Abstract: Techniques are presented for optimizing a treatment plan for charged particle therapy. The method includes obtaining medical image data voxels inside a subject in a reference frame of a radiation source that emits a beam of charged particles at multiple tracks with a controlled emitted energy at each track. Hydrogen density (HD) is determined based on the medical image data. Stopping power ratio (SPR) along a first beam having a first track and first emitted energy is calculated based on HD. A range to a Bragg peak is calculated along the first beam based on the SPR and the first emitted energy. The first beam track or the first emitted energy, or both, is modified based at least in part on the beam range to determine a second track and second emitted energy. Output data that indicates the second track and second emitted energy are sent.

Abstract: A method for beam therapy is provided. The method includes receiving first data indicating a plurality of target volumes within a target region inside a subject for particle beam therapy relative to a particle beam outlet on a gantry for directing a particle beam from a particle beam source. The method further includes moving automatically, one or more energy modulator components to reduce an energy of the particle beam and deliver the particle beam to the target region such that a Bragg Peak is delivered to at least one target volume of the plurality of target volumes. The method further includes repeating the moving automatically as the particle beam source rotates with the gantry around the subject, without changing the energy of the particle beam at the particle beam outlet, until every target volume is subjected to a Bragg Peak.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for optimizing a treatment plan for charged particle therapy. The method includes obtaining medical image data voxels inside a subject in a reference frame of a radiation source that emits a beam of charged particles at multiple tracks with a controlled emitted energy at each track. Hydrogen density (HD) is determined based on the medical image data. Stopping power ratio (SPR) along a first beam having a first track and first emitted energy is calculated based on HD. A range to a Bragg peak is calculated along the first beam based on the SPR and the first emitted energy. The first beam track or the first emitted energy, or both, is modified based at least in part on the beam range to determine a second track and second emitted energy. Output data that indicates the second track and second emitted energy are sent.

Abstract: A method for beam therapy is provided. The method includes receiving first data indicating a plurality of target volumes within a target region inside a subject for particle beam therapy relative to a particle beam outlet on a gantry for directing a particle beam from a particle beam source. The method further includes moving automatically, one or more energy modulator components to reduce an energy of the particle beam and deliver the particle beam to the target region such that a Bragg Peak is delivered to at least one target volume of the plurality of target volumes. The method further includes repeating the moving automatically as the particle beam source rotates with the gantry around the subject, without changing the energy of the particle beam at the particle beam outlet, until every target volume is subjected to a Bragg Peak.

Abstract: Techniques for suppression of motion artifacts in medical imaging include obtaining projections at different times within a time interval from a medical imaging system operating on a subject. A stationary projection is determined for a first subset of the projections in which a signal source and detector array of the imaging system are in a first configuration relative to the subject. An image of the subject based on the stationary projection is displayed. For any subset, the stationary projection is a minimum value for each pixel among the subset of projections if a signal passing through a moving object of interest inside the subject is expected to cause an increase in a pixel value. Alternatively, the stationary projection is a maximum value for each pixel among the subset of projections if the signal passing through the object of interest is expected to cause a decrease in a pixel value.

Abstract: Techniques for suppression of motion artifacts in medical imaging include obtaining projections at different times within a time interval from a medical imaging system operating on a subject. A stationary projection is determined for a first subset of the projections in which a signal source and detector array of the imaging system are in a first configuration relative to the subject. An image of the subject based on the stationary projection is displayed. For any subset, the stationary projection is a minimum value for each pixel among the subset of projections if a signal passing through a moving object of interest inside the subject is expected to cause an increase in a pixel value. Alternatively, the stationary projection is a maximum value for each pixel among the subset of projections if the signal passing through the object of interest is expected to cause a decrease in a pixel value.

Abstract: Techniques for background subtraction in computed tomography include determining voxels in a slice of interest in a three dimensional computed tomography scan of the interior of a body based on a first set of measurements of radiation transmitted through the body. Based on the first set of measurements, a first background image for radiation transmitted through the body in a first direction is determined without the effects of the voxels in the slice of interest. A current image is determined based on a different current measurement of radiation transmitted through the body in the first direction. A first difference is determined between the current image and the first background image. The result is a high contrast image in the slice of interest even from a single current projection image.

Abstract: Techniques for background subtraction in computed tomography include determining voxels in a slice of interest in a three dimensional computed tomography scan of the interior of a body based on a first set of measurements of radiation transmitted through the body. Based on the first set of measurements, a first background image for radiation transmitted through the body in a first direction is determined without the effects of the voxels in the slice of interest. A current image is determined based on a different current measurement of radiation transmitted through the body in the first direction. A first difference is determined between the current image and the first background image. The result is a high contrast image in the slice of interest even from a single current projection image.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering radiation treatment to a moving target within a patient according to a preprogrammed treatment plan including determining a difference between a surrogate signal representing a physical characteristic associated with said patient's actual breathing pattern during radiation treatment delivery and a tracking signal representing a physical characteristic associated with said patient's expected breathing pattern during radiation treatment delivery, and regulating a speed of delivery of said radiation treatment based on said determined difference.

Abstract: A method for delivering therapeutic radiation during a radiation treatment procedure to a tumor moving within a patient due to physiological activity of the patient includes: in a preliminary procedure, monitoring motion of the tumor to generating and record a surrogate signal representing the tumor motion; determining a radiation therapy plan for the patient including a planned sequence of varying parameters of a radiation beam to track the tumor motion and a planned rate of execution of the planned sequence; configuring a radiation therapy device to deliver radiation in accordance with the radiation therapy plan, positioning the patient within the device, and activating the device to perform the planned sequence; monitoring tumor motion during the procedure to provide a treatment surrogate signal; determining the difference between the estimated and treatment surrogate signals; and regulating the speed of the radiation treatment procedure by varying the rate of execution of the sequence of beam parameter

Abstract: A method for delivering therapeutic radiation to a tumor within a patient including: monitoring tumor motion in a preliminary procedure to generate and record a surrogate signal representing the tumor motion; determining a radiation therapy plan for the patient including a planned sequence of varying parameters of a radiation beam to track the tumor motion and a planned rate of execution of the planned sequence; configuring a radiation therapy device to deliver radiation in accordance with the radiation therapy plan, positioning the patient within the device, and activating the device to perform the planned sequence; monitoring tumor motion during the procedure to provide a treatment surrogate signal; determining the difference between the estimated and treatment surrogate signals; and regulating the speed of the radiation treatment procedure by varying the rate of execution of the sequence of beam parameters in accordance with the difference between the estimated and treatment surrogate signals.

Abstract: A method for delivering therapeutic radiation during a radiation treatment procedure to a tumor moving within a patient due to physiological activity of the patient includes: in a preliminary procedure, monitoring motion of the tumor to generating and record a surrogate signal representing the tumor motion; determining a radiation therapy plan for the patient including a planned sequence of varying parameters of a radiation beam to track the tumor motion and a planned rate of execution of the planned sequence; configuring a radiation therapy device to deliver radiation in accordance with the radiation therapy plan, positioning the patient within the device, and activating the device to perform the planned sequence; monitoring tumor motion during the procedure to provide a treatment surrogate signal; determining the difference between the estimated and treatment surrogate signals; and regulating the speed of the radiation treatment procedure by varying the rate of execution of the sequence of beam paramete