Abstract: Systems and methods for hands-free operation of ultra-sound probes. Pressure is maintained between the ultrasound probe and a subject without need of an externally applied force (e.g., without hand, robotic arm, or other external force application). Flexible components are utilized that largely conform to the contour of the body for reduced distortion relative to rigid components used in conventional systems. Some embodiments provide a handle for probe orientation adjustment that can be selectively removed during hands-free operation to reduce gravitational moments. Other provisions include integrated marking assembly for tracking probe location, wireless information capability (e.g., RFID), and integrated ECG patches. Various embodiments of the disclosure may include an ergonomic clasping arrangement that may provide a mechanical advantage for easy decoupling and recoupling of the probe from anchored moorings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heart tissue ablation device comprising a charged particle emitting system 1, a control system 2 for instructing the accelerator and beamline when to create the beam and what its required properties should be, a patient positioning and verification system, an ultrasound cardiac imaging system 3 performed on the patient, able to track the target movement, a computer program to determine and record the safe motion margins, the treatment plans for one or more motion phases and a computer program to regulate the control system 2 to load the correct irradiation plan according to the motion phase and if the position of the target is inside of the position margin, the irradiation is enabled and if the position of the target is outside of the position margin, the irradiation is disabled.

Abstract: A multiplanar motion management system to aid in administering non-invasive radiation therapies. The disclosed devices and techniques enable clinicians to accurately monitor the position and motion of the heart with respect to a reference situation of the simulation stage. In addition, information is provided about the respiratory phase of the patient as well as about possible drifts of the anatomical structures. This information can be used by the clinician to interrupt the radiation treatment manually when necessary. The information can also be used to automatically, and in real-time, provide the appropriate gating signals to the therapy machine. The disclosed system may be configured to cover all motion aspects required during a typical radiotherapy workflow with just one device, from patient setup (inter-fraction motion monitoring) to cardiac and respiratory motion monitoring during the treatment (intra-fraction motion monitoring).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heart tissue ablation device comprising a charged particle emitting system 1, a control system 2 for instructing the accelerator and beamline when to create the beam and what its required properties should be, a patient positioning and verification system, an ultrasound cardiac imaging system 3 performed on the patient, able to track the target movement, a computer program to determine and record the safe motion margins, the treatment plans for one or more motion phases and a computer program to regulate the control system 2 to load the correct irradiation plan according to the motion phase and if the position of the target is inside of the position margin, the irradiation is enabled and if the position of the target is outside of the position margin, the irradiation is disabled.

Abstract: A multiplanar motion management system to aid in administering non-invasive radiation therapies. The disclosed devices and techniques enable clinicians to accurately monitor the position and motion of the heart with respect to a reference situation of the simulation stage. In addition, information is provided about the respiratory phase of the patient as well as about possible drifts of the anatomical structures. This information can be used by the clinician to interrupt the radiation treatment manually when necessary. The information can also be used to automatically, and in real-time, provide the appropriate gating signals to the therapy machine. The disclosed system may be configured to cover all motion aspects required during a typical radiotherapy workflow with just one device, from patient setup (inter-fraction motion monitoring) to cardiac and respiratory motion monitoring during the treatment (intra-fraction motion monitoring).

Abstract: Systems and techniques for reliably predicting a motion phase for non-invasive treatment of the heart. The system and methods may account for both respiratory and cardiac cycles in characterizing the motion of the heart relative to the irradiation source. The system and methods may also include a heartbeat sensor that provides an independent reference indication of the cardiac phase to provide real-time or near real-time quality assurance of a current predicted phase indication. The disclosed system and methods may be configured for use in one of two modes: “beam-gating” and “beam-tracking”. For beam-gating, the predicted cardiac phase is compared to the desired gating window, based on the patient-specific treatment plan, to determine if a gate ON or gate OFF signal should be set. For beam-tracking, the predicted cardiac phase is used to load the appropriate beam parameters based on the patient-specific and motion phase-dependent treatment plans.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for reliably predicting a motion phase for non-invasive treatment of the heart. The system and methods may account for both respiratory and cardiac cycles in characterizing the motion of the heart relative to the irradiation source. The system and methods may also include a heartbeat sensor that provides an independent reference indication of the cardiac phase to provide real-time or near real-time quality assurance of a current predicted phase indication. The disclosed system and methods may be configured for use in one of two modes: “beam-gating” and “beam-tracking”. For beam-gating, the predicted cardiac phase is compared to the desired gating window, based on the patient-specific treatment plan, to determine if a gate ON or gate OFF signal should be set. For beam-tracking, the predicted cardiac phase is used to load the appropriate beam parameters based on the patient-specific and motion phase-dependent treatment plans.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heart tissue ablation device comprising a charged particle emitting system 1, a control system 2 for instructing the accelerator and beamline when to create the beam and what its required properties should be, a patient positioning and verification system, an ultrasound cardiac imaging system 3 performed on the patient, able to track the target movement, a computer program to determine and record the safe motion margins, the treatment plans for one or more motion phases and a computer program to regulate the control system 2 to load the correct irradiation plan according to the motion phase and if the position of the target is inside of the position margin, the irradiation is enabled and if the position of the target is outside of the position margin, the irradiation is disabled.

Abstract: A multiplanar motion management system to aid in administering non-invasive radiation therapies. The disclosed devices and techniques enable clinicians to accurately monitor the position and motion of the heart with respect to a reference situation of the simulation stage. In addition, information is provided about the respiratory phase of the patient as well as about possible drifts of the anatomical structures. This information can be used by the clinician to interrupt the radiation treatment manually when necessary. The information can also be used to automatically, and in real-time, provide the appropriate gating signals to the therapy machine. The disclosed system may be configured to cover all motion aspects required during a typical radiotherapy workflow with just one device, from patient setup (inter-fraction motion monitoring) to cardiac and respiratory motion monitoring during the treatment (intra-fraction motion monitoring).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heart tissue ablation device comprising a charged particle emitting system 1, a control system 2 for instructing the accelerator and beamline when to create the beam and what its required properties should be, a patient positioning and verification system, an ultrasound cardiac imaging system 3 performed on the patient, able to track the target movement, a computer program to determine and record the safe motion margins, the treatment plans for one or more motion phases and a computer program to regulate the control system 2 to load the correct irradiation plan according to the motion phase and if the position of the target is inside of the position margin, the irradiation is enabled and if the position of the target is outside of the position margin, the irradiation is disabled.

Abstract: A medical imaging tool is described, capable of providing in real time 2-D images of the prompt gamma fields released during patient treatment. Owing to its millimetre position accuracy, the instrument is particularly suited for applications where a precise determination of the end-of-range (Bragg peak) of the beam is of paramount importance, as in cancerous and non-cancerous targets for treatment with ion beams and for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. With its unique dual-layer conception in coincidence, the instrument has high rejection ability against false neutron-generated counts, the principal source of background noise for in-beam dose monitoring. It can also provide a coarse measurement of the gamma incidence angle, permitting a correction of the parallax error, main source of dispersion for large area detectors employing collimators.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heart tissue ablation device comprising a charged particle emitting system 1, a control system 2 for instructing the accelerator and beamline when to create the beam and what its required properties should be, a patient positioning and verification system, an ultrasound cardiac imaging system 3 performed on the patient, able to track the target movement, a computer program to determine and record the safe motion margins, the treatment plans for one or more motion phases and a computer program to regulate the control system 2 to load the correct irradiation plan according to the motion phase and if the position of the target is inside of the position margin, the irradiation is enabled and if the position of the target is outside of the position margin, the irradiation is disabled.