Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving treatment information relating to a treatment plan for proton- or ion-beam therapy intended to irradiate a target tissue; receiving machine-limitation information relating to one or more limitations of one or more machines involved in the proton- or ion-beam therapy; determining a time-optimized beam current for a proton or ion beam based on the treatment information and the machine-limitation information, wherein the time-optimized beam current minimizes the time required to deliver a required quantity of monitor units to one of a plurality of spots, wherein each of the plurality of spots is a particular area of the target tissue; and delivering the time-optimized beam current to the particular area.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for delivering a particle beam from a continuously rotating gantry towards a target according to a determined patient state. The determined patient state and an identified gantry angle of a gantry may be used to deliver a set of beamlets (e.g., a pattern of radiation dose) to the target. The particle beam may rotate through a range of gantry angles. The set of beamlets may be delivered continuously while the gantry rotates.

Abstract: A system and method for rapid halt and recovery of motion deviations in a medical device includes a computer-assisted medical device having a first repositionable arm having one or more first repositionable elements, a second repositionable arm having one or more second repositionable elements, and a control unit communicably coupled to the first and second repositionable arms. The control unit is configured to control motion of the first repositionable arm and the first end effector based on a desired motion, monitor an actual motion of the first repositionable arm and the first end effector, determine whether the actual motion deviates from the desired motion by more than a predetermined threshold, and halt motion of the first repositionable arm and the first end effector, or of the second repositionable arm and the second end effector, when the actual motion deviates from the desired motion by more than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A control circuit carries out various actions to facilitate speedy user interaction involving adjustments to radiation dosing that corresponds to a particular mixed radiation treatment plan. These actions can include remixing particular multi-criteria optimization radiation treatment plans.

Abstract: A method for determining a total radiation dosage received by an electronic component includes employing a radiation generator to expose the electronic component to an ionizing radiation within a contained environment of an inspection system. The method further includes measuring a total radiation dosage received by the electronic component based on a pre-determined position in the contained environment of the inspection system.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for delivering a particle beam from a continuously rotating gantry towards a target according to a determined patient state. The determined patient state and an identified gantry angle of a gantry may be used to deliver a set of beamlets (e.g., a pattern of radiation dose) to the target. The particle beam may rotate through a range of gantry angles. The set of beamlets may be delivered continuously while the gantry rotates.

Abstract: A method for estimating a 3D map is described. The method includes performing an initialization of a plurality of 3D points in the 3D map based on the plurality of 2D images, reprojecting ones of the 3D points onto ones of the 2D images to obtain reprojection points, determining respective reprojection errors of ones of the reprojection points, determining a robust camera parameter associated with a weighting function based on the respective reprojection errors, and performing bundle adjustment to update the 3D map and update the plurality of poses, based on the robust camera parameter and the weighting function. Related systems, devices and computer program products are also described.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for medical imaging systems. In one embodiment, a method for a medical imaging system comprises acquiring emission data during a positron emission tomography (PET) scan of a patient, reconstructing a series of live PET images while acquiring the emission data, and tracking motion of the patient during the acquiring based on the series of live PET images. In this way, patient motion during the scan may be identified and compensated for via scan acquisition and/or data processing adjustments, thereby producing a diagnostic PET image with reduced motion artifacts and increased diagnostic quality.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for designing and/or modifying a radiation therapy bolus for the reduction of hot spots. A digital bolus model may be modified based on the identification of a peak in the outer surface of the digital bolus model, where the peak satisfies search criteria associated with the generation of a hot spot through scattering from the peak. The digital bolus model is modified within a region surrounding the peak to smooth the peak and thereby reduce the intensity of the hot spot. The modified digital bolus model may be employed to fabricate a bolus for use in radiation therapy. The search criteria may be evaluated according to a proximity between a location measure associated with the peak and a location measure associated with the hot spot, optionally when the location measures are projected in a reference plane that resides perpendicular to the beam axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating a radiation treatment plan for execution by a radiation treatment machine, includes: a waypoint module configured to obtain imaging waypoint data representing imaging waypoints, the imaging waypoints at least partially defining one or more positions for obtaining images of a patient during a treatment session; a treatment trajectory module configured to obtain treatment data at least partially defining a beam-on direction; a treatment plan generator configured to create the radiation treatment plan based at least in part on the imaging waypoint data and the treatment data.

Abstract: A method of obtaining an interpolated treatment plan is based on interpolating between associated dose distributions through optimization with respect to an optimization problem comprising optimization functions based on deviations from clinical goals. The method may suitably be used to improve navigated plans resulting from multi-criteria optimization.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing an intensity-modulated radiation therapy treatment plan includes a memory that stores machine instructions and a processor that executes the machine instructions to receive a clinical goal associated with the treatment plan as a user input. The processor further executes the machine instructions to determine a plan objective based on the clinical goal, generate a cost function comprising a term based on the plan objective, and assign an initial value to a parameter associated with the term. The processor also executes the machine instructions to identify a microstate that results in a reduced value associated with the cost function, evaluate a fulfillment level associated with the clinical goal, and adjust the value of the parameter to improve the fulfillment level.

Abstract: A patient monitor is disclosed for detecting patient movement or abnormal breathing. Images of a patient are obtained by a stereoscopic camera. These images are then processed by a 3D position determination module which determines measurements indicative of positions of at least part of a patient. The obtained measurements are then passed to a model generation module which generates a breathing model of the variation in position of the at least part of a patient during a breathing cycle. Subsequently abnormal breathing or patient movement can be detected by processing further images obtained by the stereoscopic camera to determine more measurements indicative of positions of at least part of a patient. These measurements are then compared with a stored breathing model by a comparison module.

Abstract: A dosage verification method for a radiotherapy device includes: acquiring reference optical field information about radioactive rays, wherein the reference optical field information includes the dosage distribution of a reference optical field; acquiring actual optical field information about the radioactive rays; comparing and analyzing the acquired actual optical field information about the radioactive rays and the acquired reference optical field information; and determining whether the actual optical field information is in a range of pre-set optical field information, wherein the pre-set optical field information is optical field information determined according to the reference optical field information.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a potential setup error in a radiation treatment delivery session of a radiation treatment delivery system, wherein the setup error corresponds to a change in a current position of a treatment target relative to a prior position of the treatment target, and wherein the change includes a rotation relative to the prior position of the treatment target. The method further includes modifying, by a processing device, one or more planned leaf positions of a multileaf collimator (MLC) of a linear accelerator (LINAC) of the radiation treatment delivery system to compensate for the potential setup error corresponding to the rotation of the prior position of the treatment target.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dynamic sliding-window-like initialization for, for example, iterative VMAT algorithms. Specifically, a dynamic sliding window conversion method is contemplated where typical dynamic VMAT constraints are taken into account to find an optimal set of suitable openings (i.e. binary masks) that can be used as quasi-feasible start initialization for any VMAT algorithm that can refine until a deliverable plan is reached. Here, a multileaf leaf tip trajectory least square constrained optimization is performed to find a set of optimal unidirectional trajectories for all MLC leaf pairs of all arc points. To ensure that a quasi-feasible (or better quasi-deliverable) solution is returned, for example, a maximum dose rate, a maximum gantry speed, a maximum leafs speed, and a maximum treatment time may be enforced.

Abstract: A medical apparatus includes an acquirer, an associator, and a display controller. The acquirer acquires information indicating a respiratory waveform of an object and acquires fluoroscopic images of the object captured in time series. The associator associates a tracking value which fluctuates according to a respiratory phase of the object, based on the time-series fluoroscopic images. The display controller causes a display to display the respiratory waveform and a waveform of the tracking value in a comparable form.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for profile-based selection of imaging parameters for a clinical context. In one embodiment, a method comprises selecting a profile based on an indication of clinical context for a scan of a patient, selecting one or more sub-profiles based on the profile, selecting imaging settings for the scan based on the profile and the one or more sub-profiles, and performing the scan according to the selected imaging settings. In this way, a scan prescription may be defined more efficiently and personally for a patient while improving quality assurance and managing an x-ray radiation dose of the patient.

Abstract: Techniques for adjusting radiotherapy treatment for a patient in real-time are provided.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiation therapy system is described. The system has a magnet gantry, an MRI apparatus, a patient support system and a radiation source head. The magnet gantry is configured to rotate about a magnet gantry axis. The MRI apparatus is coupled to the magnet gantry. The radiation source head is coupled to the MRI apparatus via a radiation source arm. The radiation source head is configured to emit a treatment beam at varying angles with respect to an azimuthal gantry axis. A method for performing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) using a magnetic resonance (MR)-SRS is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to off-center detector 3D X-ray or proton radiography reconstruction. Redundancy weighting with a steep weighting function around the iso-axis typically leads to artifacts in the reconstruction, for example, if inconsistencies between two nominal redundant projections occur, e.g. due to slightly incorrect detector calibration or scatter correction, etc. With the present invention, an approach is presented for overcoming or mitigating these problems.

Abstract: An image processing method and a display apparatus therefor are provided. The display apparatus includes a display, a communicator that communicates with an external device; a memory storing one or more instructions; and a controller including a processor for executing the one or more instructions stored in the memory. The processor is configured to execute the one or more instructions to receive an image from the external device, obtain information about a first distance corresponding to a distance between a front surface of the display apparatus and a wall, and, when the image is displayed on the display, apply a shadow effect to one or more of sides of the image based on the information about the first distance.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a radiotherapy treatment plan parameter are provided. The techniques include receiving radiotherapy treatment plan information; processing the radiotherapy treatment plan information to estimate one or more radiotherapy treatment plan parameters based on a process that depends on the output of a subprocess that estimates a derivative of a dose calculation; and generating a radiotherapy treatment plan using the estimated one or more radiotherapy treatment plan parameters.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling a multi-leaf collimator, wherein steps of the method includes: receiving treatment data, and the treatment data includes position information of N treatment points, conformal position information of N treatment points and radiation field shapes of N treatment points; controlling a treatment head to a conformal position of a first treatment point, and controlling the multi-leaf collimator to begin to conform to a radiation field shape of the first treatment point so as to start a treatment of the first treatment point; controlling the treatment head to a conformal position of a Kth treatment point, and controlling the multi-leaf collimator to begin to conform to a radiation field shape of the Kth treatment point so as to start a treatment of the Kth treatment point; carrying out the described operations repeatedly until the conformation of the radiation field shape and the treatment of all treatment points are completed.

Abstract: A method for generating a radiation treatment plan is provided. The method may include determining a set of one or more optimization goals for radiation delivery by a therapeutic radiation delivery apparatus. The method may also include determining a plan for radiation delivery from a radiation source of the therapeutic radiation delivery apparatus. The radiation source may be capable of continuously rotating around a subject. The plan may include a plurality of radiation segments. Each radiation segment may be characterized by at least one parameter selected from a start angle, a stop angle, a two-dimensional segment shape, or a segment MU value such that the plurality of radiation segments satisfy the set of one or more optimization goals by superimposing at least two radiation segments from at least two different rotations into a target volume of the subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, including: obtaining a first image from a first imaging modality; identifying on the first image from the first imaging modality obtaining a second image from a second imaging modality; generating a compatible virtual image from the first image from the first imaging modality; mapping planning data on the compatible virtual image; coarse registering of the second image from the second imaging modality to the first image from the first imaging modality; identifying at least one element of the mapped planning data from the compatible virtual image; identifying at least one corresponding element on the second imaging modality; mapping the at least one corresponding element on the second imaging modality; fine registering of the second image from the second imaging modality to the first image from the first imaging modality; generating a third image.

Abstract: Timing calibration of a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device (2) uses a radioactive source (20) comprising a positron-emitting radioisotope having a decay path including emission of two oppositely directed 511 keV gamma rays and a cascade gamma ray at a cascade gamma ray energy. A timestamped radiation detection event data set acquired from the radioactive source by the PET imaging device is processed using energy window filtering (32) and time window filtering (36) to generate a coincidence data set (40, 42, 44) including event pairs (40) each consisting of two coincident 511 keV events and cascade event pairs (42) or triplets (44) each consisting of at least one coincident 511 keV event and a coincident cascade event at the cascade gamma ray energy. A timing calibration (12) is generated using the coincidence data set. The timing calibration comprises offset times for PET detectors of the PET imaging device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic, customized radiation treatment plan generation for cancer are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes receiving data indicating anatomy information of a patient and radiation beam characteristics of a radiation therapy system. Further, the method includes determining energy levels for application of radiation beams to the patient.

Abstract: A method of operating a radiotherapy system mounted on a gantry surrounding a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided, the radiotherapy system comprising a radiotherapy beam generator, and a radiotherapy imaging system, wherein the gantry is arranged to rotate the radiotherapy beam generator around the magnetic resonance imaging system.

Abstract: A cloud-based radiation therapy treatment planning system (TPS). The TPS changes the clinical workflow of the radiotherapy treatment planning process, by increasing the mobility and computational power of the treatment planning software and hardware architecture. The system is divided into computational components. A user device includes a light and flexible user interface, while the server side entails a hospital relay server, and/or a graphics processing unit cluster server. The TPS computational architecture enables the computational power of a GPU-cluster server on a tablet, laptop, or smartphone.

Abstract: A robustness optimization is disclosed for a broad beam proton therapy plan. A nominal dose distribution (62) is computed, to be delivered to a volume by performing proton therapy on the volume according to a proton therapy plan (50) having parameters (52) defining a range compensator shape and a range band. The parameters of the proton therapy plan are adjusted to reduce a difference between the nominal dose distribution (62) and a perturbed dose distribution calculated to be delivered to the volume modified by an error scenario (64) by performing proton therapy on the volume modified by the error scenario in accordance with the proton therapy plan with the parameters adjusted by the adjusting operation. The adjusting may be repeated serially for each error scenario of a set of error scenarios (44) to produce a proton therapy plan that is robust for any of these error scenarios.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices for radiotherapy treatment planning. For example, a method may generate a treatment plan for a patient. The method may receive training data reflecting radiotherapy treatment data. The training data may include a feature vector and a target vector. The method may further determine a training model based on the feature vector and the target vector. The method may further receive testing data associated with the patient. The testing data may include a descriptive feature vector. The method may further determine a therapy model based on the descriptive feature vector and the training model. The therapy model may be used to generate the treatment plan.

Abstract: The moving object tracking apparatus emphasizes an image with specific size in each of fluoroscopic images derived from two or more paired fluoroscopic radiographic devices, obtains a value indicating certainty degree of detecting a candidate position of the object to be tracked on the image subjected to the emphasizing process, extracts the candidate position based on the value indicating the certainty degree of detection, calculates a value indicating a correlation between the candidate position extracted from images picked up from two or more directions, and a position of the fluoroscopic radiation generator, detects the position of the object to be tracked based on the value indicating the certainty degree of detection, and the value indicating the correlation, and controls irradiation of radiation to an irradiation target based on the detected position of the object to be tracked.

Abstract: A radiation treatment delivery system, includes a linear accelerator (LINAC) and a multileaf collimator (MLC), coupled with the distal end of the LINAC, wherein the MLC has two banks of leaves, organized into a plurality of opposing leaf pairs. The system further includes a processing device, operatively coupled to the LINAC and the MLC, to control the plurality of leaf pairs of the MLC such that for each of a plurality of radiation beam delivery positional sections corresponds to a range of radiation beam positions over a discrete time interval that constrains an overall treatment time and wherein each leaf pair of the plurality of opposing leaf pairs is open to a fixed opening for a fraction of time in the discrete time interval and closed for the remaining fraction of time in the discrete time interval, while a radiation beam of the radiation treatment system is active.

Abstract: A particle therapy system includes a particle accelerator for generating a charged particle beam, a beam delivery device, a beam transport system for transporting the beam from the particle accelerator to the beam delivery device, and a supporting device for supporting a subject. The beam delivery device is rotatable around the target and with respect to the supporting device, so as to be able to deliver the beam to the target according to a plurality of irradiation angles. The system also includes a controller configured to make the beam delivery device rotate at a beam-on speed and meanwhile to irradiate the target with the beam. The controller is configured to make the beam delivery device rotate at at least two different beam-on speeds with respect to the supporting device, a first speed corresponding to a first irradiation angle and a second speed corresponding to a second irradiation angle.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer instructions for virtual radiation oncology training are provided. The methods can allow for screening of many virtual patients in a clinical setting for radiation oncology training. The methods, system, and computer instructions can include receiving a medical record for a virtual patient, presenting the medical record to a trainee, receiving a treatment plan for the virtual patient from the trainee indicating an area to be treated and dose constraints, and computing one or more comparison metrics for the treatment plan.

Abstract: A radiotherapy system and method for delivering radiotherapy are provided. In some aspects, the radiotherapy system includes beam director comprising a radiation source configured to generate radiation for irradiating a patient, the beam director having at least four degrees of freedom of movement. The radiotherapy system also includes a controller configured to operate the beam director to irradiate the patient in accordance with a radiation treatment plan, wherein the radiation treatment plan is generated based on a solution space determined by the at least four degrees of freedom of movement of the beam director.

Abstract: A radiotherapy apparatus comprises a source for producing a beam of ionising radiation along an axis, the beam covering a maximum aperture of the source, a collimator for collimating the beam to produce a collimated beam covering a sub-part of the maximum aperture, a patient support positioned in the path of the beam, a rotatable gantry, on which the source is mounted, for rotating the source around the patient support thereby to deliver the beam from a range of directions, an imaging device located opposite the source and with the patient support between the source and the imaging device, and mounted on the gantry via a drive member allowing translational motion of the imaging device in at least one direction perpendicular to the axis, and a control unit adapted to control the drive member to move the imaging device within the maximum aperture and maintain coincidence between the imaging device and the sub-part of the maximum aperture.

Abstract: Provided are a method of controlling motion pattern for a laser treatment and a laser irradiation apparatus using the same, which can perform the efficient laser treatment.

Abstract: A system for estimating a dose from a radiation therapy plan includes a memory that stores machine-readable instructions and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor operable to execute the instructions to subdivide a representation of a volume of interest into voxels. The processor also determines distances between a planned radiation field origin and each respective voxel. The processor further computes geometry-based expected (GED) metrics based on the distances, a plan parameter, and a field strength parameter. The processor sums the metrics to yield an estimated dose received by the volume of interest from the planned radiation field.

Abstract: A system and method of registration between devices includes a tracking system and a controller. The system is configured to couple to a first device and a second arm separate from the first device. The first device has a first arm configured to couple to a manipulatable device. The second arm is configured to couple to an imaging device. The controller is configured to determine, based on tracking data from the tracking system, a first pose of the first arm and a second pose of the second arm; send a movement command to the second arm that directs the second arm to move into a third pose while maintaining a safety margin between the first and second arms. In the third pose the imaging device can capture an image of at least a portion of the manipulatable device. The movement command is based on the first and second poses.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling the rotation of radiotherapy equipment are provided. The device includes: a detector, configured to detect the rotation of a rotational load of the radiotherapy equipment, and record a rotational deviation amount when the rotational load rotationally deviates; and a controller, configured to generate correction instructions for eliminating the deviation according to the rotational deviation amount when the detector detects the rotational load of the radiotherapy equipment rotationally deviates. The deviation occurred to the rotation of the rotational load is timely corrected by monitoring the actual rotation of the rotational load of the radiotherapy equipment, thereby improving the safety and positioning accuracy of the radiotherapy equipment.

Abstract: In a method of interactive manipulation of the dose distribution of a radiation treatment plan, after an initial candidate treatment plan has been obtained, a set of clinical goals are transferred into a set of constraints. Each constraint may be expressed in terms of a threshold value for a respective quality index of the dose distribution. The dose distribution can then be modified interactively by modifying the threshold values for the set of constraints. Re-optimization may be performed based on the modified threshold values. A user may assign relative priorities among the set of constraints. When a certain constraint is modified, a re-optimized treatment plan may not violate those constraints that have priorities that are higher than that of the modified constraint, but may violate those constraints that have priorities that are lower than that of the modified constraint.

Abstract: A mobile radiation oncology coach system is disclosed. The mobile radiation oncology coach system comprise a trailer having a control console area and a treatment area, the treatment area is equipped with a medical treatment facility. The mobile radiation oncology coach system further comprise an internal shielding provided between the control console area and the treatment area. The mobile radiation oncology coach system further comprise an external shielding provided at the outside of the trailer.

Abstract: An optimized method and system to compute the dose to a patient (2) given a captured integrated exit-transit image (5) of the radiation rays (4) traveling from the source of x-rays (1) through the patient (2) to the imaging device (3) to product the exit-transit image (5). Each radiation field image (5) is transformed (6,8,10,12) to multiple images (7,9,11,13) for each phantom thickness (26) that was measured with the imaging device (3) for a range of field sizes (21). Given the water equivalent path (22) through the patient for a ray (4) reaching a pixel (15, 16), the final pixel value (19) is interpolated from the images (9, 11) that bracket the water equivalent path through the patient (22). Adaptive feedback calibration measures are carried out effectively ameliorate the detrimental effects of off axis attenuation of pixel values.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: one or more input communicatively coupled to one or more medium storing current treatment plan data and a current image of a patient, the one or more input configured to obtain the current treatment plan data and the current image of the patient, wherein the current treatment plan data is for processing by a treatment machine; and a re-planning decision processor configured to determine a re-plan information based at least in part on the current treatment plan data, the current image, and a re-plan triggering model, the re-plan triggering model based on previous treatment plan data and previous image(s), wherein the re-plan information indicates a recommendation regarding treatment re-planning; wherein the re-planning decision processor is configured to output the re-plan information for reducing a burden, or for obviating a need, for a user of the apparatus to manually decide whether the treatment re-planning is desirable or not.

Abstract: A multi-axis imaging system comprising an imaging gantry with an imaging axis extending through a bore of the imaging gantry, a support column that supports the imaging gantry on one side of the gantry in a cantilevered manner, and a base that supports the imaging gantry and the support column. The imaging system including a first drive mechanism that translates the gantry in a vertical direction relative to the support column and the base, a second drive mechanism that rotates the gantry with respect to the support column between a first orientation where the imaging axis of the imaging gantry extends in a vertical direction parallel to the support column and a second orientation where the imaging axis of the gantry extends in a horizontal direction parallel with the base, and a third drive mechanism that translates the support column and the gantry in a horizontal direction along the base.

Abstract: A beam modifier shapes the distribution of a dose delivered to a target by a radiation beam emitted from a beam emitter of a radiotherapy device, particularly a beam that delivers a high radiation dose within a single, short period of time (e.g., less than a second). Elements of the beam modifier (e.g., rods) include material that can block or attenuate the beam. The elements can be dynamically and quickly configured to form an opening or transparent area through which a portion of the beam can pass unimpeded and to present different thicknesses of material to block or attenuate other portions of the beam, in this manner shaping the dose distribution at the target while protecting surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A scenario-based treatment plan optimization method for radiotherapy treatment is proposed, in which a first and a second possible scenario are defined. Different optimization functions are defined for the scenarios and the treatment plan is optimized applying the first optimization function under the first scenario and the second optimization function under the second scenario, thereby obtaining a first optimized radiotherapy treatment plan.

Abstract: A method for delivering radiation treatment may include defining a preliminary trajectory including a plurality of control points. Each control point may be associated with position parameters of a gantry and a couch. The method may also include generating a treatment plan based on the preliminary trajectory by optimizing an intensity and position parameters of a collimator and MLC leaves for each control point. The method may also include decomposing the treatment plan into a delivery trajectory including the plurality of control points. Each of the plurality of control points may be further associated with the optimized intensity, the optimized position parameters of the collimator and the MLC leaves, an output rate, and a motion parameter of each of the gantry, the couch, the collimator, and the MLC leaves. The method may further include instructing a radiation delivery device to deliver the treatment plan according to the delivery trajectory.