Abstract: Determine first information regarding physical-movement limitations pertaining to at least one multi-leaf collimator and also determine second information regarding movement of the treatment target with respect to the given patient. Then, while optimizing a radiation-treatment leaf-sequence plan, constrain individually-planned leaf positions as a function, at least in part, of the first information, the second information, and planned positions of adjacent leaves. By one approach, the first information can comprise information regarding a speed (such as a maximum speed) at which individual leaves of the multi-leaf collimator are able to move during a treatment session. By one approach, the second information can comprise information regarding a distance (such as a maximum distance) that one or more parts of the treatment target may possibly move as compared to a presumed position used during the optimizing of the radiation-treatment leaf-sequence plan.

Abstract: A method of delivering radiation in a session includes delivering radiation towards a patient using a radiation system, wherein the radiation is delivered based at least in part on a physiological phase or a position of the patient, after the radiation is delivered, changing a configuration of the radiation system, wherein the act of changing the configuration is performed independent of at least one motion of the patient, and delivering additional radiation towards the patient after the configuration of the radiation system is changed, wherein the acts of delivering radiation and the act of changing the configuration are performed in response to a processor executing a treatment plan that prescribes a plurality of packages and a transition, the transition prescribing the act of changing the configuration of the radiation system when no radiation is being delivered by the radiation system.

Abstract: Determine first information regarding physical-movement limitations pertaining to at least one multi-leaf collimator and also determine second information regarding movement of the treatment target with respect to the given patient. Then, while optimizing a radiation-treatment leaf-sequence plan, constrain individually-planned leaf positions as a function, at least in part, of the first information, the second information, and planned positions of adjacent leaves. By one approach, the first information can comprise information regarding a speed (such as a maximum speed) at which individual leaves of the multi-leaf collimator are able to move during a treatment session. By one approach, the second information can comprise information regarding a distance (such as a maximum distance) that one or more parts of the treatment target may possibly move as compared to a presumed position used during the optimizing of the radiation-treatment leaf-sequence plan.

Abstract: A radiation-treatment planning apparatus accesses information regarding a treatment target and at least one operational parameter pertaining to a physical characteristic of a given radiation-treatment platform. The apparatus also accesses information regarding a candidate treatment plan using the given platform. The apparatus then optimizes the candidate treatment plan by permitting, temporarily, discontinuities of the at least one operational parameter as between adjacent ones of a plurality of control points to thereby yield an optimized treatment plan. By one approach, this operational parameter can comprise a speed at which a collimator aperture can be changed. In such a case, the aforementioned discontinuities can comprise discontinuities with respect to the speed at which this aperture can be changed. So configured, these teachings will accommodate temporarily permitting speeds that are too fast to be actually performed by the given radiation-treatment platform.

Abstract: One provides a first dose-volume histogram (DVH) constraint as pertains to controlling localized excessive-radiation dosage with respect to a particular treatment volume. One then automatically determines whether to supplement this constraint by using an adaptive DVH constraint. These teachings will accommodate determining whether to supplement the first DVH constraint, at least in part, by determining whether a user has specified such supplementation (using, for example, a corresponding user interface) by, for example, placing at least one DVH constraint such that the constraint corresponds to a volume fraction at a range boundary.

Abstract: One provides a first dose-volume histogram (DVH) constraint as pertains to controlling localized excessive-radiation dosage with respect to a particular treatment volume. One then automatically determines whether to supplement this constraint by using an adaptive DVH constraint. These teachings will accommodate determining whether to supplement the first DVH constraint, at least in part, by determining whether a user has specified such supplementation (using, for example, a corresponding user interface) by, for example, placing at least one DVH constraint such that the constraint corresponds to a volume fraction at a range boundary.

Abstract: A radiation-therapy treatment-facilitation platform (200) provides (101) treatment-plan information regarding a plurality of different angles of exposure to employ when administering radiation therapy to a given target volume (203). This treatment-plan information is then used (103) to determine corresponding, and differing, aperture configuration for a second collimator (207) that is disposed between a source (201) for the radiation-therapy beam (202) and a multileaf collimator (206). By one approach, this second collimator is dynamically used when administering the radiation therapy for at least some of the differing angles of exposure. These teachings will optionally accommodate also providing (102) form information regarding the target volume that is used, along with the aforementioned treatment-plan information, to determine the aperture settings for the second collimator.

Abstract: A patient support system includes a patient support having a surface for supporting a patient and a longitudinal axis, and a positioner coupled to the patient support for positioning the patient support, wherein the positioner is configured to move the patient support along a path that has an arc, circular, or zig-zag shape, and wherein the path lies within a plane that forms an angle with the surface of the patient support.

Abstract: A method for use in a treatment planning process includes determining a modulability factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the modulability factor. A system for use in a treatment planning process includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured for determining a modulability factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the modulability factor. A method for use in a treatment planning process includes determining a visibility factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the visibility factor. A system for use in a treatment planning process includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured for determining a visibility factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the visibility factor.

Abstract: A method for determining a radiation treatment plan includes defining a part of a treatment using control points, defining dose calculation points, calculating dose in the dose calculation points, and changing a number of the dose calculation points. A method for determining a radiation treatment plan includes modeling a first part of a treatment plan using a fluence map, and modeling a second part of the treatment plan using a first machine parameter. A method for determining a radiation treatment plan includes determining a plurality of dose calculation points, determining a level of complexity of fluence for one of the plurality of dose calculation points, and converting a fluence map to one or more machine parameters for the one of the plurality of dose calculation points based on the determined level of complexity.

Abstract: These teachings provide for identifying (101) a set of fluence-based control points to represent a leaf sequence and then selecting (102) a first subset of the fluence-based control points and optimizing that first subset. This first subset (now optimized) is combined (103) with a second subset of the fluence-based control points and the aggregation then optimized. The latter activities are then iteratively repeated (104) with additional subsets of the fluence-based control points to provide resultant optimized sets of fluence-based control points. This eventually results in a fully optimized complete set of fluence-based control points. This optimized set of fluence-based control points are then used (105) to specify a corresponding radiation-treatment leaf-sequence plan.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems for and methods of registering (i.e., aligning) a deformable image with a reference image subject to a plurality of regions within the deformable and reference images. Different members of the plurality of regions may be used in different phases of a deformation algorithm and the identity of these regions may change between different iterations of the deformation algorithm. In some embodiments, most of an image is used for calculation of the internal force of the demons algorithm while a smaller subset of the image is used for calculating the opposing external force.

Abstract: A radiation system includes a radiation source, and a patient support for supporting a patient, the patient support located adjacent to the radiation source such that the radiation source can deliver radiation towards the patient while the patient is supported on the patient support, wherein the patient support and the radiation source are positionable at least partially around a same spatial region. A system for use to determine a treatment plan includes a user interface for allowing a user to define a plurality of control points, a first parameter, and a second parameter, wherein the user interface also allows the user to prescribe which of the first and second parameters is to be optimized, and which of the first and second parameters is to be interpolated.

Abstract: A method of delivering radiation in a session includes delivering radiation towards a patient using a radiation system, wherein the radiation is delivered based at least in part on a physiological phase or a position of the patient, after the radiation is delivered, changing a configuration of the radiation system, wherein the act of changing the configuration is performed independent of at least one motion of the patient, and delivering additional radiation towards the patient after the configuration of the radiation system is changed, wherein the acts of delivering radiation and the act of changing the configuration are performed in response to a processor executing a treatment plan that prescribes a plurality of packages and a transition, the transition prescribing the act of changing the configuration of the radiation system when no radiation is being delivered by the radiation system.

Abstract: A method for use in a treatment planning process includes determining a modulability factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the modulability factor. A system for use in a treatment planning process includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured for determining a modulability factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the modulability factor. A method for use in a treatment planning process includes determining a visibility factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the visibility factor. A system for use in a treatment planning process includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured for determining a visibility factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the visibility factor.

Abstract: An existing radiation treatment plan is accessed for a given patient as well as first information (such as automatically generated updated information) regarding at least one physical characteristic as corresponds to the radiation treatment of this patient. One then initiates, prior to receiving second information (such as user input) regarding the first information, an automatic adaptation process to adapt the treatment plan to accommodate the first information. Upon later receiving second information regarding the first information, one then modifies the automatic adaptation process itself to incorporate the second information regarding the first information.

Abstract: A radiation system includes a radiation source, and a patient support for supporting a patient, the patient support located adjacent to the radiation source such that the radiation source can deliver radiation towards the patient while the patient is supported on the patient support, wherein the patient support and the radiation source are positionable at least partially around a same spatial region. A system for use to determine a treatment plan includes a user interface for allowing a user to define a plurality of control points, a first parameter, and a second parameter, wherein the user interface also allows the user to prescribe which of the first and second parameters is to be optimized, and which of the first and second parameters is to be interpolated.

Abstract: A method for determining a radiation treatment plan includes defining a part of a treatment using control points, defining dose calculation points, calculating dose in the dose calculation points, and changing a number of the dose calculation points. A method for determining a radiation treatment plan includes modeling a first part of a treatment plan using a fluence map, and modeling a second part of the treatment plan using a first machine parameter. A method for determining a radiation treatment plan includes determining a plurality of dose calculation points, determining a level of complexity of fluence for one of the plurality of dose calculation points, and converting a fluence map to one or more machine parameters for the one of the plurality of dose calculation points based on the determined level of complexity.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems for and methods of registering (i.e., aligning) a deformable image with a reference image subject to a plurality of regions within the deformable and reference images. Different members of the plurality of regions may be used in different phases of a deformation algorithm and the identity of these regions may change between different iterations of the deformation algorithm. In some embodiments, most of an image is used for calculation of the internal force of the demons algorithm while a smaller subset of the image is used for calculating the opposing external force.