Fiducial-less tracking with non-rigid image registration
Granted: March 17, 2009
Patent Number:
7505617
A method and system is presented for tracking patient motion in image guided surgery, using skeletal reference structures instead of fiducial markers.
Apparatus and method for determining measure of similarity between images
Granted: January 20, 2009
Patent Number:
7480399
A method and system is presented in image-guided radiosurgery for determining the measure of similarity of two digital images, for example a 2D x-ray image and a 2D DRR synthesized from 3D scan data. A two-dimensional array of pixel values of a difference image may be formed by subtracting each pixel value of the second image from the corresponding pixel value of the first image. The pattern intensity function may be constructed by taking the summation of functions of the gradients of…
Imaging geometry for image-guided radiosurgery
Granted: January 13, 2009
Patent Number:
7477722
A system and method for stereoscopically imaging a patient at multiple locations in a radiation treatment system with variable imaging geometry to enable the delivery of radiation treatments from multiple ranges of treatment angles without obstructing the imaging system or the radiation treatment.
Motion field generation for non-rigid image registration
Granted: September 16, 2008
Patent Number:
7426318
A method and system is presented for generating a full motion field of an object, when performing non-rigid image registration between a first and a second image of the object. A mesh grid generator generates in the first image a mesh grid having a plurality of mesh nodes, for each of a hierarchy of mesh resolution levels. A nodal motion estimator estimates, for each mesh node, at least one nodal motion vector that describes a matching of the mesh node with a corresponding mesh node in…
Respiration phantom for quality assurance
Granted: July 22, 2008
Patent Number:
7402819
A respiration phantom that may be used to perform quality assurance on a radiation delivery system. The respiration phantom includes a human-like skeletal structure, at least one deformable component, and a respiration actuator. The deformable component is positionable at least partially internal to the human-like skeletal structure, has a shape resembling an organ of a human anatomy, and attenuates radiation substantially similarly to the organ of the human anatomy. The respiration…
Inverse planning using optimization constraints derived from image intensity
Granted: July 15, 2008
Patent Number:
7400755
A method of automatically identifying a region of differing intensity in a functional image is described.
Energy monitoring target for x-ray dose-rate control
Granted: June 24, 2008
Patent Number:
7391849
A target structure for an electron linear accelerator converts energy in an electron beam to x-rays and provides for the monitoring and control of the effective energy of the electron beam by collecting and processing a residual current in the target structure.
DRR generation using a non-linear attenuation model
Granted: April 29, 2008
Patent Number:
7366278
A method and system are presented for generating a DRR of an anatomical region so that the visibility within the DRR of one or more skeletal reference structures is enhanced. 3D scan data, which have been obtained from a 3D scan of the object conducted at a 3D scan energy level, are provided. The 3D scan data are modified to compensated for a difference between the ratio of bone-to-tissue attenuation at the 3D scan energy level, and the ratio of bone-to-tissue attenuation at the…
Method for automatic anatomy-specific treatment planning protocols based on historical integration of previously accepted plans
Granted: April 22, 2008
Patent Number:
7362848
A method of automatically optimizing an inverse treatment plan by referencing data from accepted plan libraries.
Integrated quality assurance for in image guided radiation treatment delivery system
Granted: April 8, 2008
Patent Number:
7356120
A method and apparatus for quality assurance of an image guided radiation treatment delivery system. A quality assurance (“QA”) marker is positioned at a preset position under guidance of an imaging guidance system of a radiation treatment delivery system. A radiation beam is emitted from a radiation source of the radiation treatment delivery system at the QA marker. An exposure image of the QA marker due to the radiation beam is generated. The exposure image is then analyzed to…
Four-dimensional volume of interest
Granted: April 1, 2008
Patent Number:
7352370
A method and apparatus for representing a deformable volume of interest in four dimensions is described, where the four dimensions are three spatial dimensions and one temporal dimension including discrete points in time, and where the deformable volume of interest can be represented at intermediate points in time by interpolation.
DRR generation and enhancement using a dedicated graphics device
Granted: February 12, 2008
Patent Number:
7330578
DRR generation and enhancement using a dedicated graphics device are described herein. In one embodiment, an example of a process for generating DRR (digitally reconstructed radiography) images includes, but is not limited to, loading a volume rendering program into a graphics device, the volume rendering program representing a predetermined algorithm according to a non-linear attenuation model. In response to 3D scan data, the graphics device is invoked to execute the volume rendering…
Fiducial-less tracking with non-rigid image registration
Granted: February 5, 2008
Patent Number:
7327865
A method and system is presented for tracking patient motion in image guided surgery, using skeletal reference structures instead of fiducial markers. A non-rigid 2D/3D image registration is performed between pre-operative 3D scan data and intra-operative 2D images. The CT numbers are modified to compensate for the difference between the ratio of bone-to-tissue attenuation at the CT scan energy level, and the x-ray projection energy level. DRRs are generated from the modified CT numbers.…
Apparatus and method for compensating for respiratory and patient motion during treatment
Granted: January 15, 2008
Patent Number:
7318805
An apparatus and method for performing treatment on an internal target region while compensating for breathing and other motion of the patient is provided in which the apparatus comprises a first imaging device for periodically generating positional data about the internal target region and a second imaging device for continuously generating positional data about one or more external markers attached to the patient's body or any external sensor such as a device for measuring air flow.…
Generation of reconstructed images
Granted: January 1, 2008
Patent Number:
7315636
A method and system are presented for fast generation of one or more 2D DRRs of an object. 3D scan data of the object (such as CT scan data) are generated. A 3D fast Fourier transform F(u,v,w) is computed for a 3D scan volume f(x,y,z) within the 3D scan data, the scan volume f(x,y,z) having an orientation (?, ?, ?). The 3D Fourier transform data are resampled along a surface S(?, ?, ?, u?, v?) at angles ?, ?, ? corresponding to the orientation of the scan volume. The surface S is a plane…
Imaging geometry for image-guided radiosurgery
Granted: November 27, 2007
Patent Number:
7302033
A system and method for stereoscopically imaging a patient at multiple locations in a radiation treatment system with a variable imaging geometry to enable the delivery of radiation treatments from multiple ranges of treatment angles without obstructing the imaging system or the radiation treatment.
Flexible treatment planning
Granted: November 20, 2007
Patent Number:
7298819
A flexible treatment planning system configured to enable the user to utilize both forward planning and inverse planning techniques is described.
Anchored fiducial apparatus and method
Granted: October 9, 2007
Patent Number:
7280865
An anchored fiducial apparatus is described. The fiducial apparatus anchors itself in the target region once inserted so that the fiducial apparatus does not move relative to the target region.
Workspace optimization for radiation treatment delivery system
Granted: September 4, 2007
Patent Number:
7266176
An apparatus and method for optimizing a workspace of a radiation treatment delivery system. An optimized treatment plan is generated for delivering a dose of radiation to a volume of interest (“VOI”) in a patient using fewer changes to a treatment plan parameter during delivery of the dose of radiation then available to a radiation treatment delivery system. The optimized treatment plan limits a number of adjustments to the treatment plan parameter during delivery of the dose of…
Method and apparatus for tracking an internal target region without an implanted fiducial
Granted: August 21, 2007
Patent Number:
7260426
A method and apparatus for locating an internal target region during treatment without implanted fiducials is presented. The method comprises producing a plurality of first images that show an internal volume including the internal target region, then producing a live image of the internal volume during treatment and matching this live image to one of the plurality of first images. Since the first images show the internal target region, matching the live image to one of the first images…
