Patents Assigned to Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11771388
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Arundhuti Ganguly, Gary F. Virshup, Michelle Richmond, Billy Dan Jones
  • Patent number: 11771920
    Abstract: Methods for treating tumors by administering FLASH radiation and a therapeutic agent to a patient with cancer are disclosed. The methods provide the dual benefits of anti-tumor efficacy plus normal tissue protection when combining therapeutic agents with FLASH radiation to treat cancer patients. The methods described herein also allow for the classification of patients into groups for receiving optimized radiation treatment in combination with a therapeutic agent based on patient-specific biomarker signatures. Also provided are radiation treatment planning methods and systems incorporating FLASH radiation and therapeutic agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Renate Parry, Eric Abel, Swati Girdhani, Stanley Mansfield, Patrick Kupelian, Deepak Khuntia
  • Patent number: 11771924
    Abstract: A multileaf collimator includes a plurality of movable leaves for shaping a radiotherapy beam, wherein each leaf is independently movable in a same linear travel direction. Each leaf includes a linear array of magnets disposed on a measurement surface of the leaf and an array of magnetoresistive sensors that is disposed proximate the measurement surfaces of the leaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Garrett Weston Landrith, Moussa Najib Iskandar, Michael William Weitzel, Chris McWilliams
  • Patent number: 11766574
    Abstract: Radiation treatment planning includes determining a number of beams to be directed into a target, determining directions (e.g., gantry angles) for the beams, and determining an energy level for each of the beams. The number of beams, the directions of the beams, and the energy levels are determined such that the beams do not overlap outside the target and the prescribed dose will be delivered across the entire target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignees: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Reynald Vanderstraten, Eric Abel, Christel Smith, Anthony Magliari, Timo Koponen, Josh Star-Lack
  • Patent number: 11766575
    Abstract: A method enables testing and evaluation of an expert human reviewer or an artificial intelligence (AI) error detection engine associated with a radiotherapy treatment planning process. Intentional errors are introduced into the output of a software module or AI engine that performs a certain step in the radiotherapy treatment planning process. The efficacy of the human or AI reviewer in detecting errors can then be evaluated or tested by determining whether the human or AI reviewer has detected the introduced error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Charles Adelsheim
  • Patent number: 11759656
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Filip Vojan, Brian Spatola
  • Publication number: 20230285773
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for coupling Monte Carlo source modeling with deterministic dose calculations. An internal volumetric first scatter distributed source of a patient is determined using Monte Carlo simulations and ingested into one or more dosing algorithms. The dosing algorithms use the source model to determine a dose deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Maslowski, Douglas Allen Barnett, Todd Wareing
  • Publication number: 20230290465
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for training an artificial intelligence model to boost dose depositions. The artificial intelligence model receives medical images and a dose deposition determined according to a first dose deposition model. The artificial intelligence model modifies the received dose deposition determined according to the first dose deposition model such that the dose deposition simulates a dose deposition determined by a second dose deposition model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Maslowski, Douglas Allen Barnett, Todd Wareing
  • Publication number: 20230277149
    Abstract: A radiation suite includes a room having a floor, a ceiling, and one or more walls, a radiation system including a gantry enclosing a radiation source and a couch, and an image projection system operable to project an image on a projection surface on at least a portion of the gantry and/or the couch, providing a calming environment for a patient to relax. The image projection system comprises a computer and one or more projectors operably controlled by the computer. The computer comprises a mapping software operable to map an image file to the projection surface. The one or more projectors are operable to project the mapped image file on the projection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rachel RIEGER, Nitin MANGI, Roberto LUEVANO, Ross HANNIBAL
  • Publication number: 20230282347
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are radiotherapy methods and systems that can display a workflow-oriented graphical user interface(s). In an embodiment, a method comprises retrieving, by a server, information from a radiotherapy file associated with a patient, the information comprising an alignment data of at least a treatment region of the patient; presenting, by the server, for display on a graphical user interface, an image corresponding to the patient positioned on a couch of a radiotherapy machine, the image comprising an overlay on a surface of the patient in the treatment region; and presenting, by the server, for display, a visually distinct revised overlay for at least a portion of the surface of the patient in the treatment region that matches, within a predetermined margin of error, the alignment data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Filip VOJAN, Brian SPATOLA
  • Patent number: 11745030
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Ross Hannibal, Wade Curtiss
  • Publication number: 20230271030
    Abstract: Radiation treatment planning includes accessing values of parameters such as a number of beams to be directed into sub-volumes in a target, beam directions, and beam energies. Information that specifies limits for the radiation treatment plan are accessed. The limits include a limit on irradiation time for each sub-volume outside the target. Other limits can include a limit on irradiation time for each sub-volume in the target, a limit on dose rate for each sub volume in the target, and a limit on dose rate for each sub-volume outside the target. The values of the parameters are adjusted until the irradiation time for each sub-volume outside the target satisfies the maximum limit on irradiation time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicants: Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Siemens Healthineers International AG
    Inventors: Reynald VANDERSTRAETEN VANDERSTRAETEN, Eric ABEL, Christel SMITH, Anthony MAGLIARI, Timo KOPONEN, Stanley MANSFIELD, Charles ADELSHEIM
  • Patent number: 11737714
    Abstract: Cone-beam computer tomography systems, devices, and methods for image acquisition of large target volumes using partial scans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignees: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: David Kirk Jensen, Reto W. Filiberti, Markus Oelhafen, Aime Pascal Laurence Paysan
  • Patent number: 11738213
    Abstract: A beam transport assembly conveys a particle beam from a particle source to an irradiation nozzle, which rotates about a swivel axis at the horizontal input of the nozzle. A support can move horizontally in a plane perpendicular to the swivel axis. The beam transport assembly can change a path length of the particle beam so as to follow a vertical location of the swivel axis of the irradiation nozzle with respect to the support. A controller can coordinate the path length change of the particle beam, rotation of the irradiation nozzle about the swivel axis, and/or horizontal motion of the support to provide irradiation of a supported object from various angles in the plane perpendicular to the swivel axis while maintaining the irradiation nozzle at a constant distance from the supported object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignees: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS PARTICLE THERAPY GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jan H. Timmer, Juergen Schultheiss
  • Publication number: 20230264047
    Abstract: A method comprises presenting, by a server for display on a screen associated with a radiotherapy machine, a series of consecutive graphical user interfaces (GUIs), wherein a first GUI comprises: a first graphical indicator (GI) corresponding to a first attribute associated with configuration of the radiotherapy machine, and a second GI corresponding to a second attribute associated with the patient; when the server receives an indication that a user interacting with a pendant in communication with the server has inputted a first input corresponding to a first direction towards the first GI, presenting for display a second GUI comprising data associated with the first attribute; and when the server receives an indication that the user has inputted a second input corresponding to a second direction towards the second GI, presenting for display a third GUI comprising data associated with the second attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Filip VOJAN, Brian Spatola
  • Publication number: 20230260738
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir SHOJAEI, Philip ADAMSON, Flavio POEHLMANN-MARTINS
  • Patent number: 11724127
    Abstract: An example computer-implemented method for tuning a beam spot in a radiation therapy system has been disclosed. The example method includes configuring an electron beam to generate a first beam spot on an electron-beam target of the radiation therapy system, generating, using an imager of the radiation therapy system, a first plurality of projection images of the first beam spot, wherein each of the projection images of the first beam spot is generated with a line of sight blocked between the imager and a different respective portion of the beam spot, based on the first plurality of projection images, determining a value for one or more beam spot quality metrics associated with the first beam spot, and based on the value, determining whether the first beam spot is outside a specified quality range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Magdalena Constantin, Marcelo Cassese
  • Patent number: 11724126
    Abstract: Example methods and systems for quality-aware continuous learning for radiotherapy treatment planning are provided. One example method may comprise: obtaining an artificial intelligence (AI) engine that is trained to perform a radiotherapy treatment planning task. The method may also comprise: based on input data associated with a patient, performing the radiotherapy treatment planning task using the AI engine to generate output data associated with the patient; and obtaining modified output data that includes one or more modifications made by a treatment planner to the output data. The method may further comprise: performing quality evaluation based on (a) first quality indicator data associated with the modified output data, and/or (b) second quality indicator data associated with the treatment planner. In response to a decision to accept, a modified AI engine may be generated by re-training the AI engine based on the modified output data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Adelsheim, Corey Zankowski, Petr Jordan
  • Patent number: 11723707
    Abstract: A probe and method of using a probe are disclosed. The probe may comprise a first member, a tip, a second member, and a third member. The first member may have a first and second end portions. The tip may be configured to engaged to the first member at the second end portion. The second member may be configured to extend and be positioned within the first member. The third member may be configured to be disposed outward of the second member along at least a portion of the second member, engage an inner surface of the first member, and define to least one passage between the third member and the first member. The probe may be coupled to a fluid supply and return, and fluid may flow within the probe, including within the passage defined between the first and third members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Grimm
  • Patent number: 11717705
    Abstract: An apparatus in a radiation therapy system includes: a base configured to support a first quality assurance phantom at a first position and a second quality assurance phantom at a second position; and at least one coupling element. The at least one coupling element is configured to: mate with at least one indexing feature of a first patient treatment couch of the radiation therapy system; and fix a position of the base relative to the first patient treatment couch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: James Kerns, Niklaus Schneider, Todd G Holmes, Christian Stamm