External beam radiotherapy and imaging with radioactive isotope
Granted: July 17, 2018
Patent Number:
10022565
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…
Systems, methods, and devices for radiation beam alignment and radiation beam measurements using electronic portal imaging devices
Granted: July 17, 2018
Patent Number:
10022564
Systems and methods for using electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) as absolute radiation beam measuring devices and as radiation beam alignment devices without implementation of elaborate and complex calibration procedures.
Contouring tool having automatic interpolation and extrapolation
Granted: July 3, 2018
Patent Number:
10013810
An apparatus and method for generating a contour automatically based on one or more user-generated contours for a three dimensional (3D) structure. In one aspect, a method of integrating image contour generation and editing with contour interpolation and contour extrapolation is provided. Manual contour drawing and editing may be performed by a user while interpolation and/or extrapolation of contours is automatically calculated in the background. Results of the interpolation and/or…
Dynamic patient positioning system
Granted: June 26, 2018
Patent Number:
10004650
A patient treatment system includes one or more automated patient transporters configured to move a patient from a preparation area to one of a plurality of alternative treatment areas, and to position the patient relative to a therapeutic radiation beam. Both transportation of the patient and positioning of the patient are optionally performed while the patient is secured to one of the patient transporters. A control system may be used to both position and transport the patient…
Beam limiting device for intensity modulated proton therapy
Granted: June 19, 2018
Patent Number:
9999787
To overcome the difficulties inherent in conventional proton therapy systems, new techniques are described herein for synchronizing the application of proton radiation with the periodic movement of a target area. In an embodiment, a method is provided that combines multiple rescans of a spot scanning proton beam while monitoring the periodic motion of the target area, and aligning the applications of the proton beam with parameters of the periodic motion. For example, the direction(s)…
Visualization of deformations using color overlays
Granted: June 12, 2018
Patent Number:
9996929
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…
Systems and methods for evaluating motion tracking for radiation therapy
Granted: June 5, 2018
Patent Number:
9990731
An apparatus includes: a processor configured for obtaining a first image that corresponds with a first multi-leaf collimator (MLC) configuration, wherein the first image is generated when the MLC is stationary, obtaining a second image that corresponds with a second MLC configuration, wherein the second image is generated when the MLC and/or another component of a radiation machine is being operated to track a motion, and performing an analysis based at least in part on the first image…
Portal dosimetry systems, devices, and methods
Granted: June 5, 2018
Patent Number:
9987504
Systems, devices, and methods for dosimetric verification of radiation therapy treatments by selective evaluation of measurement points. Systems, methods, and computer program-products for providing dosimetric verification of radiation therapy treatments by evaluating measurement points using different evaluation criteria.
System and method for scanned ion beam interplay effect mitigation using random repainting
Granted: May 29, 2018
Patent Number:
9981144
Interference of dose application in scanned ion beam therapy and organ motion, also called interplay effect, may lead to dose deviations at target volumes. Current repainting methods are susceptible to artifacts due to a predominant scanning direction, ranging from fringed field edges to under and overdosed regions (hot and cold spots). To overcome the difficulties inherent in the repainting techniques of conventional proton therapy systems, new random repainting techniques are described…
Method and apparatus for using preferred angles when irradiating patient target volumes
Granted: May 22, 2018
Patent Number:
9974975
A control circuit identifies (prior to optimizing a radiation-treatment plan) at least one angle (such as one or more gantry angles as correspond to an arc-therapy treatment platform) to provide one or more identified angles. The control circuit then optimizes a radiation-treatment plan with respect to a particular patient target volume by using the identified angle(s) as preferred angles as regards irradiating the patient target volume. Being “preferred,” the radiation-treatment…
System and methods for treating patients using radiation
Granted: May 22, 2018
Patent Number:
9974494
A radiation system includes a radiation source having an accelerator, the radiation source having a magnetic field associated therewith that is resulted from an operation of the accelerator, and a magnetic field source configured to provide a compensating magnetic field to at least partially counteract against the magnetic field that is resulted from the operation of the accelerator. A radiation system includes a radiation device having a radiation source, a patient support, and a…
Remote control system and method
Granted: May 1, 2018
Patent Number:
9956430
A remote control system is configured to support communication between a first environment having a first neutron radiation level and a second environment having a second neutron radiation level includes a first computing device and a second computing device. The first computing device is configured to control a treatment system in the first environment. The second computing device is configured to issue commands in the second environment for the treatment system. The first computing…
Method and system for automated evaluation of multiple portal dose images in radiation therapy
Granted: May 1, 2018
Patent Number:
9956429
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…
Method and system for fiducials contained in removable device for radiation therapy
Granted: April 17, 2018
Patent Number:
9943704
Method and system fiducials contained in removable a device for use in guided radiation therapy treatment. One embodiment includes an active marker configured to be pre-loaded into a catheter for removeably implanting in the tissue of a patient. Another embodiment of the implantable device includes a stability element coupled to the marker and further coupled to an explant line. In some embodiments, the stability element is configured to hold the marker at a fixed location within the…
Marker system with light source
Granted: April 10, 2018
Patent Number:
9939130
A marker system includes: a first marker; and a second marker; wherein the first marker and the second marker are configured to emit light from one or more light sources coupled to the first marker and the second marker; and wherein the first marker and the second marker are configured to emit the light for detection by a camera. A method performed using a marker system includes: generating light using one or more light sources; emitting the light at a plurality of markers that are…
Biomarkers for radiation treatment
Granted: April 10, 2018
Patent Number:
9938583
The methods described herein allow for the classification of patients into groups for receiving optimized radiation treatment based on patient specific biomarker signature. The biomarker signature includes markers that have been shown to correlate with TGF-? expression and to be associated with tumor aggressiveness, radioresistance and poor prognosis. The markers play a key role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The methods described herein provide the dual benefits of anti-tumor…
Multi level multileaf collimator leaf tip shape effects and penumbra optimization
Granted: April 3, 2018
Patent Number:
9931521
A multi level multileaf collimator employs leaves with leaf tips having a non-square shape in a beam's eye view to improve beam shaping effect and penumbra performance. The multi level multileaf collimator includes a first multileaf collimator in a first level comprising beam blocking leaves longitudinally movable in a first direction, and a second multileaf collimator in a second level comprising beam blocking leaves longitudinally movable in a second direction. The first direction may…
Automatic health detection for motion axes in medical linear accelerators
Granted: March 27, 2018
Patent Number:
9925394
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…
Systems and methods for fiducial to plan association
Granted: March 20, 2018
Patent Number:
9919165
Various embodiments disclose systems and methods for tracking regions (e.g., tumor locations) within living organisms. Some embodiments provide real-time, highly accurate, low latency measurements of tumor location even as the tumor moves with internal body motions. Such measurements may be suitable for closed-loop radiation delivery applications where radiation therapy may be continuously guided to the tumor site even as the tumor moves. Particularly, the system may dynamically identify…
Apparatus and method to facilitate adapting a radiation treatment plan
Granted: March 6, 2018
Patent Number:
9907979
An existing radiation treatment plan is accessed for a given patient as well as first information (such as automatically generated updated information) regarding at least one physical characteristic as corresponds to the radiation treatment of this patient. One then initiates, prior to receiving second information (such as user input) regarding the first information, an automatic adaptation process to adapt the treatment plan to accommodate the first information. Upon later receiving…
