Abstract: Provided herein are systems for configuring a proton beam system to deliver energy to a patient. In some examples, systems can include one or more processors that are configured to receive scan data associated with a three-dimensional scan of a patient, determine a treatment plan involving delivery of energy from a plurality of gantry positions relative to the patient, and provide control data associated with the treatment plan to a proton beam system, the control data configured to control the proton beam system when executing the treatment plan. In some examples, each field specified by the treatment plan can be associated with a beam configuration that targets the planning target volume such that each spot path of the beam configuration is separated from at least one other spot path of the beam configuration by a distance that satisfies a threshold distance.

Abstract: Provided herein are system for evaluating candidate radiation therapy treatment plans. In an example, a system can include at least one processor configured to obtain data associated with a three-dimensional (3D) scan of a portion of a patient and at least one optimization objective; generate a set of radiation therapy treatment plans based on the 3D scan; and evaluate each radiation therapy treatment plan of the set of radiation therapy treatment plans based on a kernel function. The kernel function can include a metric evaluation function and a modification function that is based on at least one optimization objective. In examples, the at least one processor can be configured to determine a selected radiation therapy treatment plan from among the set of radiation therapy treatment plans based on comparing a cost of the selected radiation therapy treatment plan to the costs of each of the radiation therapy treatment plans.

Abstract: Information associated with a radiation treatment plan includes, for example, values of dose per voxel in a target volume, values of dose rate per voxel in the target volume, and values of parameters used when generating the values of dose per voxel and the values of dose rate per voxel. Renderings that include, for example, a rendering of an image of or including the target volume, and a rendering of selected values of the radiation treatment plan, are displayed. When a selection of a region of one of the renderings is received, a displayed characteristic of another one of the renderings is changed based on the selection.

Abstract: Example methods and systems for image data processing for radiation therapy are provided. In one example, a computer system may obtain planning image data that is generated using an imaging source to emit an imaging beam towards a patient and a detector to image a target structure within the patient during a pre-treatment phase of radiation therapy. Based on the planning image data, the computer system may generate at least one of (a) phase-contrast image data associated with the target structure and (b) dark-field image data associated with the target structure. The computer system may generate template image data associated with the target structure by processing at least one of the following: (a) the phase-contrast image data, (b) the dark-field image data and (c) derived image data that is generated based on the phase-contrast image data or the dark-field image data.

Abstract: Example methods and systems for target structure tracking are provided. In one example, a computer system may obtain projection image data that is generated using an imaging source to emit an imaging beam towards a patient and a detector to image a target structure within the patient during a treatment phase of radiation therapy. Based on the projection image data, the computer system may generate at least one of (a) phase-contrast image data associated with the target structure and (b) dark-field image data associated with the target structure. The computer system may determine position data associated with the target structure by processing at least one of the following: (a) the phase-contrast image data, (b) the dark-field image data and (c) derived image data that is generated based on the phase-contrast image data or the dark-field image data, thereby tracking the target structure during the treatment phase of the radiation therapy.

Abstract: A system includes at least one processor configured to execute computer executable instructions to cause the system to: generate or obtain a first radiation treatment plan for a treatment target in a patient, the first radiation treatment plan prescribing beam characteristics for a plurality of beamlets or spots in the treatment target, the beam characteristics including a monitor unit value associated with each of the plurality of beamlets or spots in at least a first field; and display, via a graphical user interface, at least one representation of a first distribution of monitor units for the first radiation treatment plan, the at least one representation of the first distribution of monitor units indicating, for each respective monitor unit value, a number of beamlets or spots in at least the first field having the respective monitor unit value.

Abstract: One or more new metrics are introduced into the treatment planning process. More specifically, a correcting factor/metric referred to herein as the critical/repair ratio index is introduced, and/or a correcting factor/metric referred to herein as the spatial periodicity of critical isodose value is introduced. By using these metrics, the expected sparing from the spatial distribution of dose is better accounted for in treatment modalities including spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) in general and SFRT with ultra-high dose rates in particular. According to a treatment planning strategy, the target can be covered by a Spread-Out Bragg Peak, to optimize and/or homogenize the dose distribution at the target level but still benefit from the sparing effect of SFRT at the healthy tissue level. Delivery techniques include a dynamic focusing technique and a magnetic beam steering technique. Enhancing dose rate enables maximizing the peak-to-valley dose distribution with SFRT despite patient motion.

Abstract: A control circuit accesses information regarding radiation delivery parameters and a calculation algorithm and calculates both radiation dose and radiation dose rate volumes using the calculation algorithm and the information regarding radiation delivery parameters to provide at least one calculated radiation dose volume and at least one calculated radiation dose rate volume.

Abstract: A control circuit accesses information representing radiation dose deposition as a function of time for a particular patient as well as at least one biological parameter for that particular patient. The control circuit then determines a biological equivalent dose for the particular patient as a function of both the information representing radiation dose deposition as a function of time and the at least one biological parameter to provide a determined biological equivalent dose for the particular patient.

Abstract: A graphical user interface is configured for display on a computer display. The graphical user interface includes a dose rate slider configured to enable a user to select a range of radiation dose rates of a radiotherapy plan, and a display image configured to present an image. The dose rate slider may be selectable among less than a value of the dose rate slider, and more than a value of the dose rate slider.

Abstract: A method of planning radiation treatment for a patient includes identifying a region of interest of the patient to be treated with radiation and determining a simulated treatment plan for the region of interest based on a statistical analysis between one or more metrics of the identified region of interest and a previously determined predictive dynamics database that includes information regarding the one or more metrics for corresponding regions of interest for a population of patients. The method further includes characterizing the simulated treatment plan with a FLASH Index that compares an ideal FLASH radiation treatment plan to the simulated treatment plan.

Abstract: A computing system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), and memory coupled to the CPU and having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to execute operations to generate a radiation treatment plan. The operations include accessing a minimum prescribed dose to be delivered into and across the target, determining a number of beams and directions of the beams, and determining a beam energy for each of the beams, wherein the number of beams, the directions of the beams, and the beam energy for each of the beams are determined such that the entire target receives the minimum prescribed dose. The operations further include prescribing a dose rate and optimizing dose rate constraints for FLASH therapy, and displaying a dose rate map of the FLASH therapy.

Abstract: For planning radiation treatment, candidate radiation treatment plans are evaluated and optimized using an objective function that includes a combination of a first objective function and a second objective function. The first objective function is configured for determining a value of a dose metric. The second objective function is configured for determining a value of a term that is added to the value of the dose metric to account for spots or beam lets that have a weight that is greater than zero and less than a minimum threshold value. The value of the term is added to the value of the dose metric. In effect, spots or beam lets with a weight that is not zero and that is also less than a minimum threshold value are penalized during treatment planning.

Abstract: A system includes at least one processor configured to execute computer executable instructions to cause the system to: generate or obtain a first radiation treatment plan for a treatment target in a patient, the first radiation treatment plan prescribing beam characteristics for a plurality of beamlets or spots in the treatment target, the beam characteristics including a monitor unit value associated with each of the plurality of beamlets or spots in at least a first field; and display, via a graphical user interface, at least one representation of a first distribution of monitor units for the first radiation treatment plan, the at least one representation of the first distribution of monitor units indicating, for each respective monitor unit value, a number of beamlets or spots in at least the first field having the respective monitor unit value.

Abstract: A method of planning radiation treatment for a patient includes identifying a region of interest of the patient to be treated with radiation and determining a simulated treatment plan for the region of interest based on a statistical analysis between one or more metrics of the identified region of interest and a previously determined predictive dynamics database that includes information regarding the one or more metrics for corresponding regions of interest for a population of patients. The method further includes characterizing the simulated treatment plan with a FLASH Index that compares an ideal FLASH radiation treatment plan to the simulated treatment plan.

Abstract: Dose analysis radiotherapy systems and methods for determine delivered radiotherapy dose, dose rate, irradiation time and position information and planned radiotherapy dose, dose rate, irradiation time and position information. The dose analysis systems and methods further compare the as delivered dose, dose rate, irradiation time and position information to the planned dose, dose rate, irradiation time and position information to generate a graphical representation of one or more of the delivered dose, dose rate, irradiation time and position information versus planned dose, dose rate, irradiation time and position information.

Abstract: A control circuit optimizes an energy treatment plan (such as, but not limited to, a Flash energy treatment plan) to therapeutically treat a given patient's treatment volume with energy to provide an optimized energy treatment plan. The control circuit determines at least one delivered dose rate as regards applying the energy pursuant to the optimized energy treatment plan and then determines a quality assurance dose rate metric that corresponds to that at least one delivered dose rate. The control circuit then informs a user regarding information that corresponds to the quality assurance dose rate metric.

Abstract: A method used for planning radiation treatment accessing information that includes calculated doses and calculated dose rates for sub-volumes in a treatment target, and also accessing information that includes values of a measure of the sub-volumes as a function of the calculated doses and the calculated dose rates. A graphical user interface includes a rendering that is based on the calculated doses, the calculated doses rates, and the values of the measure.

Abstract: One or more new metrics are introduced into the treatment planning process. More specifically, a correcting factor/metric referred to herein as the critical/repair ratio index is introduced, and/or a correcting factor/metric referred to herein as the spatial periodicity of critical isodose value is introduced. By using these metrics, the expected sparing from the spatial distribution of dose is better accounted for in treatment modalities including spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) in general and SFRT with ultra-high dose rates in particular. According to a treatment planning strategy, the target can be covered by a Spread-Out Bragg Peak, to optimize and/or homogenize the dose distribution at the target level but still benefit from the sparing effect of SFRT at the healthy tissue level. Delivery techniques include a dynamic focusing technique and a magnetic beam steering technique. Enhancing dose rate enables maximizing the peak-to-valley dose distribution with SFRT despite patient motion.

Abstract: A computing system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), and memory coupled to the CPU and having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to execute operations to generate a radiation treatment plan. The operations include accessing a minimum prescribed dose to be delivered into and across the target, determining a number of beams and directions of the beams, and determining a beam energy for each of the beams, wherein the number of beams, the directions of the beams, and the beam energy for each of the beams are determined such that the entire target receives the minimum prescribed dose. The operations further include prescribing a dose rate and optimizing dose rate constraints for FLASH therapy, and displaying a dose rate map of the FLASH therapy.