Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for X-ray imaging of a patient's breast using optimized iodine contrast-enhanced energy-subtraction mammography (CEESM). The disclosed technology employs an X-ray tube design that uses as the X-ray target materials foils of tellurium and cerium to optimize the radiographic contrast of an iodinated contrast agent. Radiographic contrast produced by the CEESM technique is shown to be approximately 5 times higher than produced by currently existing comparable clinical techniques.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of utilizing deuterons (nuclear particles consisting of a proton and a neutron) for charged particle radiotherapy. Compared with proton therapy, at their maximum treatment depth of 66 mm, 125 MeV deuterons possess 82-85% less beam straggling than protons. This difference enables better protection of radiosensitive critical tissues that may be in contact with a tumor. Alternatively, it enables higher doses to be delivered to the tumor, resulting in better tumor control. The implementation of deuteron therapy interchangeably alongside proton therapy requires minor modifications at modest cost to many existing proton therapy systems and provides a clinically useful hybrid particle therapy facility. A free-standing deuteron therapy facility that employs only deuterons is also described.

Abstract: A detector assembly for use in obtaining alpha-track autoradiographs, the detector assembly including a substantially boron-free substrate; a detector layer deposited on the substantially boron-free substrate, the detector layer being capable of recording alpha particle tracks and exhibiting evidence of the alpha tracks in response to being exposed to an etchant, the detector layer being less than about 2 microns thick; and a protective layer deposited on the detector layer, the protective layer being resistant to the etchant and having a thickness of about 0.5 to 1 microns.

Abstract: A method for developing a treatment plan for neutron capture therapy of a target organ including the steps of using a diagnostic cross-sectional scanner to scan the target organ to generate cross-sectional images of the organ; generating a three-dimensional model of the organ from the cross-sectional images, the model including information about internal features of the organ; and using the three-dimensional model to compute expected radiation doses throughout the organ assuming a given arrangement of one or more neutron beams.

Abstract: A detector assembly for use in obtaining alpha-track autoradiographs, the detector assembly including a substantially boron-free substrate; a detector layer deposited on the substantially boron-free substrate, the detector layer being capable of recording alpha particle tracks and exhibiting evidence of the alpha tracks in response to being exposed to an etchant, the detector layer being less than about 2 microns thick; and a protective layer deposited on the detector layer, the protective layer being resistant to the etchant and having a thickness of about 0.5 to 1 microns.