Patents by Inventor Stephan Erbel

Stephan Erbel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20090163799
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the position of an object moving within a body, wherein the body is connected to markers, a movement signal is determined based on the measured movement of the markers, images are taken from the object using a camera or detector, wherein the camera or detector is moved with respect to the object, it is determined from which direction or range of angles or segment the most images corresponding to a predefined cycle of the movement signal are taken, and using at least some or all of the images of the segment containing the most images for a specified movement cycle, an image of the object is reconstructed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Kajetan Berlinger
  • Patent number: 7400700
    Abstract: A non-diagnostic, stereoscopic x-ray tracking apparatus and method for tracking moving objects in the context of radiotherapy and radiosurgery includes using two x-ray tubes to alternately and repeatedly record x-ray images of an object along two different viewing lines through the target area of an irradiating apparatus. The viewing lines intersect at a known angle, wherein an extrapolated object trajectory is ascertained by determining surfaces and intersecting points. Further, a minimum transversal from the object trajectory onto a current viewing line is ascertained, wherein the three-dimensional position of the tracked object is approximated at the point at which the object trajectory meets the viewing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventor: Stephan Erbel
  • Patent number: 7324626
    Abstract: Volumetric imaging on a radiotherapy apparatus, wherein a body, of which a volumetric image data set is to be produced, is positioned on a couch of the radiotherapy apparatus, and the couch or a bearing area of the couch or the body itself is rotated about a spatially fixed axis. During rotation, multiple x-ray images of the body or of a part of the body are produced and stored by at least one radiation source/image recorder system which is separate from the radiotherapy apparatus and whose radiation path is substantially not parallel to the spatially fixed axis. The rotational position of the couch or the bearing area of the couch or the body itself is detected while the images are produced, and the rotational position is assigned to the corresponding image, wherein a volumetric image data set of the body is reconstructed from the x-ray images by image processing and assignment by a computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventors: Stefan Vilsmeier, Cornel Schlossbauer, Stephan Erbel, Ulf Labsik
  • Publication number: 20070230655
    Abstract: A non-diagnostic, stereoscopic x-ray tracking apparatus and method for tracking moving objects in the context of radiotherapy and radiosurgery includes using two x-ray tubes to alternately and repeatedly record x-ray images of an object along two different viewing lines through the target area of an irradiating apparatus. The viewing lines intersect at a known angle, wherein an extrapolated object trajectory is ascertained by determining surfaces and intersecting points. Further, a minimum transversal from the object trajectory onto a current viewing line is ascertained, wherein the three-dimensional position of the tracked object is approximated at the point at which the object trajectory meets the viewing line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventor: Stephan Erbel
  • Publication number: 20060050848
    Abstract: Volumetric imaging on a radiotherapy apparatus, wherein a body, of which a volumetric image data set is to be produced, is positioned on a couch of the radiotherapy apparatus, and the couch or a bearing area of the couch or the body itself is rotated about a spatially fixed axis. During rotation, multiple x-ray images of the body or of a part of the body are produced and stored by at least one radiation source/image recorder system which is separate from the radiotherapy apparatus and whose radiation path is substantially not parallel to the spatially fixed axis. The rotational position of the couch or the bearing area of the couch or the body itself is detected while the images are produced, and the rotational position is assigned to the corresponding image, wherein a volumetric image data set of the body is reconstructed from the x-ray images by image processing and assignment by a computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Stefan Vilsmeier, Cornel Schlossbauer, Stephan Erbel, Ulf Labsik
  • Publication number: 20050138732
    Abstract: The invention concerns a patient positioning system for radiotherapy, comprising a device for positioning a patient within the framework of treatment planning, using image detection and/or carrying out radiation treatment, comprising a patient bed (3, 42, 50) on which a patient is positioned, wherein means are provided by which the same bed (3, 42, 50) may be arranged both on a planning couch (8) for image detection within the framework of treatment planning as well as on a radiotherapy table (1, 44), and by providing a reference means (54) on the patient bed by which the position of the immobilised patient or of a marked radiation target is determined with respect to the patient bed (3, 42, 50). Within this framework, a corresponding method is also provided, as well as an adjusting means for the transport and the bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Frohlich
  • Patent number: 6898456
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the filling of a lung, wherein the movement of an anatomical structure which moves with breathing, or one or more points on the moving anatomical structure whose movement trajectory is highly correlated with lung filling, is detected with respect to the location of at least one anatomical structure which is not spatially affected by breathing, and wherein each distance between the structures is assigned a particular lung filling value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventor: Stephan Erbel
  • Patent number: 6865411
    Abstract: The invention concerns a patient positioning system for radiotherapy, comprising a device for positioning a patient within the framework of treatment planning, using image detection and/or carrying out radiation treatment, comprising a patient bed (3, 42, 50) on which a patient is positioned, wherein means are provided by which the same bed (3, 42, 50) may be arranged both on a planning couch (8) for image detection within the framework of treatment planning as well as on a radiotherapy table (1, 44), and by providing a reference means (54) on the patient bed by which the position of the immobilized patient or of a marked radiation target is determined with respect to the patient bed (3, 42, 50). Within this framework, a corresponding method is also provided, as well as an adjusting means for the transport and the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Patent number: 6792074
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing or updating a radiotherapy plan within the framework of inversely planned radiotherapy, wherein an up-to-date radiotherapy plan is calculated at least partly on the basis of the results of an already existing, approved, older plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Publication number: 20040102698
    Abstract: A method for positioning a patient or detecting a target volume in radiotherapy or radiosurgery includes positionally referencing at least one implant in the vicinity of the target volume and inductively stimulating the at least one implant. Emission from the at least one inductively stimulated implant is detected and a position of the at least one implant is determined based on the detected emission. The current position of the target volume is determined based on the determined position of the at least one implant. Further diagnostic, two-dimensional or three-dimensional image data sets can be recorded in accordance with breathing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Stefan Vilsmeier, Stephan Frohlich, Stephan Erbel
  • Patent number: 6731970
    Abstract: A method for breath compensation in radiation therapy, particularly radiotherapy/radiosurgery, wherein the movement of the target volume inside the patient is detected and tracked in real time during radiation by a movement detector. Adaptation to the movement of the target volume inside the patient is achieved by one or more components of a radiotherapy apparatus to compensate for or take into consideration the movement during treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventors: Cornel Schlossbauer, Stephan Erbel, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Publication number: 20040042583
    Abstract: The invention relates to: a patient positioning system for radiosurgery and/or radiotherapy, in particular with the aid of a LINAC and based on stereoscopic x-ray images; a calibration system, in particular for a patient positioning system; an image recorder and/or detector arranging device, in particular to be used with a patent positioning; and a collision protection means, in particular to be used with a patient positioning system or an image recorder and/or detector arranging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Andreas Wackerle, Cornel Schlossbauer, Stephan Erbel, Stephan Frohlich
  • Publication number: 20020122530
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing or updating a radiotherapy plan within the framework of inversely planned radiotherapy, wherein an up-to-date radiotherapy plan is calculated at least partly on the basis of the results of an already existing, approved, older plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Frohlich
  • Publication number: 20020120986
    Abstract: The invention concerns a patient positioning system for radiotherapy, comprising a device for positioning a patient within the framework of treatment planning, using image detection and/or carrying out radiation treatment, comprising a patient bed (3, 42, 50) on which a patient is positioned, wherein means are provided by which the same bed (3, 42, 50) may be arranged both on a planning couch (8) for image detection within the framework of treatment planning as well as on a radiotherapy table (1, 44), and by providing a reference means (54) on the patient bed by which the position of the immobilised patient or of a marked radiation target is determined with respect to the patient bed (3, 42, 50). Within this framework, a corresponding method is also provided, as well as an adjusting means for the transport and the bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Frohlich
  • Publication number: 20020115923
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the filling of a lung, wherein the movement of an anatomical structure which moves with breathing, or one or more points on the moving anatomical structure whose movement trajectory is highly correlated with lung filling, is detected with respect to the location of at least one anatomical structure which is not spatially affected by breathing, and wherein each distance between the structures is assigned a particular lung filling value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Stephan Erbel
  • Publication number: 20020091314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for breath compensation in radiation therapy, particularly radiotherapy/radiosurgery, wherein the movement of the target volume inside the patient is detected and tracked in real time during radiation by a movement detection means, and wherein adaptation to the movement of the target volume inside the patient is achieved by means of one or more components of a radiotherapy apparatus, to compensate for or take into consideration said movement during treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Cornel Schlossbauer, Stephan Erbel, Stephan Frohlich