Abstract: A method includes determining skin characteristics in a region of a patient. An in-treatment optical scan is performed on a region of a patient, wherein the in-treatment optical scan comprises a near infrared (NIR) energy source. A plurality of detected signals is detected from the optical scan. The skin characteristics are filtered out from the plurality of detected signals. Skeletal anatomy positioning associated with the region is determined from the plurality of signals that is filtered.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of determining a resultant treatment plan for a proton radiation therapy system based on given dose volume constraints, wherein the resultant treatment plan is optimized for treatment time comprises accessing the dose volume constraints and range information, wherein the range information indicates acceptable deviations from the dose volume constraints. Based on the proton radiation therapy system, the method further comprises accessing machine configuration information comprising a plurality of machine parameters that define a maximum resolution achievable in irradiating a patient. Further, the method comprises iteratively adjusting the plurality of machine parameters to values which decrease the maximum resolution and simulating a plurality of candidate treatment plans to generate a plurality of treatment plan results, wherein each treatment plan result comprises: a respective treatment time and a respective plan quality.

Abstract: A method of planning radiation treatment for a patient includes identifying a region of interest of the patient to be treated with radiation and determining a simulated treatment plan for the region of interest based on a statistical analysis between one or more metrics of the identified region of interest and a previously determined predictive dynamics database that includes information regarding the one or more metrics for corresponding regions of interest for a population of patients. The method further includes characterizing the simulated treatment plan with a FLASH Index that compares an ideal FLASH radiation treatment plan to the simulated treatment plan.

Abstract: A radiosurgical method for treating cardiorenal disease of a patient, the method including directing radiosurgery radiation from outside the patient towards one or more target treatment regions encompassing sympathetic ganglia of the patient so as to inhibit the cardiorenal disease. In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes acquiring three dimensional planning image data encompassing the first and second renal arteries, planning an ionizing radiation treatment of first and second target regions using the three dimensional planning image data so as to mitigate the hypertension, the first and second target regions encompassing neural tissue of or proximate to the first and second renal arteries, respectively, and remodeling the target regions by directing the planned radiation from outside the body toward the target regions.

Abstract: Presented systems and methods facilitate efficient and effective monitoring of particle beams. In some embodiments, a radiation gun system comprises: a particle beam gun that generates a particle beam, and a gun control component that controls the gun particle beam generation characteristics, including particle beam fidelity characteristics. The particle beam characteristics can be compatible with FLASH radiation therapy. Resolution control of the particle beam generation can enable dose delivery at an intra-pulse level and micro-bunch level. The micro-bunch can include individual bunches per each 3 GHz RF cycle within the 5 to 15 ?sec pulse-width. The FLASH radiation therapy dose delivery can have a bunch level resolution of approximately 4.4×10{circumflex over (?)}-6 cGy/bunch.

Abstract: A method of performing a cryoablation treatment includes obtaining an ice formation model and preparing a cryoablation treatment plan based on the ice formation model and one or more characteristics of the target tissue. The method also includes initiating a cryoablation freezing cycle and obtaining ice formation data that describes one or more characteristics of ice being formed during the cryoablation freezing cycle. The method also includes determining a position of one or more isotherms of the ice being formed based on the ice formation data and the ice formation model.

Abstract: A motion-enable device includes a mechanical switch and a capacitive sensor with a sensing region that is located adjacent to the mechanical switch. The mechanical switch enables a first signal when closed or actuated that indicates that the mechanical switch is in an active state. The capacitive sensor enables a second signal when a conductive object is disposed in the sensing region, where the second signal indicates that the capacitive sensor is in an active state. Enablement of operation of an apparatus depends on receipt of both the first signal and the second signal. The mechanical switch and the capacitive sensor act as the two separate switches required by functional safety requirements for a motion enable device. Because the sensing region of the capacitive sensor is adjacent to the mechanical switch, the first and second signals are generated when an operator actuates the mechanical switch with a single digit.

Abstract: A coupler (2) for the sterile coupling of a percutaneous surgical instrument to a rotational-driving tool (3), extending along a coupling axis (A). The coupler (2) has a distal portion (27) configured to be connected removably to a percutaneous surgical instrument, a proximal portion (28) configured to be connected removably to a driving tool (3), a central portion (29) arranged between the distal (27) and proximal (28) portions. The central portion has a bearing collar (240) extending transversely to the coupling axis (A) and configured to axially deform a distal end of a flexible wrapper (1) surrounding the driving tool (3) when the proximal portion (28) is connected to this driving tool (3).

Abstract: An example method for a radiation therapy system that includes a movable couch to perform radiation therapy has been disclosed. One method includes based on the X-ray images of an anatomical region of the patient that includes a target volume, reconstructing a digital volume of the anatomical region and based on a user input indicating a location of a patient origin in the digital volume, determining one or more shift values for repositioning the patient origin at an isocenter of the radiation therapy system with respect to a coordinate system. The method also includes obtaining a treatment plan that is based on the location of the patient origin and is associated with the target volume, based on the treatment plan, repositioning the movable couch so that the patient origin is disposed at the isocenter, and while the patient origin is disposed at the isocenter, directing a treatment beam to the patient origin in accordance with the treatment plan associated with the target volume.

Abstract: A microwave network for a radiation therapy machine having a microwave source and a linear accelerator, includes a waveguide configured to connect between the microwave source and the linear accelerator. The waveguide contains at least one of a first gas or a second gas, the first gas being 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl) propanenitrile and the second gas being 1,1,1,3,4,4,4-heptafluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)-2-butanone.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an ion chamber and a valve assembly. The ion chamber may include a housing enclosing a gas and one or more electrodes. The valve assembly is coupled to the ion chamber allowing control of replacement of the gas within the housing.

Abstract: In a method of making pixelated scintillators, an amorphous scintillator material in a molten state is pressed into a plurality of cavities defined by a plurality of walls of a mesh array. The molten scintillator material in the plurality of cavities is cooled to form a pixelated scintillator array. An x-ray imager including a pixelated scintillator is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are radiotherapy methods and systems that can display a workflow-oriented graphical user interface(s). In an embodiment, a method comprises presenting, by the server for display on a screen associated with a radiotherapy machine, a series of consecutive graphical user interfaces, wherein each graphical user interface displays one or more graphical components corresponding to one or more tasks of one or more stages of a patient's radiotherapy treatment; and when a user operating the pendant interacts with a first controller of the pendant, the radiotherapy machine adjusts at least one of its configurations; and when the user interacts with a second controller of the pendant, the server revises the graphical user interface corresponding to the user's input.

Abstract: A computing system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), and memory coupled to the CPU and having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to execute operations to generate a radiation treatment plan. The operations include accessing a minimum prescribed dose to be delivered into and across the target, determining a number of beams and directions of the beams, and determining a beam energy for each of the beams, wherein the number of beams, the directions of the beams, and the beam energy for each of the beams are determined such that the entire target receives the minimum prescribed dose. A quantitative time-dependent model-based charged particle pencil beam scanning optimization is then implemented for FLASH therapy.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are radiotherapy systems and methods that can display a workflow-oriented graphical user interface(s). In an embodiment, a system comprises a first display in communication with a server, the first display configured to display a first graphical user interface; a second display in communication with the server, the second display configured to display a second graphical user interface, wherein the server is configured to: present the first graphical user interface for displaying on the first display, wherein the first graphical user interface contains one or more pages corresponding to one or more stages of a radiotherapy treatment, wherein the server transitions from a first page of the one or more pages representing a first stage to a second page of the one or more pages representing a second stage responsive to an indication that at least a predetermined portion of tasks associated with the first stage has been satisfied.

Abstract: A radiation system employs a couch top rotatable about a yaw axis to provide non-coplanar irradiation of a patient in an O-ring type of radiation machine. The radiation machine includes a source operable to produce radiation and a housing enclosing the source. The housing defines a bore and the source is rotatable at least partially around the bore. The couch top is adapted to be rotatable about a yaw axis, thereby allowing non-coplanar irradiation of at least a portion of the patient by the source. A radiation method is also provided.

Abstract: A photon source emits a flattening filter-free photon beam. A control circuit operably couples to a multi-layer multi-leaf collimator that is disposed between the photon source and a treatment area of a patient. The control circuit automatically arranges operation of some, but not all, of the layers of the multi-layer multi-leaf collimator to serve as a virtual flattening filter with respect to the flattening filter-free photon beam emitted by the photon source. By one approach, another of the layers of the multi-layer multi-leaf collimator serves to form a treatment aperture corresponding to a shape of the treatment area of the patient. By one approach the control circuit comprises an integral part of a treatment platform (as versus a dedicated treatment planning platform) and can carry out most or even essentially all of the planning steps that lead to administration of the treatment to a patient.

Abstract: A radiotherapy system includes an X-ray target configured to convert an incident electron beam into a therapeutic X-ray beam, a purging magnet configured to redirect unwanted particles emitted from the X-ray target away from the therapeutic X-ray beam, and a particle collector configured to absorb the unwanted particles subsequent to redirection by the purging magnet. The particle collector may be configured to dissipate at least 50% of the energy of the incident electron beam.

Abstract: A system can have an x-ray source that generates a series of individual x-ray pulses for multi-energy imaging. A first x-ray pulse can have a first energy level and a subsequent second x-ray pulse in the series can have a second energy level different from the first energy level. An x-ray imager can receive the x-rays from the x-ray source and can detect the received x-rays for image generation. A generator interface box (GIB) controls the x-ray source to provide the series of individual x-ray pulses and synchronizes detection by the x-ray imager with generation of the individual x-ray pulses. The GIB can control x-ray pulse generation and synchronization to optimize image generation while minimizing unnecessary x-ray irradiation.