Patents by Inventor Steffen Seeber

Steffen Seeber has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240001153
    Abstract: A test system (124) for testing a system (110) for radiologic treatment. The test system (124) comprises: A • at least one anthropomorphic phantom (118) for simulating motion of at least one part of a human body (116); and B • a control device (122) for controlling the phantom (118), comprising •• a programmable logic controller (160), •• a plurality of controller nodes (162), •• a plurality of device controllers (164) configured for controlling the actuators (140), and •• at least one real-time bus interface (166) connecting the controller nodes (162) to the programmable logic controller (160) and to the device controllers (164). The programmable logic controller (160) is configured to act as a master device with respect to the controller nodes (162), specifically with respect to each of the controller nodes (162). The controller nodes (162) are configured to act as master devices with respect to the device controllers (164).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum
    Inventors: Steffen Seeber, Carlos Murillo
  • Patent number: 11862320
    Abstract: A control device (110) for controlling at least one collimator is disclosed, wherein the collimator has a plurality of parts being designed for collimating and shaping rays, wherein the rays are generated for treating a predefined body part of a patient, wherein the control device (110) comprises a programmable logic controller (112), a plurality of controller nodes (114), a plurality of device controllers (118), and a plurality of real-time bus interfaces (116). Herein, the programmable logic controller (112) is designated as a first master device (122) with respect to each of the controller nodes (114), wherein the programmable logic controller (112) is designed for superordinate control of the plurality of parts of the collimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum
    Inventors: Steffen Seeber, Joao Graca
  • Publication number: 20210166801
    Abstract: A control device (110) for controlling at least one collimator is disclosed, wherein the collimator has a plurality of parts being designed for collimating and shaping rays, wherein the rays are generated for treating a predefined body part of a patient, wherein the control device (110) comprises a programmable logic controller (112), a plurality of controller nodes (114), a plurality of device controllers (118), and a plurality of real-time bus interfaces (116). Herein, the programmable logic controller (112) is designated as a first master device (122) with respect to each of the controller nodes (114), wherein the programmable logic controller (112) is designed for superordinate control of the plurality of parts of the collimator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum
    Inventors: Steffen Seeber, Joao Graca
  • Patent number: 10217539
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contour collimator for radiotherapy, comprising a plurality of plate-shaped diaphragm elements provided in a guiding block and movably arranged with respect to one another to form a contour diaphragm for a radiation beam emitted by a radiation source towards the collimator, and at least one drive for moving the diaphragm elements, wherein a drive of its own is associated with each diaphragm element, the drives of a group of diaphragm elements are arranged substantially adjacent to one another, and the drive is a linear motor, wherein each linear motor comprises a linearly movable rod directly fixed to the associated diaphragm element. The invention facilitates a design of a contour collimator with a shape being as compact as possible, and wherein both precise and stable adjustability of the diaphragm elements is achieved without a backlash. In this way improvements to contour collimators are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum
    Inventors: Klaus Schewiola, Steffen Seeber
  • Publication number: 20180211740
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contour collimator for radiotherapy, comprising a plurality of plate-shaped diaphragm elements provided in a guiding block and movably arranged with respect to one another to form a contour diaphragm for a radiation beam emitted by a radiation source towards the collimator, and at least one drive for moving the diaphragm elements, wherein a drive of its own is associated with each diaphragm element, the drives of a group of diaphragm elements are arranged substantially adjacent to one another, and the drive is a linear motor, wherein each linear motor comprises a linearly movable rod directly fixed to the associated diaphragm element. The invention facilitates a design of a contour collimator with a shape being as compact as possible, and wherein both precise and stable adjustability of the diaphragm elements is achieved without a backlash. In this way improvements to contour collimators are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum
    Inventors: Klaus Schewiola, Steffen Seeber
  • Patent number: 9905323
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contour collimator for radiotherapy, comprising a plurality of plate-shaped diaphragm elements provided in a guiding block and movably arranged with respect to one another to form a contour diaphragm for a radiation beam emitted by a radiation source towards the collimator, and at least one drive for moving the diaphragm elements, wherein a drive of its own is associated with each diaphragm element, the drives of a group of diaphragm elements are arranged substantially adjacent to one another, and the drive is a linear motor, wherein each linear motor comprises a linearly movable rod directly fixed to the associated diaphragm element. The invention facilitates a design of a contour collimator with a shape being as compact as possible, and wherein both precise and stable adjustability of the diaphragm elements is achieved without a backlash. In this way improvements to contour collimators are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: DEUTSCHES KREBSFORSCHUNGSZENTRUM
    Inventors: Klaus Schewiola, Steffen Seeber
  • Publication number: 20160071623
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contour collimator for radiotherapy, comprising a plurality of plate-shaped diaphragm elements provided in a guiding block and movably arranged with respect to one another to form a contour diaphragm for a radiation beam emitted by a radiation source towards the collimator, and at least one drive for moving the diaphragm elements, wherein a drive of its own is associated with each diaphragm element, the drives of a group of diaphragm elements are arranged substantially adjacent to one another, and the drive is a linear motor, wherein each linear motor comprises a linearly movable rod directly fixed to the associated diaphragm element. The invention facilitates a design of a contour collimator with a shape being as compact as possible, and wherein both precise and stable adjustability of the diaphragm elements is achieved without a backlash. In this way improvements to contour collimators are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: DEUTSCHES KREBSFORSCHUNGSZENTRUM
    Inventors: Klaus SCHEWIOLA, Steffen SEEBER
  • Patent number: 9031204
    Abstract: A leaf module for a multi-leaf collimator comprises a leaf unit and a leaf drive unit. The leaf unit comprises a leaf for shielding beams from a selected area. The leaf unit is mounted displaceably in an adjusting direction with relation to the leaf drive unit. The leaf drive unit is designed to displace the leaf unit linearly in the adjusting direction. The leaf drive unit comprises at least one drive mechanism which operates based on piezoelectric actuation, being designed such that the leaf drive unit thoroughly encloses the leaf unit within a plane being oriented substantially perpendicularly related to the adjusting direction. The multi-leaf collimator can comprise a plurality of leaf modules while being shaped as compact as possible. Both precise and stable adjustability of the leaf unit is achieved with the leaf module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum
    Inventors: Gernot Echner, Steffen Seeber, Klaus Schewiola
  • Publication number: 20140288349
    Abstract: A therapeutic device (110) and a method for treating a predefined body part (112) of a patient with rays (116) are disclosed. The therapeutic device (110) has at least one ray source (118) for generating the rays (116). The therapeutic device (110) further has at least one collimator (120) for collimating and shaping the rays (116). The therapeutic device (110) further has at least one ray positioning system (122) for adjusting the position and direction of irradiating the rays (116) onto the patient. The therapeutic device (110) further has at least one patient positioning system (124) for positioning and orienting the patient. The therapeutic device (110) further comprises a control device (126). The control device (126) controls at least the collimator (120), the ray positioning system (122) and the patient positioning system (124). The control device (126) is a real-time system (128).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum
    Inventors: Steffen Seeber, Klaus Schewiola
  • Publication number: 20140217312
    Abstract: A leaf module for a multi-leaf collimator comprises a leaf unit and a leaf drive unit. The leaf unit comprises a leaf for shielding beams from a selected area. The leaf unit is mounted displaceably in an adjusting direction with relation to the leaf drive unit. The leaf drive unit is designed to displace the leaf unit linearly in the adjusting direction. The leaf drive unit comprises at least one drive mechanism which operates based on piezoelectric actuation, being designed such that the leaf drive unit thoroughly encloses the leaf unit within a plane being oriented substantially perpendicularly related to the adjusting direction. The multi-leaf collimator can comprise a plurality of leaf modules while being shaped as compact as possible. Both precise and stable adjustability of the leaf unit is achieved with the leaf module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Gernot Echner, Steffen Seeber, Klaus Schewiola
  • Publication number: 20140010355
    Abstract: A multi-leaf collimator for radiation therapy in which the position of the leaves are determined by measuring a magnetic field allows to determine the leaf position with enhanced precision, and is at the same time robust to perturbations or disturbances. The magnetic sensor may comprise a magnetic encoder that varies in a predefined pattern along a lengthwise direction of the magnetic element, in particular according to a step function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Stiftung des oeffentichen Rechts
    Inventors: Steffen Seeber, Klaus Schewiola
  • Patent number: 7558378
    Abstract: A multileaf collimator is provided. The multileaf collimator may be used for radiotherapy. The multileaf collimator may include a plurality of leaves that are adjustable along a displacement direction for the absorption of rays propagated along a direction of radiation, with opposing leaves relative to the displacement direction with front faces oriented toward each other being displaceable into a closed position. The multileaf collimator may also include a shielding-intensifying planar shape, which in closed position, is characterized by an at least partial overlapping of the front faces relative to the direction of radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Petra Juschka-Lenz, legal representative, Johannes Reger, Rene Schramm, Steffen Seeber, John Juschka
  • Patent number: 7397902
    Abstract: The invention relates to a leaf (1) for a multi-leaf collimator (2) for delimiting a high-energy beam (3, 3?, 3?) of an irradiation device, in particular for conformational radiation therapy. According to the invention, the multi-leaf collimator (2) comprises a plurality of opposing leaves (1), which can be brought into the beam path (3, 3?, 3?) by means of drives (4), in such a way that the contour (5) of said path can be shaped in accordance with the volume to be irradiated. The need for beam-absorbent material (7) is reduced, as the leaf (1) essentially only comprises a beam-absorbent material (7) of an appropriate thickness (8) in a region (6) that is brought into the path (3, 3?, 3?) of the high-energy beam (3) during the course of all possible positional displacements (9). The invention also relates to a corresponding multi-leaf collimator (2), a device (22) for delimiting beams, and an irradiation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Steffen Seeber, Joerg Stein, Stefan Goelz, John Juschka, Martin Kolb
  • Publication number: 20080063147
    Abstract: A multileaf collimator is provided. The multileaf collimator may be used for radiotherapy. The multileaf collimator may include a plurality of leaves that are adjustable along a displacement direction for the absorption of rays propagated along a direction of radiation, with opposing leaves relative to the displacement direction with front faces oriented toward each other being displaceable into a closed position. The multileaf collimator may also include a shielding-intensifying planar shape, which in closed position, is characterized by an at least partial overlapping of the front faces relative to the direction of radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: John Juschka, Petra Juschka-Lenz, Johannes Reger, Rene Schramm, Steffen Seeber
  • Publication number: 20070127624
    Abstract: The invention relates to a leaf (1) for a multi-leaf collimator (2) for delimiting a high-energy beam (3, 3?, 3?) of an irradiation device, in particular for conformational radiation therapy. According to the invention, the multi-leaf collimator (2) comprises a plurality of opposing leaves (1), which can be brought into the beam path (3, 3?, 3?) by means of drives (4), in such a way that the contour (5) of said path can be shaped in accordance with the volume to be irradiated. The need for beam-absorbent material (7) is reduced, as the leaf (1) essentially only comprises a beam-absorbent material (7) of an appropriate thickness (8) in a region (6) that is brought into the path (3, 3?, 3?) of the high-energy beam (3) during the course of all possible positional displacements (9). The invention also relates to a corresponding multi-leaf collimator (2), a device (22) for delimiting beams, and an irradiation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Inventors: Steffen Seeber, Joerg Stein, Stefan Goelz, John Juschka