Composition in the form of a shaped device, for use as a fiducial marker in tissues in the animal body, in radiotherapy and/or radiosurgery, characterized in that it comprises: a core consisting of a colloidal dispersion of metal nanoparticles and/or oxides or metal salts having X-ray-contrast properties, where said nanoparticles are stabilized with surfactants, polymers or capping agents in a liquid vehicle, and a polymeric casing that encapsulates the core, said device having a minimum size of not less than 500 microns and a maximum size not greater than 3000 microns.

A positioning aid for surgical procedures has a carrier system and a template. The carrier system consists of a carrier plate, which is provided with a recess, and supports. The carrier plate can be secured to a cranial bone via the supports over an operating field for the surgical procedure. The template has a template plate which can be connected to the carrier plate in a play-free manner and which comprises a guiding aperture. The guiding aperture is arranged and oriented in the template plate, which consists of a blank, in an individualized manner according to coordinates ascertained in advance. The central longitudinal axis of the guiding aperture matches a trajectory for accessing the operating field for the surgical procedure when the carrier system and the template are assembled and the carrier system is secured to the cranial bone.

A system for immobilization of a patient body part for radiotherapy applications which includes a device having at least one flanged support member which is suitable to be mounted to a fixation surface and is adapted to receive and retain at least two sheets is described. The first sheet covers the anatomical contours of a first area of the body part, and the second sheet covers the anatomical contours of a second area of the body part which is not covered by the first sheet. The system is capable of supporting the immobilized body part free from the fixation surface by the two sheets and the device.

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 catheter (e.g., known location) with respect to a target in the tissue. In other embodiments, the explant line has a first portion coupled to the marker and/or the stability element and a second portion configured to be at least proximate to the dermis of the patient.

A machine holds a plurality of RF beam generators which all point at a particular location. A patient with a target volume of tissue to be treated by heat is held immobile such that the target is located at the point all the RF beams traverse. The RF beams traverse that point and the resultant generated heat treats the target. No two or more RF beams traverse any other location in the patient's body. Since each individual RF beam is too weak to cause damage, the non-targeted tissues of the patient are unharmed.

Various implementations include a head frame holding device. The device includes a base, a head rest, and at least one head frame holder. The head rest has a first end coupled to the base and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The at least one head frame holder has a first end coupled to the base and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The second end of the at least one head frame holder includes a head frame coupler for coupling the head frame to the device.

A mask positioning assembly is provided. The mask positioning assembly includes a cradle frame, an adapter frame, and a positioning mask. The cradle frame is connected to both the adapter frame and the positioning mask. The adapter frame can be configured to be connected to any of positioning assembly support frames in different types of positioning systems. A positioning system is also provided.

A radio-oncology patient positioning device comprising a torso support portion adapted to support the torso of a patient, having first positioning members configured to releasably arrange a knee positioning means; and/or a pelvic positioning device; and a shoulder support region comprising second positioning members adapted to releasably arrange a neck positioning means; and/or a shoulder positioning device;
characterized by: a head support portion; wherein the head support portion is pivotally mounted, by means of at least one hinge to the torso support portion or a base plate on which the torso support portion is mounted; and wherein the head support portion is adapted such that a radio-oncological head positioning device is detachably attachable to the head support portion, wherein a occipital mask and/or a face mask is arrangeable to the head positioning device.

Disclosed is a method and system for navigating an instrument relative to a configurable theater system. The configurable theater instrument can be any instrument positioned in a theater that is configured to have more than one position. A localizer can generate an electromagnetic field that is sensed by a tracking device to determine a location of the tracking device with the sensed electromagnetic field.

Systems, methods, and devices are provided for assisting or performing guided interventional procedures using custom templates. The system uses pre-procedure scans of a patient's anatomy to identify targets and critical structures. A template is then manufactured containing guide elements. During a procedure, the template may be aligned to the patient and instruments passed though the guide elements and into various targets. The template may be aligned using one or more of, for example, a position sensing system or a live imaging modality to register the patient to the template. The system makes optional use of devices designed to immobilize or track an organ during therapy.