Abstract: A path preparation system for preparing a path for a device. The path preparation system includes an ultrasound transmitter and a tracking system. The tracking system is configured to determine a current position of the device on the path. The ultrasound transmitter is configured to focus an ultrasound wave onto a focus position that lies in front of the device in the direction of the path, in spatial relation to the current position of the device.

Abstract: A medical imaging system a magnet unit includes a main magnet and a first housing. In an embodiment, the main magnet is arranged inside the first housing and includes coil elements and at least one coil carrier, the magnet unit defining an examination opening. The first radiation unit is embodied to irradiate the examination object and is arranged on the side of the magnet unit. The magnet unit includes a first region, transparent to radiation emitted by the first radiation unit radially to the examination axis. The first radiation unit is embodied to emit radiation through the first region of the magnet unit in a direction of the examination opening and is furthermore embodied to rotate about the examination opening.

Abstract: Methods and system for facilitating rapid radiation treatments are provided herein and relate in particular to radiation generation and delivery, beam control, treatment planning, imaging and dose verification. The methods and systems described herein are particularly advantageous when used with a compact high-gradient, very high energy electron (VHEE) accelerator and delivery system (and related processes) capable of treating patients from multiple beam directions with great speed, using all-electromagnetic or radiofrequency deflection steering is provided, that can deliver an entire dose or fraction of high-dose radiation therapy sufficiently fast to freeze physiologic motion, yet with a better degree of dose conformity or sculpting than conventional photon therapy.

Abstract: Methods and system for facilitating rapid radiation treatments are provided herein and relate in particular to radiation generation and delivery, electron source design, beam control and shaping/intensity-modulation.

Abstract: A medical imaging system a magnet unit includes a main magnet and a first housing. In an embodiment, the main magnet is arranged inside the first housing and includes coil elements and at least one coil carrier, the magnet unit defining an examination opening. The first radiation unit is embodied to irradiate the examination object and is arranged on the side of the magnet unit. The magnet unit includes a first region, transparent to radiation emitted by the first radiation unit radially to the examination axis. The first radiation unit is embodied to emit radiation through the first region of the magnet unit in a direction of the examination opening and is furthermore embodied to rotate about the examination opening.

Abstract: Methods and system for facilitating rapid radiation treatments are provided herein and relate in particular to radiation generation and delivery, beam control, treatment planning, imaging and dose verification. The methods and systems described herein are particularly advantageous when used with a compact high-gradient, very high energy electron (VHEE) accelerator and delivery system (and related processes) capable of treating patients from multiple beam directions with great speed, using all-electromagnetic or radiofrequency deflection steering is provided, that can deliver an entire dose or fraction of high-dose radiation therapy sufficiently fast to freeze physiologic motion, yet with a better degree of dose conformity or sculpting than conventional photon therapy.

Abstract: Methods and system for facilitating rapid radiation treatments are provided herein and relate in particular to radiation generation and delivery, electron source design, beam control and shaping/intensity-modulation.

Abstract: Methods and system for facilitating rapid radiation treatments are provided herein and relate in particular to radiation generation and delivery, beam control, treatment planning, imaging and dose verification. The methods and systems described herein are particularly advantageous when used with a compact high-gradient, very high energy electron (VHEE) accelerator and delivery system (and related processes) capable of treating patients from multiple beam directions with great speed, using all-electromagnetic or radiofrequency deflection steering is provided, that can deliver an entire dose or fraction of high-dose radiation therapy sufficiently fast to freeze physiologic motion, yet with a better degree of dose conformity or sculpting than conventional photon therapy.

Abstract: Methods and system for facilitating rapid radiation treatments are provided herein and relate in particular to radiation generation and delivery, electron source design, beam control and shaping/intensity-modulation.

Abstract: Improved X-ray detectors are provided in a cross-strip geometry with better resolution than the electrode spacing. The basic idea is analog charge cloud reconstruction. An important practical aspect of this work is rotating the electrode pattern by about 45 degrees relative to the detector slab, which provides several performance benefits (equal length for all electrodes and greater ease of integration into vertical stacks etc.) that are expected to be especially relevant to achieve high performance from analog charge cloud reconstruction.

Abstract: Methods and system for facilitating rapid radiation treatments are provided herein and relate in particular to radiation generation and delivery, electron source design, beam control and shaping/intensity-modulation.

Abstract: Methods and system for facilitating rapid radiation treatments are provided herein and relate in particular to radiation generation and delivery, beam control, treatment planning, imaging and dose verification. The methods and systems described herein are particularly advantageous when used with a compact high-gradient, very high energy electron (VHEE) accelerator and delivery system (and related processes) capable of treating patients from multiple beam directions with great speed, using all-electromagnetic or radiofrequency deflection steering is provided, that can deliver an entire dose or fraction of high-dose radiation therapy sufficiently fast to freeze physiologic motion, yet with a better degree of dose conformity or sculpting than conventional photon therapy.

Abstract: Improved X-ray detectors are provided in a cross-strip geometry with better resolution than the electrode spacing. The basic idea is analog charge cloud reconstruction. An important practical aspect of this work is rotating the electrode pattern by about 45 degrees relative to the detector slab, which provides several performance benefits (equal length for all electrodes and greater ease of integration into vertical stacks etc.) that are expected to be especially relevant to achieve high performance from analog charge cloud reconstruction.

Abstract: An in-line MRI-linac apparatus is provided that includes an MRI magnet of an MRI scanner, where the MRI magnet generates a magnetic field, where the magnetic field has a quasi-uniform fringe field, where the fringe field is proximal to an axis of symmetry of the MRI magnet, and a magnetically unshielded dynamically moveable linac that includes a treatment beam that is aligned with field lines of the fringe field in a quasi axial symmetric configuration, where a position of the linac in the fringe field continuously adapts according to a target position to enable continuous dose delivery to the target.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for delivering radiation to a human patient or other mammal. A scanning electron beam x-ray source is used and the detector can be a photon counting detector. The area of the detector is less than the area of field of view in the patient. Tomosynthesis can be used to generate images and images can be produced rapidly in real time.

Abstract: A method of configuring an electron gun for generating and injecting an electron beam into a linac accelerating waveguide operating in magnetic fringe fields of an MRI scanner in the absence of a magnetic shield is provided using an appropriately programmed computer to determining an anode drift tube diameter at an injection point of a linac according to a magnetic field value from an MRI scanner and to a predetermined current density, where the magnetic field has an isocenter, determining a transverse diameter of a Type M cathode in an electron gun, according to the anode drift tube diameter and the current density, and minimizing an emittance value in an electron beam of the electron gun at an entry point of the anode drift tube by optimizing the distance between the cathode and the anode, where the electron beam is along an axis of symmetry of the magnetic field.

Abstract: An in-line MRI-linac apparatus is provided that includes an MRI magnet of an MRI scanner, where the MRI magnetic includes a magnetic field, where the magnetic field has a quasi-uniform fringe field, where the fringe field is proximal to an axis of symmetry of the MRI magnet, and a magnetically unshielded dynamically moveable linac that includes a treatment beam that is aligned with field lines of the fringe field in a quasi axial symmetric configuration, where a position of the linac in the fringe field continuously adapts according to a target position to enable continuous dose delivery to the target.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radiotherapy treatment apparatus that includes a treatment beam, a magnetic field disposed parallel collinear to the treatment beam, and a target that is disposed along the treatment beam. The treatment beam can be a charged particle beam, a proton beam, an electron beam, or a linear accelerator (Linac) beam. The magnetic field is from a magnetic resonance imager (MRI), a megavolt x-ray imager, or a kilovolt x-ray imager and is disposed to operate in coordination with operation of the treatment beam and to narrow the beam. The tumor is disposed to rotate with respect to the treatment beam and the magnetic field, or the treatment beam and the magnetic field are disposed to rotate up to 360° with respect to the target when mounted to a ring gantry. The apparatus can include a rotation angle dependent shim disposed to account for Earth's magnetic field.

Abstract: A pointing light device includes a light pointer, such as a laser pointer; and an elongated pointing member detachably associated with the light pointer. The pointing member contains at least two bead-like members. Also, a method for aligning a light pointer with a predetermined medical interventional device trajectory. The method includes attaching a pointing member to an output end the light pointer to form a movable pointing light device; imaging two or more bead-like members of the pointing member to create live projection images or shadows in the live projection image; projecting at least first and second points associated with the predetermined medical interventional device trajectory onto the live projection image; and moving the pointing light device until the live projection images of the two members are aligned with corresponding ones of the projected first and second points in the live projection image.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for delivering radiation to a human patient or other mammal. A scanning electron beam x-ray source is used and the detector can be a photon counting detector. The area of the detector is less than the area of field of view in the patient. Tomosynthesis can be used to generate images and images can be produced rapidly in real time.