beam (105) with said detector (103); correcting means for correcting the relative position of said beam (105) and said target support 100), based on said detected intersection position.

Abstract: An automated method for measuring the development of a biofilm, containing one or more fluorescent moieties, on a plurality of surfaces using a confocal imaging system including: a) a radiation source system for forming a beam of electromagnetic radiation including one or more wavelengths; b) an optical system for directing and focusing said beam onto one or more planes of the object; c) a detection system for detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted from the object and producing image data; and d) a scanning system for scanning the object in a plurality of planes with the electromagnetic radiation, the method comprising the steps of: i) growing said biofilm on said plurality of surfaces; ii) detecting the presence of said one or more fluorescent moieties within the biofilm by scanning the biofilm with electromagnetic radiation in a plurality of planes and collecting fluorescent emissions to produce a plurality of images; and iii) analysing said images by means of a data processing system under the control

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a measurement system for characterisation of luminescence properties, the method comprises irradiating the luminescent material with a pulse of excitation light, providing a triggering signal correlated to the pulse of excitation light; detecting with a photodetector such as a photomultiplier tube (PMT) a plurality of photons emitted from the luminescent material as result of the pulse of excitation light, the photodetector providing an output signal upon the event of detection of a photon; determining for each detected photon a photon arrival time and providing an output suitable for inputting to an analysing module wherein an output comprises zero, one, or more photon arrival time for each excitation, receiving said outputs in an analysing module; and determining. in the analysing module, characteristics properties of the luminescent material by performing a statistical analysis based on Bayesian inference.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, a measuring cell and a system for measuring very small heat changes in a sample. The system comprises a measuring cell 16 for containing the sample during the measurement process, at least one electromagnetic radiation unit 14 for radiating one or several samples with modulated monochromatic or polychromatic radiation 46 inside said measuring cell 16. Said measuring cell 16 comprises at least one acoustic transducer 22 for generating a first output signal V(t) and at least one heat measuring device 24 for generating a second output signal T(t). Both signals are connectable to a combining unit 18 that generates an information signal by means of a reference signal f(t). Said information signal is connectable to a signal processing unit 20 for determining at least one relevant reaction parameter as a function of the measured heat change.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, a measuring cell and a system for measuring very small heat changes in a sample. The system comprises a measuring cell 16 for containing the sample during the measurement process, at least one electromagnetic radiation unit 14 for radiating one or several samples with modulated monochromatic or polychromatic radiation 46 inside said measuring cell 16. Said measuring cell 16 comprises at least one acoustic transducer 22 for generating a first output signal V(t) and at least one heat measuring device 24 for generating a second output signal T(t). Both signals are connectable to a combining unit 18 that generates an information signal by means of a reference signal f(t). Said information signal is connectable to a signal processing unit 20 for determining at least one relevant reaction parameter as a function of the measured heat change.