Abstract: In radiation therapy, treatment objectives applicable to different identified structures in a patient's body (e.g., a target structure and an organ at risk (OAR)) may conflict due to overlap between the structures. Automated systems and methods can detect and resolve such conflicts. For example, a set of modified regions that do not overlap with each other can be defined, and a modified treatment objective for each modified region can be determined based on the original treatment objectives. The modified regions and modified treatment objectives can be used in treatment planning processes.

Abstract: In radiation therapy, treatment objectives applicable to different identified structures in a patient's body (e.g., a target structure and an organ at risk (OAR)) may conflict due to overlap between the structures. Automated systems and methods can detect and resolve such conflicts. For example, a set of modified regions that do not overlap with each other can be defined, and a modified treatment objective for each modified region can be determined based on the original treatment objectives. The modified regions and modified treatment objectives can be used in treatment planning processes.

Abstract: A control circuit accesses patient information and treatment-platform information and uses that information to automatically suggest a treatment plan having at least one of a given number of treatment-pathway traversals wherein the given number is permitted to be greater than one and sub-treatment-pathway traversal-based physical alterations to at least one of the dynamic elements of the dynamic radiation-treatment platform. By one approach the aforementioned patient information can refer, at least in part, to the patient's external contour and a treatment target's size and position with respect to the patient. The patient information regarding the treatment target can represent the latter as a simple symmetrical geometric shape (such as a cuboid). The treatment-platform information, in turn, can refer, at least in part, to dynamic elements of the dynamic radiation-treatment platform itself.

Abstract: A control circuit employs at least two optimization stages while developing a radiation-treatment plan. During a first optimization stage the control circuit uses a first radiation-treatment plan optimization process that employs user-selected constraints to provide general plan results. During this first optimization stage the control circuit then provides one or more opportunities for a user to modify those user-selected constraints to thereby influence the general plan results. Eventually, this first optimization stage identifies a set of resultant user-selected constraints. During the second optimization stage the control circuit then uses a second radiation-treatment plan optimization process that employs the aforementioned resultant user-selected constraints to provide an optimized radiation-treatment plan.

Abstract: A control circuit employs at least two optimization stages while developing a radiation-treatment plan. During a first optimization stage the control circuit uses a first radiation-treatment plan optimization process that employs user-selected constraints to provide general plan results. During this first optimization stage the control circuit then provides one or more opportunities for a user to modify those user-selected constraints to thereby influence the general plan results. Eventually, this first optimization stage identifies a set of resultant user-selected constraints. During the second optimization stage the control circuit then uses a second radiation-treatment plan optimization process that employs the aforementioned resultant user-selected constraints to provide an optimized radiation-treatment plan.

Abstract: A control circuit accesses patient information and treatment-platform information and uses that information to automatically suggest a treatment plan having at least one of a given number of treatment-pathway traversals wherein the given number is permitted to be greater than one and sub-treatment-pathway traversal-based physical alterations to at least one of the dynamic elements of the dynamic radiation-treatment platform. By one approach the aforementioned patient information can refer, at least in part, to the patient's external contour and a treatment target's size and position with respect to the patient. The patient information regarding the treatment target can represent the latter as a simple symmetrical geometric shape (such as a cuboid). The treatment-platform information, in turn, can refer, at least in part, to dynamic elements of the dynamic radiation-treatment platform itself.

Abstract: The invention provides a variable capacity diode with a plane structure so that it may be formed in an integrated circuit, this diode has, on the substrate, three coplanar regions. The first and second uniformly doped regions support the contact making metallizations. The transition region has a variation of doping level, low at one end and high at the other end. This variation is obtained by implantation by means of a focused ion beam, with constant energy and sweeping at increasing doses, which allows a hyperabrupt profile to be obtained. The diode is a p-n junction of Schottky contact diode.

Abstract: That face of the non-epitaxied substrate of high resistivity which supports the junction 3 formed by the planar method is treated by a mesa attack in such a way that it is smaller than the opposite face 7. An insulating ring 4 covers the periphery of the junction and projects beyond the substrate. This ring has external dimensions smaller than those of the face 7 beyond which it projects. A metallic layer 6 ensuring an ohmic contact covers in particular the lateral walls of the diode created by the mesa attack except for those zones of these walls beyond which the insulating ring 4 projects. This metallization of the lateral walls acts as an electrode and connects the diodes generally formed on one and the same substrate to one another.

Abstract: Parametric coupling device for traveling-waves, comprising a first signal wave, a second idler wave and a third pump wave, wherein a transmission line for said traveling-waves is formed on a substrate of dielectric material, which comprises a virtually continuous network of non-linear interaction elements, modulated by the pump wave, and so modulating the conduction properties of the transmission line and enabling intermodulation to be set up between the various traveling-waves. The virtually continuous network of non-linear interaction elements is a substantially plane network, each non-linear interaction element being at a distance a, or pitch of the network, from a neighbouring non-linear element, the distance a being less than the smallest of the wavelength of the signal, idler and pump waves and the plane network being disposed in the neighborhood of the upper surface of the transmission line.

Abstract: A microwave oscillator in which the power supplied by 2N microwave diodes such as avalanche or Gunn effect diodes is added. The diodes are connected together in two by sections of strip lines which enables magnetic coupling between these diodes and a dielectric resonator, with the diodes in each couple operating in phase opposition.