Patents by Inventor Stephan Frohlich

Stephan Frohlich 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).

  • Patent number: 10543381
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a deviation of the position of an anatomical body part relative to a predetermined position defined by a radiation treatment plan. A monitoring image is taken of the anatomical body part at the instant that a predetermined control point defined in the treatment plan has been reached. The monitoring image is compared to a simulated image simulated from a planning image of the anatomical body from the perspective of a monitoring camera used to generate the monitoring image. The comparison allows for a determination of whether there is a positional deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Brainlab AG
    Inventors: Kajetan Berlinger, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Publication number: 20190290934
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a deviation of the position of an anatomical body part relative to a predetermined position defined by a radiation treatment plan. A monitoring image is taken of the anatomical body part at the instant that a predetermined control point defined in the treatment plan has been reached. The monitoring image is compared to a simulated image simulated from a planning image of the anatomical body from the perspective of a monitoring camera used to generate the monitoring image. The comparison allows for a determination of whether there is a positional deviation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Kajetan Berlinger, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Patent number: 10384082
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a deviation of the position of an anatomical body part relative to a predetermined position defined by a radiation treatment plan. A monitoring image is taken of the anatomical body part at the instant that a predetermined control point defined in the treatment plan has been reached. The monitoring image is compared to a simulated image simulated from a planning image of the anatomical body from the perspective of a monitoring camera used to generate the monitoring image. The comparison allows for a determination of whether there is a positional deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Brainlab AG
    Inventors: Kajetan Berlinger, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Patent number: 8789223
    Abstract: A patient positioning system for radiotherapy, comprising a device for positioning a patient within the framework of treatment planning, using image detection and/or carrying out radiation treatment, comprising a patient bed on which a patient is positioned, wherein means are provided by which the same bed may be arranged both on a planning couch for image detection within the framework of treatment planning as well as on a radiotherapy table, and by providing a reference means on the patient bed by which the position of the immobilized patient or of a marked radiation target is determined with respect to the patient bed. Within this framework, a corresponding method is also provided, as well as an adjusting means for the transport and the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Brainlab AG
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Publication number: 20110088166
    Abstract: A patient positioning system for radiotherapy, comprising a device for positioning a patient within the framework of treatment planning, using image detection and/or carrying out radiation treatment, comprising a patient bed on which a patient is positioned, wherein means are provided by which the same bed may be arranged both on a planning couch for image detection within the framework of treatment planning as well as on a radiotherapy table, and by providing a reference means on the patient bed by which the position of the immobilized patient or of a marked radiation target is determined with respect to the patient bed. Within this framework, a corresponding method is also provided, as well as an adjusting means for the transport and the bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Patent number: 7818838
    Abstract: The invention concerns a patient positioning system for radiotherapy, comprising a device for positioning a patient within the framework of treatment planning, using image detection and/or carrying out radiation treatment, comprising a patient bed (3, 42, 50) on which a patient is positioned, wherein means are provided by which the same bed (3, 42, 50) may be arranged both on a planning couch (8) for image detection within the framework of treatment planning as well as on a radiotherapy table (1, 44), and by providing a reference means (54) on the patient bed by which the position of the immobilised patient or of a marked radiation target is determined with respect to the patient bed (3, 42, 50). Within this framework, a corresponding method is also provided, as well as an adjusting means for the transport and the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Publication number: 20050138732
    Abstract: The invention concerns a patient positioning system for radiotherapy, comprising a device for positioning a patient within the framework of treatment planning, using image detection and/or carrying out radiation treatment, comprising a patient bed (3, 42, 50) on which a patient is positioned, wherein means are provided by which the same bed (3, 42, 50) may be arranged both on a planning couch (8) for image detection within the framework of treatment planning as well as on a radiotherapy table (1, 44), and by providing a reference means (54) on the patient bed by which the position of the immobilised patient or of a marked radiation target is determined with respect to the patient bed (3, 42, 50). Within this framework, a corresponding method is also provided, as well as an adjusting means for the transport and the bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Frohlich
  • Patent number: 6865253
    Abstract: A method for accurately positioning a patient for radiotherapy and/or radiosurgery, comprising the following steps: the patient is pre-positioned as accurately as possible with respect to a linear accelerator; at least two x-ray images of the patient and/or one of the parts of his body in the vicinity of the radiation target point are produced from different respective recording angles on a single image recorder; the x-ray image is spatially localized; at least one reconstructed image, corresponding to each x-ray image and deriving from a three-dimensional patient scan data set, is produced, the reconstructed images containing the desired image contents of the x-ray images when the patient is correctly positioned; and the real x-ray images are superimposed, and the positioning error is determined electronically and/or with computer guidance by way of particular landmarks and/or the intensity gradient or the contours in the two images; and the position of the patient is corrected by way of the determined posit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventors: Andreas Blumhofer, Stephan Fröhlich, Rainer Lachner, Cornel Schlossbauer
  • Patent number: 6865411
    Abstract: The invention concerns a patient positioning system for radiotherapy, comprising a device for positioning a patient within the framework of treatment planning, using image detection and/or carrying out radiation treatment, comprising a patient bed (3, 42, 50) on which a patient is positioned, wherein means are provided by which the same bed (3, 42, 50) may be arranged both on a planning couch (8) for image detection within the framework of treatment planning as well as on a radiotherapy table (1, 44), and by providing a reference means (54) on the patient bed by which the position of the immobilized patient or of a marked radiation target is determined with respect to the patient bed (3, 42, 50). Within this framework, a corresponding method is also provided, as well as an adjusting means for the transport and the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Publication number: 20040242991
    Abstract: A method for determining dosage when planning radiotherapy and/or radiosurgery procedures can include imaging an irradiation target area using an imaging method, which can differentiate functional and/or biologically active regions of the irradiation target area. Ascertained activity values can be allocated to individual regions of the imaged irradiation target and irradiation doses can be assigned to the regions in accordance with the activity values. A nominal dosage distribution, which can be ascertained from the irradiation dosages for the regions, can be used as an input value for treatment planning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Stephan Frohlich, Werner Nowak, Claus Promberger
  • Patent number: 6792074
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing or updating a radiotherapy plan within the framework of inversely planned radiotherapy, wherein an up-to-date radiotherapy plan is calculated at least partly on the basis of the results of an already existing, approved, older plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Publication number: 20040102698
    Abstract: A method for positioning a patient or detecting a target volume in radiotherapy or radiosurgery includes positionally referencing at least one implant in the vicinity of the target volume and inductively stimulating the at least one implant. Emission from the at least one inductively stimulated implant is detected and a position of the at least one implant is determined based on the detected emission. The current position of the target volume is determined based on the determined position of the at least one implant. Further diagnostic, two-dimensional or three-dimensional image data sets can be recorded in accordance with breathing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Stefan Vilsmeier, Stephan Frohlich, Stephan Erbel
  • Patent number: 6731970
    Abstract: A method for breath compensation in radiation therapy, particularly radiotherapy/radiosurgery, wherein the movement of the target volume inside the patient is detected and tracked in real time during radiation by a movement detector. Adaptation to the movement of the target volume inside the patient is achieved by one or more components of a radiotherapy apparatus to compensate for or take into consideration the movement during treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventors: Cornel Schlossbauer, Stephan Erbel, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Patent number: 6719683
    Abstract: An inverse planning method and apparatus for radiotherapy treatment of a target volume in a body are characterized by using a computer to calculate the results (dose distribution) of multiple treatment solutions (proposed radiation beam arrangements); and simultaneously displaying the calculated results for at least two of the treatment solutions for comparison by a treatment planner to enable the treatment planner to select a desired one of the treatment solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventor: Stephan Fröhlich
  • Publication number: 20040042583
    Abstract: The invention relates to: a patient positioning system for radiosurgery and/or radiotherapy, in particular with the aid of a LINAC and based on stereoscopic x-ray images; a calibration system, in particular for a patient positioning system; an image recorder and/or detector arranging device, in particular to be used with a patent positioning; and a collision protection means, in particular to be used with a patient positioning system or an image recorder and/or detector arranging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Andreas Wackerle, Cornel Schlossbauer, Stephan Erbel, Stephan Frohlich
  • Patent number: 6611700
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for positioning a body (1) for radiation comprising the steps: inserting a position sensor (6) into the body (1); detecting the position of the sensor (6) relative to a point or volume (2) to be irradiated, and positioning the body (1) using signals sensed by the position sensor (6) so that the point or volume (2) to be irradiated is located in a specific site circumscribing an isocenter (3). It also relates to an apparatus for positioning a body (1) including a position sensor (6), which may be placed into the body (1); a controllable patient bench (9) for moving the body (1); a controller (8) which controls the controllable patient bench (9) for moving the body (1) depending on the signals sensed by the position sensor (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventors: Stefan Vilsmeier, Stephan Fröhlich
  • Patent number: 6516046
    Abstract: A method for exact positioning of a patient for radiotherapy or radiosurgery comprising the following steps: a) pre-positioning the patient relative to a linear accelerator, b) producing at least one X-ray image of the patient or one of his/her body parts in the vicinity of the radiation treatment target, c) mapping the X-ray image, d) generating at least one reconstructed image from a three-dimensional set of patient scanning data corresponding to said X-ray image, especially isocentrically, e) superimposing the reconstructed image and the X-ray image, and detecting the positional error electronically or computer-controlled on the basis of specific landmarks in both images, and f) correcting the position of the patient on the basis of the detected positional error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: BrainLAB AG
    Inventors: Stephan Fröhlich, Cornel Schlossbauer, Andreas Blumhofer
  • Publication number: 20020120986
    Abstract: The invention concerns a patient positioning system for radiotherapy, comprising a device for positioning a patient within the framework of treatment planning, using image detection and/or carrying out radiation treatment, comprising a patient bed (3, 42, 50) on which a patient is positioned, wherein means are provided by which the same bed (3, 42, 50) may be arranged both on a planning couch (8) for image detection within the framework of treatment planning as well as on a radiotherapy table (1, 44), and by providing a reference means (54) on the patient bed by which the position of the immobilised patient or of a marked radiation target is determined with respect to the patient bed (3, 42, 50). Within this framework, a corresponding method is also provided, as well as an adjusting means for the transport and the bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Frohlich
  • Publication number: 20020122530
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing or updating a radiotherapy plan within the framework of inversely planned radiotherapy, wherein an up-to-date radiotherapy plan is calculated at least partly on the basis of the results of an already existing, approved, older plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Stephan Erbel, Stephan Frohlich
  • Publication number: 20020091314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for breath compensation in radiation therapy, particularly radiotherapy/radiosurgery, wherein the movement of the target volume inside the patient is detected and tracked in real time during radiation by a movement detection means, and wherein adaptation to the movement of the target volume inside the patient is achieved by means of one or more components of a radiotherapy apparatus, to compensate for or take into consideration said movement during treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Cornel Schlossbauer, Stephan Erbel, Stephan Frohlich