Accuray Patent Grants

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…

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…

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.

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).

Binary multileaf collimator delivery with per-leaf field width

Granted: June 29, 2021
Patent Number: 11049627
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…

Coordinated motion of a rotating 2D x-ray imager and a linear accelerator

Granted: December 15, 2020
Patent Number: 10863955
A method includes determining a first set of positions for a volumetric imager and determining a second set of positions for a linear accelerator (LINAC), during radiation treatment delivery. The method further includes determining a set of radiation beam directionalities of the LINAC, wherein for each of the second set of positions for the LINAC a radiation beam corresponds to a radiation beam directionality. The method further includes generating instructions for the volumetric imager…

Beam profile measurement system

Granted: December 8, 2020
Patent Number: 10857387
A beam profile measurement (BPM) system is described including a BPM phantom including a tank to house liquid, a dosimeter disposed in the tank to detect ionization of a radiation beam emitted from a linear accelerator (LINAC), and a positioning device to move the dosimeter in a vertical direction. The BPM system also includes a BPM controller to operably couple to the BPM phantom and the LINAC. A method is described including positioning, using a BPM controller, a dosimeter of the BPM…

Manipulation of a respiratory model via adjustment of parameters associated with model images

Granted: December 1, 2020
Patent Number: 10853940
A method and apparatus for manipulation of a respiratory model via adjustment of parameters associated with model images is described. A subset of the images that are used with the model that is associated with the position and motion of a targeted region of the patient to receive radiation treatment may be identified. The subset of images may be sorted. A graphical user interface (GUI) that identifies two or more of the images of the sorted subset may be provided. A selection associated…