Abstract: A particle detection system for calibrating a particle therapy machine or validating a particle therapy plan. The detector system includes one or more two-dimensional particle detection layers for receiving a particle beam and one or more compensating layers. The compensating layer(s) are configured to adjust energy loss and scatter values introduced by the one or more two-dimensional particle detection layers to match water-equivalent values. Each compensation layer is positioned adjacent a respective one of the one or more two-dimensional particle detection layers.

Abstract: Particle therapy systems and methods for particle dose imaging are provided. A particle therapy system includes a particle beam source for generating a particle beam; and at least one particle detector including an ionization chamber having a mesh electrode. The at least one particle detector is configured to receive the particle beam and to generate an ionization current responsive to the received particle beam. The ionization current may be used to characterize the particle beam.

Abstract: A particle detection system for calibrating a particle therapy machine or validating a particle therapy plan. The detector system includes one or more two-dimensional particle detection layers for receiving a particle beam and one or more compensating layers. The compensating layer(s) are configured to adjust energy loss and scatter values introduced by the one or more two-dimensional particle detection layers to match water-equivalent values. Each compensation layer is positioned adjacent a respective one of the one or more two-dimensional particle detection layers.

Abstract: Particle therapy systems and methods for particle dose imaging are provided. A particle therapy system includes a particle beam source for generating a particle beam; and at least one particle detector including an ionization chamber having a mesh electrode. The at least one particle detector is configured to receive the particle beam and to generate an ionization current responsive to the received particle beam. The ionization current may be used to characterize the particle beam.

Abstract: A WallPlug (interface) connects DICOM devices located at a hospital to external storage and retrieval systems. The external storage and retrieval systems can be part of the National Digital Mammography Archive. The WallPlug allows secure communications within the hospital setting, and allows only selected data to be transferred between the hospital devices and the archive. The WallPlug enables cross-enterprise distribution of medical content with proper authentication and logging of transfers. The WallPlug includes two portals connected together by a private secure network. The use of two separate devices greatly enhances the security, redundancy, and manageability of the combined device.

Abstract: A retrieval system for retrieving medical images is provided. The retrieval system includes an archive for storing medical images, a routing device for determining selected medical images stored in the archive and for routing the selected medical images based on routing rules, and a plurality of end-user devices for use with the medical images for medical diagnosis, the selected medical images stored in the archive being automatically routed via the routing device from the archive to respective one or ones of the end-user devices.

Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring operation of resources may include a plurality of processors, respective processors each performing reconfigurable tasks and providing log information including a respective status of the tasks. The system may further include log senders for sending the log information from respective nodes, each node being one of the processors, or an instance on a processor executing a respective task, log receivers for receiving the log information from respective log senders, a task monitor for monitoring the status of respective tasks from each processor, and a monitoring station for displaying completion information from the task monitor that indicates either successful or unsuccessful completion of a respective task being performed. The system may also include a formatter for formatting log information in a common format and a display for displaying processor/task icons indicating status of corresponding processors and tasks.

Abstract: A translation scheme translates DICOM content into a format compatible for storage in an NDMA relational database. The translation scheme employs a schema for indexing the DICOM content, and employs a mechanism for translating queries embedded in XML into SQL. The translation scheme translates DICOM compatible data into a tab delimited flat representation of the DICOM content. The flat representation is then translated into data compatible with a relational database format, such as SQL, and then into database insert commands. The schema enables capture of the DICOM information into relational tables. Methods are also provided to service XML formatted research and clinical queries, to translate XML queries to optimized SQL and to return query results to XML specified destinations with record de-identification where required. Methods are also provided to interface to NDMA WallPlugs, secured query devices, or GRID devices.

Abstract: A system for storing NDMA data is scalable to handle extreme amounts of data. The system allows components to be added or deleted to meet current demands. The system processes data in independent steps, providing processor level independence for every subcomponent. The system uses parallel processing and multithreading within load balancers that direct data traffic to other nodes and within all processes on the nodes themselves. The system utilizes host lists to determine where data should be directed and to determine which functions are activated on each node. Data is stored in queues which are persisted at each processing step.

Abstract: Data transferred between DICOM devices located at a hospital or clinic to external storage and retrieval systems are formatted in accordance with a four layer protocol. The first layer includes an NDMA socket protocol. The second layer includes an NDMA header and is nested within the first layer. The third layer includes XML text nested within the second layer, and the fourth layer includes DICOM, or other binary data, that is nested within the third layer. This multi-layered data structure provides DICOM interactions with medical devices within the hospital secure network to be coupled with external communications mechanisms which can acquire or store NDMA content while maintaining the integrity of the hospital/clinic network security and incorporating strong firewall-like protections.