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.

A method for forming a preform for a thermoplastic retention device is provided. The method includes providing a thermoplastic base material and blending the base material with one or more chemical agents to form a polymer blend. The chemical agents are configured to modify a polymer chain of the base material when the polymer blend is exposed to radiation. The method further includes forming the polymer blend into a filament sized for a three-dimensional printing platform and printing a preform shape from the filament using the three-dimensional printing platform. After the printed preform is hardened, the method includes exposing the printed preform shape to radiation sufficient to cause a reaction between the one or more chemical agents and the base material.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus to decrease acute and late skin toxicity for breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. This invention will enable better breast positioning during therapy, eliminating skin folds and reducing the skin dose below that required for development of moist desquamation. The present invention has the potential to reduce the volume of normal tissue and organs at risk of being irradiated during a course of whole breast radiation therapy.

The present invention relates to a head immobilization system for immobilizing a patient's head in a supine position of the patient, the system comprising: a support rail structure adapted to be coupled to a patient rest and extending at least on both lateral sides of the patient's head, a mask frame adapted to be coupled to at least one deformable upper mask sheet, wherein the mask frame is releasably connected to the support rail structure via a first interface section and a second interface section, with at least two pins protruding from the first interface section in a first direction, and at least two pin-receptions provided at the second interface section, wherein each one of the pin-receptions receives one of the pins, and a catch-mechanism for each pin-reception and each corresponding pin, which allows the pin to be pushed further into the pin-reception in the first direction, but which interlocks in case of an attempted withdrawal of the pin from the pin-reception in a second, opposite direction.

The present disclosure provides a positioning assembly for a radiation irradiation system. The positioning assembly includes a shielding body made of polymer and radiation shielding material capable of shielding the radiation and a sealing bag for accommodating the shielding body, when the target to be irradiated is placed on the positioning assembly, the positioning assembly is recessed with a shape of the target at the position where the target is placed and forms a contour corresponding to the target to position the target to be irradiated.

A head immobilization system for immobilizing a patient's head in a supine position of the patient includes a support rail structure adapted to be coupled to a patient rest. The system can further include a mask frame adapted to be coupled to at least one deformable upper mask sheet. The mask frame is releasably connected to the support rail structure via a first interface section and a second interface section, with at least two pins protruding from the first interface section in a first direction, and at least two pin-receptions provided at the second interface section. Each one of the pin-receptions receives one of the pins. A catch-mechanism for each pin-reception and each corresponding pin allows the pin to be pushed further into the pin-reception in the first direction, but interlocks in case of an attempted withdrawal of the pin from the pin-reception in a second, opposite direction.

A method for forming a preform for a thermoplastic retention device is provided. The method includes providing a thermoplastic base material and blending the base material with one or more chemical agents to form a polymer blend. The chemical agents are configured to modify a polymer chain of the base material when the polymer blend is exposed to radiation. The method further includes forming the polymer blend into a filament sized for a three-dimensional printing platform and printing a preform shape from the filament using the three-dimensional printing platform. After the printed preform is hardened, the method includes exposing the printed preform shape to radiation sufficient to cause a reaction between the one or more chemical agents and the base material.

An apparatus for targeting an injection site using anatomical landmarks includes a first landmark identifier, a second landmark identifier, and a targeting band. The targeting band is connected with the first landmark identifier at a first end and a second landmark identifier at a second end. At least a portion of the targeting band is linearly deformable. In another embodiment, an apparatus for targeting an injection site using anatomical landmarks on a patient includes a targeting band having a first end and a second end, at least a portion of the targeting being linearly deformable, a first landmark identifier pivotably connected to the targeting band at the first end, a second landmark identifier configured to be connected with the second end of the targeting band; and a fastener configured to secure the first and second landmark identifiers to the patient.

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.

An apparatus includes a first multileaf collimator comprising a plurality of pairs of beam-blocking leaves each comprising an end portion. The end portions of the beam-blocking leaves of one pair are contoured to allow forming a first aperture when the beam-blocking leaves of the pair are closed. The first aperture has a closed shape such as a circle in a beam's eye view.