Tumor tracking during radiation treatment using ultrasound imaging
Granted: November 29, 2022
Patent Number:
11511132
Systems and methods for tracking a target volume, e.g., tumor, in real-time during radiation treatment are provided. The system includes a memory to store a pre-acquired 3D image of the anatomy of interest in a first reference frame and a processor, operative coupled with the memory, to receive, from an ultrasound probe, a set-up ultrasound image of the anatomy of interest in a second reference frame. The processor further to establish a transformation between the first and second…
Sequential monoscopic tracking
Granted: October 25, 2022
Patent Number:
11478662
A method of sequential monoscopic tracking is described. The method includes generating a plurality of projections of an internal target region within a body of a patient, the plurality of projections comprising projection data about a position of an internal target region of the patient. The method further includes generating external positional data about external motion of the body of the patient using one or more external sensors. The method further includes generating, by a…
Image registration of treatment planning image, intrafraction 3D image, and intrafraction 2D x-ray image
Granted: October 18, 2022
Patent Number:
11475579
A method of the present disclosure includes performing, by a processing device, a first image registration between a reference image of a patient and a motion image of the patient to perform alignment between the reference image and the motion image, wherein the reference image and the motion image include a target position of the patient. The method further includes performing, by the processing device, a second image registration between the reference image and a motion x-ray image of…
Asymmetric scatter fitting for optimal panel readout in cone-beam computed tomography
Granted: May 10, 2022
Patent Number:
11324471
An x-ray imaging apparatus and associated methods are provided to receive measured projection data in a primary region and measured scatter data in asymmetrical shadow regions and determine an estimated scatter in the primary region based on the measured scatter data in the shadow region(s). The asymmetric shadow regions can be controlled by adjusting the position of the beam aperture center on the readout area of the detector. Penumbra data may also be used to estimate scatter in the…
Using a rotating 2D x-ray imager as an imaging device to perform target tracking during radiation treatment delivery
Granted: May 10, 2022
Patent Number:
11324465
A method includes receiving, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient. The method further includes receiving a second image including the target of the patient. The method further includes tracking, by a processing device, a position of the target using the first image and the second image by maintaining a fixed alignment between a treatment beam of a linear accelerator (LINAC) and a source and detector pair of the volumetric imager during operation of the…
Imaging and treatment beam energy modulation utilizing an energy adjuster
Granted: May 3, 2022
Patent Number:
11318329
Electromagnetic waves for an accelerating structure of the radiation delivery system are generated by a microwave source. The electromagnetic waves generated by the microwave source are adjusted by an energy adjuster to a first energy level. A kilovolt (kV) imaging beam is generated by the accelerating structure based on the first energy level. The electromagnetic waves generated by the magnetic source are adjusted by the energy adjuster to a second energy level. A megavolt (MV)…
Presenting a sequence of images associated with a motion model
Granted: May 3, 2022
Patent Number:
11318328
Images that are associated with an identification of a tracking target of a patient to receive radiation treatment may be received. The images may be sorted into a sequence based on a motion of the patient. The sorted images may be provided via a graphical user interface. The sequence of the sorted images that are based on the motion of the patient may be provided.
Localization array position in treatment room coordinate system
Granted: April 19, 2022
Patent Number:
11304620
Localization array position determination in a treatment room coordinate system is described. A method may include imaging, using an imaging system, a position of one or more markers integrated with a localization array in a treatment room and transforming the position of the one or more markers to a treatment room coordinate system. The method also includes determining the position of the localization array in the treatment room coordinate system based on the transforming.
Selecting imaging perspectives to optimize tracking volume detectability and model quality
Granted: March 22, 2022
Patent Number:
11278743
An image of a region of interest (ROI) is identified from a first perspective, the image having an uncertainty value associated with the ROI. A model is generated comprising one or more parameters associated with the ROI based on the image. A plurality of tracking quality metrics for a plurality of perspectives that a subsequent image may be captured from by an imaging system of the ROI are determined using the model, the tracking quality metrics indicating a reduction of the uncertainty…
Automatic correlation modeling of an internal target
Granted: February 1, 2022
Patent Number:
11235175
A method and apparatus to automatically control the timing of an image acquisition by an imaging system in developing a correlation model of movement of a target within a patient.
Method and apparatus for improving scatter estimation and correction in imaging
Granted: January 18, 2022
Patent Number:
11224396
An x-ray imaging apparatus and associated methods are provided to receive measured projection data from a wide aperture scan of a wide axial region and a narrow aperture scan of a narrow axial region within the wide axial region and determine an estimated scatter in the wide axial region using an optimized scatter estimation technique. The optimized scatter estimation technique is based on the difference between the measured scatter in the narrow axial region and the estimated scatter in…
Method and apparatus for image reconstruction and correction using inter-fractional information
Granted: December 7, 2021
Patent Number:
11191511
An imaging apparatus and associated methods are provided to efficiently estimate scatter during multi-fraction treatments for improved quality and workflow. Estimated scatter from one fraction during a treatment course can be utilized during subsequent fractions, allowing for measurements with higher scatter-to-primary ratios. The quality of scatter estimates can be maintained, while workflow improves and dosage decreases. Scan configuration limits can be utilized to maintain a minimum…
Radiation based treatment beam position calibration and verification
Granted: November 30, 2021
Patent Number:
11185718
A phantom is described. The phantom having a spherical phantom body and an X-ray luminescent material, wherein at least a portion of the X-ray luminescent material is on a surface of the phantom.
Image-guided radiation treatment with imaging data using imaging radiation at different energy levels
Granted: November 30, 2021
Patent Number:
11185715
A method of image-guided radiation treatment is described. The method may include acquiring a pre-treatment image of a patient and generating a first set of image data of part or all of the patient using imaging radiation at a first energy level and a second set of image data of part or all of the patient using imaging radiation at a second energy level. The method may also include processing the first and second sets of image data to generate an enhanced image, wherein the enhanced…
Helical cone-beam computed tomography imaging with an off-centered detector
Granted: November 23, 2021
Patent Number:
11179132
An x-ray imaging apparatus and associated methods are provided to process projection data from an offset detector during a helical scan, including view completion. The detector may be offset in the channel and/or axial direction. Projection data measured from a current view is combined with projection data measured from at least one conjugate view to reconstruct a target image. A two-dimensional aperture weighting scheme is used to address data redundancy.
Noise and artifact reduction for image scatter correction
Granted: November 9, 2021
Patent Number:
11166690
An imaging apparatus and associated methods are provided to receive measured projection data in a primary region and correct for scatter by processing the imaging data as two separate components: non-scatter-corrected data and scatter-only data. Separate image processing (e.g., reconstruction) allows for the use of individualized data processing, including filters, suited to the source data, thereby focusing on specific aspects of the source data, including, for example, noise and…
Method and apparatus for scatter estimation in cone-beam computed tomography
Granted: November 2, 2021
Patent Number:
11160526
An x-ray imaging apparatus and associated methods are provided to receive measured projection data in a primary region and measured scatter data in a shadow region and determine an estimated scatter in the primary region during a current rotation based on the measured scatter data in the shadow region from a neighboring rotation. Coverage of the shadow region during the neighboring rotation overlaps the primary region during the current rotation. A beamformer is configured to adjust a…
Multimodal radiation apparatus and methods
Granted: October 26, 2021
Patent Number:
11154269
Multimodal imaging apparatus and methods include a rotatable gantry system with multiple sources of radiation comprising different energy levels (for example, kV and MV). Fast slip-ring technology and helical scans allow data from multiple sources of radiation to be combined or utilized to generate improved images and workflows, including for IGRT. Features include increasing the precision of spatial registrations between respective image sets to allow more precise radiation treatment…
Compensating for target rotation with a collimation system
Granted: October 19, 2021
Patent Number:
11147989
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…
Bremsstrahlung target for radiation therapy system
Granted: September 7, 2021
Patent Number:
11114269
Described herein is a medical linear accelerator including an accelerator target structure constructed of a material having a thickness of less than 0.2 radiation lengths, and an accelerator structure to receive an electromagnetic wave and generate an output therapy dose rate of electrons having a beam energy between 4-25 mega-electronvolts (MeV).
