Patents by Inventor Eike Rietzel

Eike Rietzel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140166896
    Abstract: To control of an irradiation installation, a particle beam is generated with a beam intensity, and a beam quality of the particle beam is monitored with a beam monitoring device. One of several adjustable measurement ranges is selected, wherein the measurement range of the beam monitoring device is set depending on the beam intensity of the particle beam and/or depending on a particle count to be applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: GSI HELMHOLTZZENTRUM FUR SCHWERIONENFORSCHUNG GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Eike Rietzel
  • Patent number: 8710445
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating an activity distribution obtained in a moved target object by a beam that is generated by an irradiation device. Said apparatus comprises: a positron emission tomograph designed to record photons generated in the target object by the beam and generate measurement data representing points of origin of the photons; a movement detection device designed to generate a movement signal representing the movement of the target object; and an evaluation unit designed to associate the points of origin of the measured photons with positions in the target object with the help of the movement signal such that three-dimensional characteristics of the activity distribution actually generated in the target object can be evaluated by means of the photons generated by the beam. The invention further relates to an irradiation system and a method in which such an apparatus is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschuntg GmbH, Siemens AG, Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf E.V., Heidelberger Ionenstrahl-Therapie (HIT) Betriebs-Gesellschaft AM Universitatsklinikum
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Eike Rietzel, Wolfgang Enghardt, Katia Parodi
  • Patent number: 8657743
    Abstract: A control device for a medical system is provided. The medical system may be a medical diagnosis and/or medical therapy system. The medical system may include a control unit operable to be used to carry out control processes that control the medical system, and a mobile handheld control unit operable to control at least one controllable element of the medical system by a user. The control device may be configured so that one or more control processes may only be carried out by the control unit when the mobile handheld control unit is located at a predefined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Seimens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eike Rietzel, Andres Sommer
  • Patent number: 8598546
    Abstract: A method of generating a data set defining a plurality of target points in a target volume in a body at which a particle beam is to be directed in a continuous or discontinuous process includes directing a particle beam to each of the target points so as to provide a spatial dose distribution in an area around the respective target point. The target points include a first target point having z-spacing, measured in a direction of the particle beam in a homogenous body equivalent to the body, from an adjacent second target point at a higher or lower particle energy. The method also includes defining the target points in the data set by at least one of the z-spacing and the spatial dose distribution in dependence upon a particle energy of the respective target point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignees: GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Eike Rietzel, Martin Rohregger
  • Patent number: 8502177
    Abstract: The invention concerns an idea of planning irradiation of two target points (81, 9) with a beam approaching target points (72) for the purpose of depositing a first target dose distribution in a first of the two target volumes (81, 92) and a second target dose distribution in a second of the two target volumes (81, 92). The idea is characterized by the following steps: assigning target points (72) to one of the target volumes (81, 92), detecting an overlap of a first deposition caused by approaching a target point (72) assigned to the first target volume (81, 92) with a second deposition caused by approaching a target point (72) assigned to the second target volume (81, 92), and adapting the planning process for at least one of the target points (72) whose approach contributes to the overlap of the first and second deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignees: GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Siemens AG
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Eike Rietzel
  • Patent number: 8471228
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for irradiating a target with a beam approaching target points, involving the following steps: Measuring at least one of the parameters relating to the position of the beam and the intensity of the beam, changing the beam as a function of the at least one measured parameter, particularly as a function of a variance relating to the at least one measured parameter. The method is characterized in that the at least one measured parameter is measured at the most once per target point. Furthermore, the invention concerns a device for irradiating a target in accordance with the invention-based method and a control system for controlling such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Siemens AG, Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf E.V., Heidelberger Ionenstrahltherapie (HIT) Betriebs-Gesellschaft AM Universitatsklinikum Heidelberg mbH
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Thomas Haberer, Eike Rietzel
  • Publication number: 20130150647
    Abstract: A method for producing an irradiation plan for a target volume includes preparing a modulation curve that characterizes modulation of particle numbers at target points in the target volume that lie one behind another in a direction of the beam. The method also includes determining a current position of the target volume and defining a plurality of target points that fully cover the target volume in the current position. Particle numbers are assigned to the plurality of current target points using the modulation curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Wenjing Chen, Alexander Gemmel, Eike Rietzel
  • Patent number: 8405050
    Abstract: A method of determining an actual, especially an actual effective, radiation dose distribution of a moving target volume includes detecting first and further positions of volume elements of the target volume in a first and at least one further motional state of the moving target volume, determining transformation parameters by transformation of the first positions into the further positions, irradiating the moving target volume in accordance with an irradiation plan which comprises a plurality of raster points to be irradiated, wherein during the irradiation of a raster point it is detected which of the motional states is occupied by the moving target volume, assigning raster points to subirradiation plans and determining the actual effective dose for each of the plurality of volume elements, in each case from contributions from the raster points of the subirradiation plans using the transformation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: GSI Helmholtzzentrum Fuer Schwerionenforschung GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Gerhard Kraft, Eike Rietzel, Alexander Gemmel
  • Patent number: 8391782
    Abstract: A system for wireless transmission of signals is provided. The system includes a mobile operator unit that is operable to transmit signals; and a base unit of a safety-critical device that is operable to receive signals from the mobile operator unit. The mobile operator unit is operable to categorize the signals to be transmitted as safety-relevant control signals and non-critical communication signals. Only the safety-relevant control signals are checked for error-free transmission. The non-critical communication signals are transmitted without error safety checking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Holstegge, Robert Kagermeier, Eike Rietzel, Steffen Schröter, Dietmar Sierk, Andres Sommer
  • Publication number: 20120273666
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for checking an irradiation installation in which a dose distribution is deposited in a target object by means of a treatment beam, said method comprising the following steps: an irradiation planning data record optimised for the irradiation of a moving target volume is provided; a movement signal that reproduces a movement of the target volume is provided; a phantom is irradiated, said phantom being formed for detecting a dose distribution deposited in the phantom during or after the irradiation, using the control parameters stored at the irradiation planning data record and the movement signal; a dose distribution deposited in the phantom is determined; a dose distribution to be expected is calculated on the basis of parameters that are related to the control of the irradiation installation during the irradiation; and the determined dose distribution deposited in the phantom is compared to the calculated dose distribution to be expected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Eike Rietzel, Nami Saito
  • Patent number: 8299448
    Abstract: A control parameter is determined for a system for irradiating a predetermined target volume in a body with a particle beam. The system is constructed to direct the particle beam at a multiplicity of target points in the target volume in succession in order to produce at, each of the target points a predetermined dose distribution in a region around the target point. The control parameter controls the extent of an overlap of the dose distribution of a first target point with the dose distributions of neighboring target points. For determination of the control parameter, there is first determined a movement parameter which quantitatively characterizes the movement of the body at the first target point. The control parameter is determined in dependence on the movement parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: GSI Helmholtzzentrum fuer Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Siemens AG
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Eike Rietzel, Gerhard Kraft
  • Publication number: 20120264996
    Abstract: A method for irradiation treatment planning for a target volume to be irradiated includes specifying a plurality of data sets. The target volume to be irradiated is depicted in each data set of the plurality of data sets. The data sets differ in that the target volume has another position and/or shape. A data set is selected from the plurality of the data sets and other data sets are registered to the selected data set. The method includes forming an amalgamation of the depicted target volumes using the registrations of the other data sets to the selected data set, and determining an area at risk in the selected data set. The method includes modifying the amalgamation of the target volumes such that the area at risk is excluded from the amalgamation of the depicted target volumes. An irradiation treatment plan is calculated using the modified amalgamation of the target volumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Wenjing Chen, Alexander Gemmel, Eike Rietzel
  • Publication number: 20120187314
    Abstract: A method for irradiating a target volume includes defining a target region having a plurality of target points. The target points are individually approachable. The method includes defining a number of rescanning passes, in which the target region is scanned multiple times, such that the plurality of target points of the target region is approached variously often during the rescanning passes. At least some target points of the plurality of target points are not approached in all of the rescanning passes. The approaching of the plurality of target points is distributed among the rescanning passes such that for a target point of the plurality of target points that is not approached in all of the rescanning passes, at least one further rescanning pass, in which the target point is not approached, is located before a final rescanning pass, in which the target point is approached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Eike Rietzel
  • Publication number: 20120181428
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a device for controlling an irradiation system for irradiating a moving target volume. The device includes an evaluation device for evaluating a substitute movement signal. The device also includes an imaging device for recording image data of the moving target volume. The imaging device is activated or deactivated by a control device according to the evaluation of the substitute movement signal. The device includes an image evaluation device for evaluating the image data recorded by the imaging device, and an irradiation device that is activated or deactivated using an irradiation control device according to the evaluation of the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Eike Rietzel
  • Patent number: 8217373
    Abstract: A system for irradiating a predetermined target volume in a body with a particle beam is constructed to direct the particle beam at a multiplicity of target points in the body in succession, in order to produce at each of the target points a predetermined dose distribution. For the system there is determined a planning target volume by first determining, in a fictive homogeneous body, a target volume equivalent to the minimum target volume in the body. The equivalent target volume is extended by a safety margin, in order to determine the planning target volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: GSI Helmholtzzentrum fuer Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Siemens AG
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Gerhard Kraft, Eike Rietzel
  • Publication number: 20110309255
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating an activity distribution obtained in a moved target object by a beam that is generated by an irradiation device. Said apparatus comprises: a positron emission tomograph designed to record photons generated in the target object by the beam and generate measurement data representing points of origin of the photons; a movement detection device designed to generate a movement signal representing the movement of the target object; and an evaluation unit designed to associate the points of origin of the measured photons with positions in the target object with the help of the movement signal such that three-dimensional characteristics of the activity distribution actually generated in the target object can be evaluated by means of the photons generated by the beam. The invention further relates to an irradiation system and a method in which such an apparatus is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Eike Rietzel, Wolfgang Enghardt, Katia Parodi
  • Patent number: 8079100
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a patient during radiation therapy includes a treatment table that is pivotable about a horizontal axis, and a laser measurement system which is designed to indicate a non-horizontal orientation of the treatment table to be adopted during the radiation therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Herrmann, Eike Rietzel, Andres Sommer
  • Publication number: 20110303857
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for irradiating a target with a beam approaching target points, involving the following steps: Measuring at least one of the parameters relating to the position of the beam and the intensity of the beam, changing the beam as a function of the at least one measured parameter, particularly as a function of a variance relating to the at least one measured parameter. The method is characterized in that the at least one measured parameter is measured at the most once per target point. Furthermore, the invention concerns a device for irradiating a target in accordance with the invention-based method and a control system for controlling such a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Thomas Haberer, Eike Rietzel
  • Publication number: 20110303858
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for determining control parameters for an irradiation system by means of which a number of irradiation doses are successively deposited at different target points in a target volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Eike Rietzel, Alexander Gemmel, Nami Saito
  • Publication number: 20110297849
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the deposition of an intended dose distribution in a cyclically moved target region moving cyclically (102) by means of multiple irradiations with a beam (105) approaching matrix points of a target matrix in at least two scannings, wherein in each of the scannings, matrix points are approached sequentially. It is characterized through the steps: establishing the maximal tolerance level for local deviation from the intended dose distribution, de-synchronizing the sequence of the irradiation and the cyclical motion of the target region (102), and partitioning the irradiation of the target region (102) in a sufficient number of scannings such that local deviations from the intended dose distribution correspond at most to the maximal tolerance level of deviation from the intended dose distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Christoph Bert, Eike Rietzel