Abstract: A method for simultaneously registering a plurality of computed tomography (CT) scans of a region of interest of a subject including a subject's lungs for quantitative lung analysis includes receiving a plurality of CT scans of the region of interest acquired with a CT imaging system, receiving a breathing surrogate data for the subject, the breathing surrogate data comprising an amplitude for each of the plurality of CT scans and determining a deformation based on the plurality of CT scans and the breathing surrogate data using an iterative optimization process of an objective function. The objective function can include a first term based on an approximation of local changes in Hounsfield Units (HU) adjusted for breathing of the subject and a second term based on error in the conservation of mass. At least one quantitative lung parameter may be determined based on the deformation.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously registering a plurality of computed tomography (CT) scans of a region of interest of a subject including a subject's lungs for quantitative lung analysis includes receiving a plurality of CT scans of the region of interest acquired with a CT imaging system, receiving a breathing surrogate data for the subject, the breathing surrogate data comprising an amplitude for each of the plurality of CT scans and determining a deformation based on the plurality of CT scans and the breathing surrogate data using an iterative optimization process of an objective function. The objective function can include a first term based on an approximation of local changes in Hounsfield Units (HU) adjusted for breathing of the subject and a second term based on error in the conservation of mass. At least one quantitative lung parameter may be determined based on the deformation.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided respiratory gated radiotherapy using a respiratory motion model. MRI-guided respiratory gating is performed with a continuously updated model that represents a patient's internal anatomy as a mathematical function of an external respiratory surrogate. The motion model may be built and updated by acquiring images of a tissue in a subject and measuring, using the images, a position of the tissue in the images to determine motion of the tissue. The surrogate respiratory signal is acquired contemporaneously with acquiring the images. Motion of the tissue and the surrogate respiratory signal are correlated to create the motion model for the subject and gating a radiotherapy system may then be based upon the motion model. A multi-planar model-based respiratory gating may also be performed by sequentially imaging a stack of adjacent slice positions.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided respiratory gated radiotherapy using a respiratory motion model. MRI-guided respiratory gating is performed with a continuously updated model that represents a patient's internal anatomy as a mathematical function of an external respiratory surrogate. The motion model may be built and updated by acquiring images of a tissue in a subject and measuring, using the images, a position of the tissue in the images to determine motion of the tissue. The surrogate respiratory signal is acquired contemporaneously with acquiring the images. Motion of the tissue and the surrogate respiratory signal are correlated to create the motion model for the subject and gating a radiotherapy system may then be based upon the motion model. A multi-planar model-based respiratory gating may also be performed by sequentially imaging a stack of adjacent slice positions.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods and devices are provided for generating a radiotherapy treatment plan for a subject to be implemented on a radiotherapy device. In certain embodiments the methods involve determining all feasible radiotherapy beam orientations free of collision for said radiotherapy device and said subject to provide a set of radiotherapy beam orientations; selecting from the set of all feasible radiotherapy beam orientations a subset of beams that meet treatment goals to be used in treatment of the subject to provide a selected beam set; calculating a navigation trajectory for the radiotherapy device to delivery said subset of beams to the subject where the trajectory is free of collision; and generating and writing instruction files to a tangible medium that can be executed by said radiotherapy device.

Abstract: A micro-radiation therapy apparatus includes an isotope-based micro-radiotherapy brachytherapy small animal irradiator useful for radiating a biological system, the irradiator having an external radiation source proximate the biological system comprising a collimated radiation beam. A method of effectively irradiating at least one cell in a biological system includes applying micro-radiation from an isotope-based micro-radiation small animal irradiator, the irradiator having an external radiation source proximate the biological system including a collimated radiation beam to a target cell of the biological system.