4D CONE BEAM CT USING DEFORMABLE REGISTRATION
Granted: October 3, 2013
Application Number:
20130259338
A method of obtaining a volumetric image includes obtaining a plurality of volumetric images, the volumetric images generated using respective sets of projection images, wherein the volumetric images and the respective sets of projection images correspond with different respective bins for a physiological cycle, and determining an additional volumetric image using one or more of the projection images from each of the sets that correspond with the different respective bins for the…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC PATIENT IDENTIFICATION
Granted: September 26, 2013
Application Number:
20130251099
In a method of verifying patient identity, an image of an individual who is to receive radiotherapy is obtained and compared with a reference image of a patient to whom the radiotherapy is intended. Confirmation or negation of the individual to be the patient intended can be made based on the comparison of the image of the individual with the reference image of the patient.
HEAT SINK PROFILE FOR INTERFACE TO THERMALLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL
Granted: September 26, 2013
Application Number:
20130250522
A heat sink employs a scalloped surface profile to facilitate interface to thermally conductive materials. The scalloped surface profile reduces the surface area initially as the thermally conductive material is compressed for assembly. The reduced surface area allows the required compression force to be decreased, which helps reduce the risk of damages to the heat generating devices due to excessive force. The scalloped surface profile increases the final surface area in contact with…
RADIATION DETECTOR WITH MULTIPLE OPERATING SCHEMES
Granted: September 26, 2013
Application Number:
20130248723
A radiation detector includes a conversion element that converts an incoming radiation beam into electrical signals, which in turn can be used to generate data about the radiation beam. The conversion element may include, for example, a scintillator that converts the radiation beam into light, and a sensor that generates the signals in response to the light. The conversion element can be used in different schemes or data collection modes. For instance, the conversion element can be…
X-RAY MATRIX IMAGER
Granted: September 19, 2013
Application Number:
20130240745
An X-Ray matrix imager includes a matrix, a plurality of gate line sets, and a plurality of data lines. The matrix includes a plurality of rows of pixels configured to accumulate charges in response to light or radiation. Each of the gate line sets includes a first gate line coupled to a first pixel among a first row of pixels of the matrix, and a second gate line coupled to a second pixel among the first row of pixels of the matrix, wherein the first pixel is adjacent to the second…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TREATING MOVING TARGET
Granted: August 22, 2013
Application Number:
20130216026
A method and system for providing intensity modulated radiation therapy to a moving target is disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a treatment plan for providing radiotherapy using a multi-leaf collimator (“MLC”) comprises a plurality of sub-plans, each of which is optimized for a different phase of target movement. Movements of the treatment target are tracked in real time, and the choice of which sub-plan to implement is made in real time based on the…
Method and Apparatus Pertaining to the Optimization of Radiation-Treatment Plans Using Automatic Changes to Treatment Objectives
Granted: August 8, 2013
Application Number:
20130204067
Optimization of a radiation-delivery treatment plan can be facilitated by permitting the making of automatic changes to one or more treatment objectives. This can comprise processing radiation-delivery treatment plan parameters with respect to one or more predetermined treatment objectives and then automatically changing that predetermined treatment objective to provide one or more changed treatment objectives (including altered, deleted, and/or added treatment objectives) that can then…
METHOD AND APPARATUS PERTAINING TO CONFIGURING A RADIATION-DELIVERY TREATMENT PLAN
Granted: August 1, 2013
Application Number:
20130197294
A radiation-delivery treatment plan includes a first value for a limit as pertains to motion compensation-based adjustment of a radiation-delivery parameter during a first portion of a radiation treatment session as well as a second value for that same limit during a second, different portion of the treatment session. By one approach, the radiation-delivery treatment plan selects between this first and second value as a function of a preselected parameter. Examples of such parameters…
X-RAY TUBE APERTURE BODY WITH SHIELDED VACUUM WALL
Granted: August 1, 2013
Application Number:
20130195253
X-ray tube aperture body with shielded vacuum wall. In one example embodiment, an aperture body for use in an x-ray tube having an anode and a cathode includes an electron shield and a vacuum wall. The electron shield is configured to intercept backscattered electrons from the anode. The vacuum wall is separated by a gap from the electron shield and is shielded from the backscattered electrons by the electron shield. The aperture body also includes an electron shield aperture defined in…
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REAL-TIME TARGET VALIDATION FOR IMAGE-GUIDED RADIATION THERAPY
Granted: July 25, 2013
Application Number:
20130188856
Systems and methods for real-time target validation during radiation treatment therapy based on real-time target displacement and radiation dosimetry measurements.
METHOD AND APPARATUS PERTAINING TO RADIATION-TREATMENT PLAN OPTIMIZATION
Granted: July 25, 2013
Application Number:
20130187062
A control circuit optimizes a radiation-treatment plan to provide an initially-optimized radiation-treatment plan and then modifies that initially-optimized radiation-treatment plan to reduce corresponding monitor units (MU's) to provide a radiation-treatment plan that is further optimized for monitor units. This modification can comprise, at least in part, imposing a stronger smoothing constraint with respect to fluence. Optimizing a radiation-treatment plan to provide an…
X-RAY TUBE CATHODE WITH MAGNETIC ELECTRON BEAM STEERING
Granted: July 18, 2013
Application Number:
20130182825
An x-ray tube cathode with magnetic electron beam steering. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube cathode includes a cathode head and an electron emitter. The cathode head includes electrically conductive and non-magnetic material integrated with magnetic material. The cathode head defines an emitter slot in a portion of electrically conductive and non-magnetic material positioned between two portions of magnetic material. The electron emitter is positioned within the emitter slot.…
METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER-PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR ESTIMATING SCATTERED RADIATION IN RADIOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS
Granted: July 4, 2013
Application Number:
20130170722
Several related inventions for estimating scattered radiation in radiographic projections are disclosed. Several of the inventions use scatter kernels of various forms, including symmetric and asymmetric forms. The inventions may be used alone or in various combinations with one another. The resulting estimates of scattered radiation may be used to correct the projections, which can improve the results of tomographic reconstructions. Still other inventions of the present application…
X-RAY TUBE APERTURE HAVING EXPANSION JOINTS
Granted: June 20, 2013
Application Number:
20130156161
An x-ray tube electron shield is disclosed for interposition between an electron emitter and an anode configured to receive the emitted electrons. The electron shield includes expansion joints to accommodate thermal expansion.
PREPARATIVE REGIMEN FOR ENGRAFTMENT, GROWTH AND DIFFERENTIATION OF NON-HEMATOPOEITIC CELLS IN VIVO AFTER TRANSPLANTATION
Granted: June 13, 2013
Application Number:
20130149280
The invention relates to methods of obtaining an expanded population of mammalian ex vivo cells and/or for treating a mammalian subject by (a) administering to a subject an effective amount of an agent that confers a growth disadvantage to at least a subset of endogenous cells at the site of engraftment; (b) administering to the subject an effective amount of a mitogenic stimulus for the ex vivo cells; and (c) administering the ex vivo cells to the subject, wherein the ex vivo cells…
FLAT PANEL IMAGERS WITH PIXEL SEPARATION AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
Granted: June 13, 2013
Application Number:
20130146776
A method of making at least a portion of an imager includes obtaining an imager component having a substrate layer, a photo-sensitive layer, and a first image element and a second image element disposed between the substrate layer and the photo-sensitive layer, and delivering ultraviolet light through the substrate layer and between the first image element and the second image element to reach the photo-sensitive layer, wherein the ultraviolet light interacts with a portion of the…
RADIATION SYSTEMS WITH MINIMAL OR NO SHIELDING REQUIREMENT ON BUILDING
Granted: June 6, 2013
Application Number:
20130144104
A radiation system includes a support, a capsule rotatably coupled to the support, a radiation source movably coupled to the capsule, wherein the radiation source is configured to provide a treatment radiation beam, and is capable of being turned on or off in response to a control signal, and a collimator located next to the radiation source, wherein the capsule defines a space for accommodating a portion of a patient, and includes a shielding material for attenuating radiation resulted…
AUTOMATIC CORRECTION METHOD OF COUCH-BENDING IN SEQUENCE CBCT RECONSTRUCTION
Granted: May 9, 2013
Application Number:
20130114871
An imaging method includes obtaining a first set of projection data when a patient support is at a first position, wherein the first set of projection data is usable to reconstruct a first volumetric image, obtaining a second set of projection data when the patient support is at a second position, wherein the second set of projection data is usable to reconstruct a second volumetric image, and determining a corrected volumetric image using the first set of projection data and the second…
Couch Top Pitch and Roll Motion by Linear Wedge Kinematic and Universal Pivot
Granted: May 9, 2013
Application Number:
20130111668
A couch top includes a top, a base, a universal joint coupling the top and the base, and actuators mounted on the base to pitch and roll the top. Feedback devices may be fitted on the rotating ends of the universal joint to provide feedback for a control loop. Each actuator has an actuated end that translates vertically to lift or lower the top. The vertical movement may be derived from a carriage riding in place on a translating inclined plane. When the actuated ends move in the same…
METHOD AND APPARATUS PERTAINING TO NON-INVASIVE IDENTIFICATION OF MATERIALS
Granted: April 25, 2013
Application Number:
20130101156
A control circuit having access to information regarding a plurality of models for different materials along with feasibility criteria processes imaging information for an object (as provided, for example, by a non-invasive imaging apparatus) to facilitate identifying the materials as comprise that object by using the plurality of models to identify candidate materials for portions of the imaging information and then using the feasibility criteria to reduce the candidate materials by…
