SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE FILTERING
Granted: March 4, 2010
Application Number:
20100054562
A system for obtaining an image includes a processor for receiving a projection image, processing the projection image to obtain a filtered image, applying a first factor for the projection image to obtain a first weighted image, applying a second factor for the filtered image to obtain a second weighted image, and obtaining a corrected image using the first and second weighted images, and a medium for storing the corrected image. A method of processing an image includes receiving a…
Interactive Treatment Plan Optimization for Radiation Therapy
Granted: March 4, 2010
Application Number:
20100054411
An interactive method for radiation treatment planning is disclosed. The method applies to staged treatment planning algorithms, as used, for example, with arc therapy. It allows the user to hold the optimization algorithm at a stage in order to make adjustments to the objective function before advancing to the next stage. If adjustments are made, the user can revert to an earlier stage and re-run the optimization process using the adjusted objective function. While a hold is imposed,…
Trajectory optimization method
Granted: March 4, 2010
Application Number:
20100054410
A method for determining a radiation treatment plan includes defining a part of a treatment using control points, defining dose calculation points, calculating dose in the dose calculation points, and changing a number of the dose calculation points. A method for determining a radiation treatment plan includes modeling a first part of a treatment plan using a fluence map, and modeling a second part of the treatment plan using a first machine parameter. A method for determining a…
Energy Modulator for Modulating an Energy of a Particle Beam
Granted: March 4, 2010
Application Number:
20100051833
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…
LEAF SEQUENCING ALGORITHM FOR MOVING TARGETS
Granted: February 25, 2010
Application Number:
20100046713
A method of providing intensity modulated radiation therapy to a moving target is disclosed. The target moves periodically along a trajectory that is projected onto a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) plane. The MLC plane is divided into thin slices parallel to the movement of the target. The present invention optimizes the leaf sequence such that, within each slice, if a point receives radiation, all other points in that slice that receive the same amount or more fluence are also receiving…
Stationary X-Ray Target and Methods for Manufacturing Same
Granted: February 18, 2010
Application Number:
20100040202
Stationary x-ray target assemblies manufactured using a metal deposition process to form one or more metal layers of the target. In particular, the metal deposition process is used to form an x-ray target metal layer and/or a stress buffer zone on an x-ray target substrate. The stress buffer zone improves material properties of the metals and/or the bonding between the x-ray target metal layer and the substrate. Improved bonding between the x-ray target metal layer and the substrate also…
Cathode with a Coating Near the Filament and Methods for Making Same
Granted: February 18, 2010
Application Number:
20100040201
One or more components of an x-ray cathode assembly are manufactured using a metal deposition process. The deposition process is carried out by providing a cathode shield and a cathode head with a cathode cup and a filament slot fabricated from a first metal, and forming a coating comprising a second metal on at least a portion of at least one of the filament slot, cathode cup, cathode head, and/or cathode shield using a deposition process so as to yield the x-ray cathode assembly. The…
Power Variator
Granted: February 18, 2010
Application Number:
20100039051
An apparatus for use in a process to regulate power for a particle accelerator includes a first circulator, a second circulator, a tee coupled between the first and the second circulator, and a tuner coupled to the tee. An apparatus for use in a process to regulate power for a particle accelerator includes a first circulator, a second circulator, a 3-dB coupler coupled between the first and the second circulator, and a tuner coupled to the 3-dB coupler.
External Beam Radiotherapy And Imaging With Radioactive Isotope
Granted: January 21, 2010
Application Number:
20100016649
A method of delivering external radiation beams to a target volume in a body portion includes positioning a radioactive isotope source at a plurality of locations spaced apart around the body portion, and collimating radiation beams of the radioactive isotope source from the plurality of locations, whereby the target volume in the body portion is deposited with a predetermined dose distribution. A radiation device employs a member having a configuration adapted to surround a body portion…
THERMIONIC EMITTER DESIGNED TO CONTROL ELECTRON BEAM CURRENT PROFILE IN TWO DIMENSIONS
Granted: December 31, 2009
Application Number:
20090323898
An electron emitter assembly for use in an x-ray emitting device or other electron emitter-containing device is disclosed. In one embodiment, an x-ray tube is disclosed, including a vacuum enclosure that houses both an anode having a target surface, and a cathode positioned with respect to the anode. The cathode includes an electron emitter assembly for emitting a beam of electrons during tube operation. The electron emitter assembly comprises a refractory metal foil with a plurality of…
METHOD FOR CONTROLLING MODULATION STRENGTH IN RADIATION THERAPY
Granted: December 31, 2009
Application Number:
20090326615
Methods for developing and using treatment plans with improved modulation for radiation therapy are disclosed. The methods involve adding an extra component to the patient-related objective function in order to make the optimization algorithm used to develop the treatment plan arrive at a solution with increased modulation. The extra component may take many forms. For example, the user may specify that the treatment plan favor solutions using a range of monitor units. The present…
Irradiation Device
Granted: December 31, 2009
Application Number:
20090321665
The present invention relates to an irradiation device for irradiating an irradiation object with heavy charged particles at an irradiation station, comprising a particle accelerator for providing a particle beam and a swivelling device for swivelling the particle beam impinging on the irradiation object, wherein the swivelling device comprises a carrier pivotable about an axis. In accordance with the invention, the irradiation device is characterized in that the particle accelerator is…
ANATOMIC ORIENTATION IN MEDICAL IMAGES
Granted: December 24, 2009
Application Number:
20090316975
A method of constructing a navigation table relating a set of images representative of a region of interest in a subject to a reference system with reference positions indicating known anatomic landmarks of a reference subject comprising providing reference positions for two or more images identified with two or more anatomic landmarks indicative of the region of interest with reference positions of known anatomic landmarks corresponding to the identified anatomic landmarks, and…
TREATMENT PLAN OPTIMIZATION METHOD FOR RADIATION THERAPY
Granted: December 24, 2009
Application Number:
20090316858
A treatment planning method and system for optimizing a treatment plan used to irradiate a treatment volume including a target volume, such as a tumor, is disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, gradients of a cost function that defines a treatment volume are back projected to a surface of interest. The method and system of preferred embodiments of the present invention calculate the gradients with respect to the dose received by the treatment volume. Machine parameters that…
RADIATION SENSITIVE LIPOSOMES
Granted: December 10, 2009
Application Number:
20090304589
The present invention relates to a radiation sensitive liposome, and the use of this liposome as carrier for therapeutic and diagnostic agent(s). In particular, the invention encompasses a liposome composition comprising a stable liposome-forming lipid and a polymerizable colipid, and a chain transfer agent. The present invention further contemplates methods of diagnosing and treating conditions and diseases that are responsive to liposome-encapsulated or associated agents.
MONITOR UNITS CALCULATION METHOD FOR PROTON FIELDS
Granted: December 3, 2009
Application Number:
20090299634
A method for determining a monitor unit that is associated with a process using ions, includes obtaining a depth dose curve, determining a characteristic parameter based on the depth dose curve, and using the characteristic parameter to determine a first monitor unit factor. A system for determining a monitor unit that is associated with a process using protons, includes a processor that is configured for obtaining a depth dose curve, determining a characteristic parameter based on the…
TREATMENT OF PATIENT TUMORS BY CHARGED PARTICLE THERAPY
Granted: December 3, 2009
Application Number:
20090296885
A method of irradiating a target in a subject using charged particle therapy includes the steps of positioning a subject on a supporting device, positioning a delivery device adapted to deliver charged particles, and delivering charged particles to a target in the subject wherein the delivery device rotates around the target during delivery of at least a portion of the charged particles.
Apparatus and Method to Facilitate User-Modified Rendering of an Object Image
Granted: November 26, 2009
Application Number:
20090290773
A user interface (102) is configurable to provide a user (such as an individual) with a plurality of user-manipulable image reconstruction parameters. A memory (101) has penetrating energy-based image information regarding an object to be rendered stored therein. A viewer (103) (operably coupled to the user interface) is then configurable to render visible an image of this object as a function, at least in part, of this plurality of image reconstruction parameters and a reconstructor…
METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER-PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR ESTIMATING SCATTERED RADIATION IN RADIOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS
Granted: November 26, 2009
Application Number:
20090290682
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…
Methods, Apparatus, and Computer-Program Products for Increasing Accuracy in Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
Granted: July 30, 2009
Application Number:
20090190714
Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-product programs for increasing accuracy in cone-beam computed tomography.
