Abstract: The purpose of this embodiment is to describe a “one stop shop” for staging prostate cancer and a novel application of supervised target detection algorithms to spatially registered multiparametric MRI images in order to non-invasively detect, locate, and score prostate cancer at the voxel level and measure the tumor volume and assign color to the spatially registered MRI to highlight and display tumors, and detect metastases (specifically in the seminal vesicle). To test the approach advanced by the embodiment, a retrospective study analyzes MRI from 26 patients that had also undergone robotic prostatectomy. Whole-mount sections were stained for histopathologic evaluation and matched to the MRI. The stained sections were independently reviewed by pathologists. All slices of various types of MRI were spatially registered and stitched together. Signatures or image-based biomarkers from registered multiparametric MRI training sets were extracted.

Abstract: The use of radiochromic film for measuring the spatial distribution of the Linear Energy Transfer (LET) deposited by protons is described. The film is dosed with a proton beam and scanned to record grey-levels of the film. The grey-levels are converted to a measured dose using calibration films and the measured dose is compared to a calculated dose to generate a scaled-normalized difference (SND) between the calculated dose and the measured dose. An improved method and apparatus for treating an abnormal condition using radiation therapy in a patient in need thereof based on a measured LET is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a target or targets in a surrounding background locale based on target signatures obtained by a hyperspectral imaging sensor used the hyperspectral imaging sensor to collect raw target signature data and background locale data during a first data collection mission. The data is processed to generate a database including a plurality of target signatures and background data relating to the background locale. The hyperspectral imaging sensor is later used to collect further background data during a further, current data collecting mission so as to provide continuously updated background data, in real time. A covariance equalization algorithm is implemented with respect to the background data contained in the database and the updated background data collected during the current mission to effect transformation of each target signature of the database into a transformed target signature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a target or targets in a surrounding background locale based on target signatures obtained by a hyperspectral imaging sensor used the hyperspectral imaging sensor to collect raw target signature data and background locale data during a first data collection mission. The data is processed to generate a database including a plurality of target signatures and background data relating to the background locale. The hyperspectral imaging sensor is later used to collect further background data during a further, current data collecting mission so as to provide continuously updated background data, in real time. A covariance equalization algorithm is implemented with respect to the background data contained in the database and the updated background data collected during the current mission to effect transformation of each target signature of the database into a transformed target signature.