Radiation treatment delivery system with translatable ring gantry
Granted: June 27, 2017
Patent Number:
9687200
Systems, methods, and related computer program products for image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) are described. For one preferred embodiment, an IGRT apparatus is provided comprising a ring gantry having a central opening and a radiation treatment head coupled to the ring gantry that is rotatable around the central opening in at least a 180 degree arc. For one preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a gantry translation mechanism configured to translate the ring gantry…
Frameless radiosurgery treatment system and method
Granted: February 21, 2017
Patent Number:
9572997
A method of compensating for breathing and other motions of a patient during treatment includes periodically generating internal positional data about an internal target region. The method further includes generating external positional data about external motion of the patient's body using an external sensor and generating a correlation between one or more positions of the internal target region and one or more positions of an external region using the external positional data of the…
Tracking of moving targets
Granted: October 25, 2016
Patent Number:
9474914
Treatment targets such as tumors or lesions, located within an anatomical region that undergoes motion (which may be periodic with cycle P) are tracked. A 4D mathematical model may be established for the non-rigid motion and deformation of the anatomical region, from a set of CT or other 3D images. The 4D mathematical model relates the 3D locations of part(s) of the anatomical region with the targets being tracked, as a function of the position in time within P. Using non-rigid image…
Electromagnetically actuated multi-leaf collimator
Granted: September 13, 2016
Patent Number:
9443633
A multi-leaf collimator with electromagnetically actuated leaves. The multi-leaf collimator includes a plurality of leaves, a leaf guide configured to support the plurality of leaves, and a plurality of magnets. Each leaf includes a blocking portion that is radio opaque, a drive portion connected to the blocking portion, and a coil embedded in the drive portion. The coil is operatively connected to an electrical current source to generate a first magnetic field. The first magnetic field…
Non-invasive method for using 2D angiographic images for radiosurgical target definition
Granted: August 30, 2016
Patent Number:
9427201
A non-invasive method and system for using 2D angiographic images for radiosurgical target definition uses non-invasive calibration devices and methods to calibrate an angiographic imaging system and a six-parameter registration algorithm to register angiographic images with 3D scan data for radiation treatment planning.
Magnetron powered linear accelerator for interleaved multi-energy operation
Granted: August 23, 2016
Patent Number:
9426876
The disclosure relates to systems and methods for interleaving operation of a linear accelerator that use a magnetron as the source of electromagnetic waves for use in accelerating electrons to at least two different ranges of energies. The accelerated electrons can be used to generate x-rays of at least two different energy ranges. In certain embodiments, the accelerated electrons can be used to generate x-rays of at least two different energy ranges. The systems and methods are…
Apparatus for generating multi-energy x-ray images and methods of using the same
Granted: August 16, 2016
Patent Number:
9415240
Apparatus for generating multi-energy x-ray images and systems and methods for processing and using multi-energy x-ray images are provided for treating a target, e.g., a tumor, for image-guided radiation therapy. An image-guided radiation therapy system is provided including a treatment delivery system, a multi-energy imaging system, and a system processor. The treatment delivery system includes a radiation source configured to generate treatment radiation beams. The multi-energy imaging…
Automatic calibration for device with controlled motion range
Granted: August 2, 2016
Patent Number:
9406411
An apparatus includes a portion that moves along a guided path and a displacement gauge that outputs readings based on the portion's position on the guided path. The apparatus additionally includes an intermediate limit switch that is activated in response to the portion being moved to an intermediate position on the guided path. The apparatus also includes a processing device configured to calibrate the apparatus based on a first reading corresponding to a first position on the guided…
Gantry image guided radiotherapy system and related treatment delivery methods
Granted: July 12, 2016
Patent Number:
9387347
Systems, methods, and related computer program products for image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) are described. Provided according to one preferred embodiment is an IGRT apparatus including a barrel-style rotatable gantry structure that provides high mechanical stability, versatility in radiation delivery, and versatility in target tracking. Methods for treatment radiation delivery using the IGRT apparatus include conical non-coplanar rotational arc therapy and cono-helical…
Gantry image guided radiotherapy system and related treatment delivery methods
Granted: May 3, 2016
Patent Number:
9327141
Systems, methods, and related computer program products for image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) are described. Provided according to one preferred embodiment is an IGRT apparatus including a barrel-style rotatable gantry structure that provides high mechanical stability, versatility in radiation delivery, and versatility in target tracking. Methods for treatment radiation delivery using the IGRT apparatus include conical non-coplanar rotational arc therapy and cono-helical…
Target location by tracking of imaging device
Granted: March 22, 2016
Patent Number:
9289268
A method and apparatus for tracking a target by tracking the location of an imaging device while the imaging device is tracking the target is described.
Traveling wave linear accelerator based x-ray source using pulse width to modulate pulse-to-pulse dosage
Granted: February 9, 2016
Patent Number:
9258876
Provided herein are systems and methods for operating a traveling wave linear accelerator to generate stable electron beams at two or more different intensities by varying the number of electrons injected into the accelerator structure during each pulse by varying the width of the beam pulse, i.e., pulse width.
Automatic correlation modeling of an internal target
Granted: February 2, 2016
Patent Number:
9248312
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.
Traveling wave linear accelerator based x-ray source using current to modulate pulse-to-pulse dosage
Granted: October 20, 2015
Patent Number:
9167681
Provided herein are systems and methods for operating a traveling wave linear accelerator to generate stable electron beams at two or more different intensities by varying the number of electrons injected into the accelerator structure during each pulse by varying the electron beam current applied to an electron gun.
Systems and methods for real-time tumor tracking during radiation treatment using ultrasound imaging
Granted: August 18, 2015
Patent Number:
9108048
Systems and methods for tracking a target volume, e.g., tumor, in real-time during radiation treatment are provided. Under one aspect, a system includes an ultrasound probe, an x-ray imager, a processor, and a computer-readable medium that stores a 3D image of the tumor in a first reference frame and instructions for causing the processor to: instruct the x-ray imager and ultrasound probe to substantially simultaneously obtain inherently registered x-ray and set-up ultrasound images of…
Sequential optimizations for treatment planning
Granted: June 2, 2015
Patent Number:
9044602
A method and apparatus for radiation treatment planning are described. The method includes receiving a plurality of radiation treatment-planning parameters, and sequentially optimizing the plurality of radiation treatment-planning parameters.
Interleaving multi-energy x-ray energy operation of a standing wave linear accelerator
Granted: May 12, 2015
Patent Number:
9031200
The disclosure relates to systems and methods for interleaving operation of a standing wave linear accelerator (LINAC) for use in providing electrons of at least two different energy ranges, which can be contacted with x-ray targets to generate x-rays of at least two different energy ranges. The LINAC can be operated to output electrons at different energies by varying the power of the electromagnetic wave input to the LINAC, or by using a detunable side cavity which includes an…
Radiation treatment delivery system with outwardly movable radiation treatment head extending from ring gantry
Granted: March 24, 2015
Patent Number:
8989846
Systems, methods, and related computer program products for image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) are described. For one preferred embodiment, an IGRT apparatus is provided comprising a gantry frame including a ring member, the ring member being rotatable around a substantially horizontal, longitudinally extending central axis, the ring member having first and second horizontally opposing ends. The IGRT apparatus further comprises a radiation treatment head coupled to the ring member…
Dynamic tracking of moving targets
Granted: March 24, 2015
Patent Number:
8989349
Treatment targets such as tumors or lesions, located within an anatomical region that undergoes motion (which may be periodic with cycle P), are dynamically tracked. A 4D mathematical model is established for the non-rigid motion and deformation of the anatomical region, from a set of CT or other 3D images. The 4D mathematical model relates the 3D locations of part(s) of the anatomical region with the targets being tracked, as a function of the position in time within P. Using…
Controlling x-ray imaging based on target motion
Granted: March 3, 2015
Patent Number:
8971490
An image guided treatment is performed to treat a target. To perform the image guided treatment, measurement data indicative of target motion is acquired. A timing of one or more x-ray images is determined based on the measurement data. Treatment may be performed on the target using the position of the target.
