Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation application apparatus for applying radiation at a location within an object. The radiation application apparatus comprises a transforming unit (2) for being arranged within the object at the location and for transforming ultrasound energy to electrical energy, and a radiation source (4) for being arranged within the object and for generating radiation (5) to be applied at the location within the object, wherein the radiation source (4) is driven by the electrical energy. Since the transforming unit transforms the ultrasound energy to electrical energy being used by the radiation source, it is not necessary to transfer electrical energy to the radiation source, i.e., for example, corresponding cables, which may have to be isolated, are not necessarily required. Insulation problems and corresponding safety problems, which may be present, if cables, in particular, corresponding high voltage cables, are used, can therefore be reduced.

Abstract: An oncology therapy method comprises implanting a radioactive seed (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) in an oncology subject (S). In some embodiments the radioactive seed comprises a radioactive material (12, 32, 33, 42) including at least one radioisotope disposed in a biodegradable host (14, 24, 25, 44) configured to biodegrade over a therapy time period when implanted in the oncology subject. In some embodiments the radioactive seed is implanted in soft tissue of an oncology subject (S), and the radioactive seed comprises a radioactive material (12, 32, 33, 42) including at least one radioisotope disposed in a host material (14, 24, 25, 44) having softness comparable with or softer than the soft tissue into which the radioactive seed is implanted.

Abstract: A method includes at least one of creating or adapting a treatment plan for a patient based on a set of serum polypeptides of the patient that are indicative of a radiotoxicity of the patient at least one of before or after at least one of a plurality of radiotherapy treatments of the treatment plan, wherein the radiotoxicity is induced by radiation exposure from the radiotherapy treatment. A system includes a treatment planning device (108) that facilitates at least one of creating or adapting a treatment plan for a patient based on amounts or concentrations of a set of serum polypeptides of the patient that indicate a high risk of or an early radiotoxicity of the patient to radiation from radiotherapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energy application apparatus for applying energy to an object, wherein the object (2) comprises a location (3) with radioactive material and wherein the energy application apparatus (1) comprises a location detection unit being usable for detecting the location with the radioactive material, and an x-ray unit for applying x-rays to the detected location of the object. Since the location, to which energy should be applied, comprises radioactive material, this location can be accurately detected by using the location detection unit. Moreover, since the application of the x-rays can be well controlled by controlling, for example, the intensity and the energy spectrum of the x-rays, energy can be accurately applied to the accurately detected location. The overall process of applying energy to the object can therefore be performed with increased accuracy.

Abstract: In brachytherapy where position information relating to a radiation source is to be generated, a guidance system is adapted to acquire and process position data or position and tissue data, so that high-precision interventional radiotherapy can be carried out, especially according to a dose plan and for intra-fraction monitoring for a therapy plan or adaptive re-planning. The data can be stored and used to refine future treatment plans and for future correlation with long-term treatment outcome, especially in context with low energy brachytherapy.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a database (30) storing medical data including image medical data and non-image medical data for a plurality of patients; a digital processor (40) configured to (i) generate a features vector (56) comprising features indicative of a patient derived from patient medical data stored in the database including both patient image medical data and patient non-image medical data and (ii) perform multivariate analysis (64) on a features vector generated for a patient of interest to determine a proposed diagnosis for the patient of interest; and a user interface (42) configured to output a human perceptible representation of the proposed diagnosis for the patient of interest.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and a system of evaluating toxicity level of a patient undergoing a cancer treatment protocol. Patient's related data including biomarkers of toxicity level caused by said cancer treatment are received. These biomarkers of toxicity level are then compared with a range of reference biomarkers of toxicity level caused during a similar cancer treatment. Finally, an alert signal is issued in case the biomarkers of toxicity level fall outside said range of reference biomarkers of toxicity level.

Abstract: An oncology therapy method comprises implanting a radioactive seed (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) in an oncology subject (S). In some embodiments the radioactive seed comprises a radioactive material (12, 32, 33, 42) including at least one radioisotope disposed in a biodegradable host (14, 24, 25, 44) configured to biodegrade over a therapy time period when implanted in the oncology subject. In some embodiments the radioactive seed is implanted in soft tissue of an oncology subject (S), and the radioactive seed comprises a radioactive material (12, 32, 33, 42) including at least one radioisotope disposed in a host material (14, 24, 25, 44) having softness comparable with or softer than the soft tissue into which the radioactive seed is implanted.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a process for laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry using a polymer of aniline or an aniline derivative, or phenyl acrylate or a phenyl acrylate derivative. The polymer is a UV absorbing polymer onto which polymer a sample probe can be deposited. With the use of a UV laser beam, the sample molecules can be desorbed and ionized. The addition of a UV absorbing matrix material may not be necessary any more.

Abstract: A method for radiotherapy monitoring is provided. The method comprises calculation of treatment-guiding indices of side-effects based on processing image derived descriptors and measurement values of selected disease specific biomarkers and optionally questionnaire data. A computer program product is also provided.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining an image of a region of interest of a subject, wherein the image is generated with image data produced by an imaging system used to scan the subject, obtaining a signal indicative of a physiological state of the subject before the scan, and displaying both the image and data indicative of the physiological state. In another aspect, a method includes correcting, via a processor, a tracer uptake value for a target region of interest based on a tracer uptake correction factor.

Abstract: An improved radiation therapy planning procedure is suggested. The procedure comprises the steps of specifying and determining the absolute grade of cell degeneracy by in-vitro tests, whereby marker(s) indicative for specific cell degeneracy are detected and quantified, establishing a biology-based segmentation of areas with similar grade of relative cell degeneracy and applying the absolute grade of cell degeneracy to the biology-based segmentation data, thereby establishing an improved radiation therapy planning procedure. Moreover, the present invention suggests a system for an improved radiation therapy planning procedure and its use in procedures of diagnosis and/or therapy management of cancer.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a multi-dimensional assembly supporting a plurality of x-ray sources that are individually addressable. The plurality of x-ray sources is further configurable to simultaneously emit x-ray spectra at different mean energies. Furthermore, the multi-dimensional assembly includes a plurality of x-ray detectors that are arranged to detect at least a part of the x-rays that are emitted from at least one of the x-ray sources.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data acquisition in computed tomography (CT) applications are provided. The systems and methods are particularly adapted for scanning and acquiring/processing data in connection with high-power cone-beam CT applications. The electron beam is moved/scanned along the anode surface to multiple focal positions. Data acquisition for a full projection at one focus position and one view angle is achieved by activating each focus position multiple times during the data acquisition for one angle of the gantry. The detector array and associated data processing system are adapted to rapidly switch between the different focus positions during the acquisitions for one view angle and to collect all data belonging to the same projection into the same data set. Adaptive electron optics are utilized to move/scan the electron beam along the anode surface to the various focus positions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for separating at least one analyte in a liquid sample and further analyzing said analyte by laser desorption/ionization (LDI) mass spectrometry. The invention is further concerned with the use of devices for separating at least one analyte in a liquid sample and subsequent determination of the presence and/or amount of said at least one analyte by LDI mass spectrometry. The invention is also concerned with a method for separating at least one analyte in a liquid sample and subsequent determination of the presence and/or amount of said at least one analyte by LDI mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data acquisition in computed tomography (CT) applications are provided. The systems and methods are particularly adapted for scanning and acquiring/processing data in connection with high-power cone-beam CT applications. The electron beam is moved/scanned along the anode surface to multiple focal positions. Data acquisition for a full projection at one focus position and one view angle is achieved by activating each focus position multiple times during the data acquisition for one angle of the gantry. The detector array and associated data processing system are adapted to rapidly switch between the different focus positions during the acquisitions for one view angle and to collect all data belonging to the same projection into the same data set. Adaptive electron optics are utilized to move/scan the electron beam along the anode surface to the various focus positions.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The imaging apparatus comprises a multidimensional assembly that further comprises a plurality of x-ray sources that are individually addressable. The plurality of x-ray sources is further configurable to simultaneously emit x-ray spectra at different mean energies. Furthermore, the multi-dimensional assembly further comprises a plurality of x-ray detectors that are arranged to detect at least a part of the x-rays that are emitted from at least one of the x-ray sources.

Abstract: An improved radiation therapy planning procedure is suggested. The procedure comprises the steps of specifying and determining the absolute grade of cell degeneracy by in-vitro tests, whereby marker(s) indicative for specific cell degeneracy are detected and quantified, establishing a biology-based segmentation of areas with similar grade of relative cell degeneracy and applying the absolute grade of cell degeneracy to the biology-based segmentation data, thereby establishing an improved radiation therapy planning procedure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of composites or compositions of diamond/non-diamond material, e.g. diamond/non-diamond carbon material for chemical or biological analysis. The invention further relates to the use of this material in separation adherence and detection of chemical of biological samples. Applications of either structurized substrates or mixed phase particles of this material include but are not limited to processes which involve desorption-ionization of a sample, more specifically mass spectroscopy.

Abstract: A miniaturized X-ray source is disclosed. It comprises an anode structure (43) and a cathode structure (41), each having an essentially pointed portion (44, 42), wherein at least the pointed portions being directed towards each other and enclosed in a vacuum cavity (49). The anode structure has an essentially dome shaped structure having a first essentially flat part (46) surrounded by a second essentially flat part (48), connected by a wall section (47), such that said first and second parts are located at different levels. The pointed portion is provided on said first flat portion and having an extension such that the apex of said pointed portion does not extend beyond the level of said second essentially flat part. A method of making an X-ray source is also disclosed.