AUTOMATIC HEALTH DETECTION FOR MOTION AXES IN MEDICAL LINEAR ACCELERATORS
Granted: December 13, 2012
Application Number:
20120314844
In a method of detecting the health of a motion axis in a radiation system including a motor operable to move a load between a first end and a second end, data on an electrical parameter of the motor is collected as the motor moves in the certain range. At least one indicator of the electrical parameter including a maximum, a minimum, an average, and a standard deviation of the electrical parameter is determined and compared with a provided value or range of values indicative of the…
MOTION-BLURRED IMAGING ENHANCEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM
Granted: December 13, 2012
Application Number:
20120314921
In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, a process for enhancing a motion-blurred image is presented. The process may include receiving a plurality of projections, wherein the plurality of projections contain computed tomography (CT) data obtained in multiple motion phases. The process may include generating an enhanced multi-phase image by performing an enhancement operation based on the plurality of projections. The process may further include generating…
AUTOMATIC HEALTH DETECTION FOR MOTION AXES IN MEDICAL LINEAR ACCELERATORS
Granted: December 13, 2012
Application Number:
20120312995
An image acquisition device employs a low-Z material to maximize the probability of backscattering or direct hits in Compton scattering for radiation with a given energy spectrum that passes through a detector array to enhance the contrast and spatial resolution of the image acquisition device. A radiation apparatus including the image acquisition device is also provided.
Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Images Used for Radiation-Treatment Planning
Granted: November 22, 2012
Application Number:
20120294497
A radiation-treatment planning apparatus accesses first information regarding a first image that pertains to a patient's body at a first time as well as second information regarding a second image that pertains to the patient's body at a second, later time. The radiation-treatment planning apparatus then correlates components of the patient's body as appear in the second image with components that appear in the first image while treating the components as comprising rigid structures…
TRUNCATION CORRECTION IMAGING ENHANCEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM
Granted: November 1, 2012
Application Number:
20120275673
In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, a process for enhancing an image is presented. The process may include receiving a first plurality of projections, wherein the first plurality of projections contain computed tomography (CT) data obtained in multiple motion phases and also image data attributable to a first portion of a scanned object. The process may include expanding the first plurality of projections to cover at least the first portion of the…
Self-Clinching Blind Floating Fastener
Granted: October 25, 2012
Application Number:
20120269597
A fastener device includes a self-clinching retainer and a blind fastener. The self-clinching retainer is mounted to a hole in a sheet. The blind fastener is at least partially floating within the self-clinching retainer. The blind fastener has blind thread so that any debris from engaging another fastener is captured within the blind fastener.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED EVALUATION OF MULTIPLE PORTAL DOSE IMAGES IN RADIATION THERAPY
Granted: October 4, 2012
Application Number:
20120250971
A method of evaluating a portal dose image includes obtaining a template from a database, the template prescribing one or more evaluation criteria, receiving a first portal dose image, and using a processor to evaluate the first portal dose image based at least in part on the one or more evaluation criteria from the template. In some embodiments, a second image is automatically evaluated after the first image is evaluated. A system for evaluating a portal dose image includes a processor…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERING AN IMAGING PROCESS BASED ON NON-PERIODICITY IN BREATHING
Granted: October 4, 2012
Application Number:
20120253178
A method of triggering an imaging process includes obtaining breathing signals, analyzing the breathing signals to identify a non-periodicity in a subject's breathing, and generating a signal to cause an imaging process to begin in response to the identified non-periodicity. A computer product having a set of instructions stored in a non-transitory medium, wherein an execution of the instructions causes a method to be performed, the method includes obtaining breathing signals, analyzing…
PREDICTION OF BREATHING SIGNAL AND DETERMINING NON-PERIODICITY OF BREATHING USING SIGNAL-PHASE HISTOGRAM
Granted: October 4, 2012
Application Number:
20120253217
A method of processing breathing signals of a subject includes obtaining breathing signals of a subject, obtaining a signal-phase histogram using the breathing signals, wherein the signal-phase histogram comprises a plurality of data points, each of the data points having at least a phase value and a signal value, determining a reference value using at least some of the plurality of data points from the signal-phase histogram, determining whether a difference between the reference value…
METHODS OF SCATTER CORRECTION OF X-RAY PROJECTION DATA 2
Granted: September 20, 2012
Application Number:
20120236983
A system and method for forming an adjusted estimate of scattered radiation in a radiographic projection of a target object, which incorporates scattered radiation from objects adjacent to the target object, such as a patient table. A piercing point equalization method is disclosed, and a refinement of analytical kernel methods which utilizes hybrid kernels is also disclosed.
METHODS OF SCATTER CORRECTION OF X-RAY PROJECTION DATA 1
Granted: September 20, 2012
Application Number:
20120236982
Embodiments of the disclosure generally set forth techniques for adjusting an estimate of scattered radiation of a target object. One example method includes generating a plurality of radiographic projections, selecting a first radiographic projection and a second radiographic projection of the target object from the plurality of radiographic projections, forming first estimates of scattered radiation in the first and second radiographic projections, applying the first estimates of…
MULTI-SOURCE RADIATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERWOVEN RADIOTHERAPY AND IMAGING
Granted: September 13, 2012
Application Number:
20120230464
An arc radiotherapy and imaging system is provided which includes a first radiation source and a second radiation source. The first radiation source is suitable for treating a region of a patient, and the second radiation source is suitable for imaging the region of the patient. A control is also provided for automatically adjusting system operation, according to a defined schedule, between treating the region of the patient using the first radiation source and imaging the region of the…
ELECTRON EMITTER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
Granted: August 30, 2012
Application Number:
20120217231
One example embodiment includes methods for making electron emitters. The electron emitter comprises a conductive member that defines a plurality of filament segments that are integral with each other. Each filament segment includes an intermediate portion and an interconnecting portion attached to an adjacent filament segment. The intermediate portions are substantially coplanar with each other and each intermediate portion includes a substantially planar electron emission surface.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTERACTIVE CONTROL OF WINDOW/LEVEL PARAMETERS OF MULTI-IMAGE DISPLAYS
Granted: August 30, 2012
Application Number:
20120218290
A method, system, and article of manufacture are described for interactive control of multiple images with a high dynamic range that are displayed simultaneously. A medical image control engine provides several synchronous functional capabilities, which comprises an input module, a blending factor synchronization module, a window/level synchronization module, a display module, and an image storage. For window/level adjustment of two images in blended views, the blending factor…
Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Radiation-Therapy Treatment-Plan Optimization
Granted: July 12, 2012
Application Number:
20120175530
These various embodiments access target information regarding a radiation-therapy treatment volume for a given patient as well as non-target information regarding at least one structure other than the radiation-therapy treatment volume that also comprises a part of the given patient. These embodiments then provide for accessing uncertainties information regarding spatial uncertainties as pertain to at least one of the target information and the non-target information and using that…
ASYMMETRIC X-RAY TUBE
Granted: May 10, 2012
Application Number:
20120114104
An asymmetric x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube includes an evacuated enclosure, a cathode assembly at least partially positioned within the evacuated enclosure and defining a first axis, and an anode assembly at least partially positioned within the evacuated enclosure and defining a second axis. The anode assembly includes a rotating anode having a focal spot. The focal spot and the second axis define a plane. The first axis is positioned beneath the plane.
Visualization of deformations using color overlays
Granted: May 3, 2012
Application Number:
20120105430
Computer-implemented methods and apparati for graphically displaying deformations, said deformations defined by comparing a first image of an object (1) with a second image of the same or a different object (1). A method embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of scanning an object (1) twice to produce first and second images; tabulating deformations and converting said tabulated deformations into a scalar property over a preselected range; quantizing the range into a set…
ELECTRICALLY INSULATING X-RAY SHIELDING DEVICES IN AN X-RAY TUBE
Granted: May 3, 2012
Application Number:
20120106713
Electrically insulating x-ray shielding devices in an x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube includes an evacuated enclosure, a cathode and an anode at least partially positioned within the evacuated enclosure, and an electrically insulating x-ray shielding device proximate to the evacuated enclosure. The electrically insulating x-ray shielding device includes an oxide or nitride material having an atomic number from 57 to 74.
ENERGY MODULATOR FOR MODULATING AN ENERGY OF A PARTICLE BEAM
Granted: April 26, 2012
Application Number:
20120097871
An energy modulator for use with a particle source that provides a beam of particles includes a first block moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the first block is at the second position, it is in a path of the beam, and a second block moveable relative to the first block, wherein the second block and the first block are offset from each other in a direction of the beam, wherein the first block has a first energy absorption characteristic, and the second…
BEAM FILTER POSITIONING DEVICE
Granted: April 12, 2012
Application Number:
20120087478
A system includes a beam filter positioning device including a plate configured to support one or more beam filters, and one or more axes operable to move the plate relative to a beam line. A control mechanism is coupled to the one or more axes for controlling the movement of the axes and configured to automatically adjust the position of at least one of the one or more beam filters relative to the beam line.
