The present specification discloses a radiation therapy protective eye mask for covering a patient's eyes, with the radiation therapy protective eye mask being placed over the eyes and beneath an immobilization mask. The radiation therapy protective eye mask includes a radiation shielding layer configured to cover at least one eye when a patient is undergoing radiotherapy treatments. A first layer of material can be positioned between the radiation shielding layer and the eyes, to provide cushioning and barrier between the radiation shielding layer and the skin. The radiation therapy protective eye mask can include a concave portion over the eyes to permit opening and closing of the eyes. Further radiation shielding layer can include structural and/or surface features and contours to reflect at least some of the radiation. In this way, the present eye protector reduces the quantity of radiation incident on the eyes for reducing eye damage.

A body part positioning table or table overlay includes a planar surface to support a body part. The table or table overlay further includes a first mask mounting system having a first configuration for mounting a first mask that positions and secures the body part relative to the planar surface, and a second mask mounting system having a second configuration for mounting a second mask to position and secure the body part relative to the planar surface.

The inventive alignment frame simplifies the task of attaching a fixation frame to a patient's skull prior to radiotherapy treatments. The frame is adjustably attachable to the fixation frame and is equipped with a bite plate that allows a patient to bite down on the bite plate to immobile the alignment-calibration frame and the attached fixation frame. The positional relationships are adjusted to bring the fixation screws into optimal locations on the patient's skull. Needle calibration assemblies placed into the fixation screw holders include clear needle guides through which a hypodermic needle is inserted to inject anesthetic into the future fixation screw location. The needle calibration assemblies are removed and the optimal length fixation screw is tightened into the anesthetized location. After all the fixation screws are in place, the patient releases the bite plate and the entire alignment-calibration frame is removed from the fixation frame.

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.

An extravascular access system includes a tubular stent configured to be deployed in a blood vessel, the stent having a sidewall and a proximal end opening and an internal scaffolding comprising one or more structural members, and an elongate access catheter having a distal end portion configured to access the blood vessel wherein when the stent is deployed in the blood vessel, and the distal end portion of the catheter is inserted into the proximal end opening of the stent, the one or more internal structural members of the stent deflect the distal end portion of the catheter towards a wall of the blood vessel.

In an illustrative embodiment, an adjustable cradle assembly for adjusting a head position of a patient relative to a patient platform includes a base portion with a pair of vertical support members and a cradle portion. The vertical support members may each include at least one position aperture for setting a vertical height of the cradle portion relative to the base portion. The cradle portion may include a channel for receiving a head fixation ring. The cradle portion may include at least one set of adjustment connection points for aligning with position apertures of each vertical support member. The cradle may be pivotably connected to the vertical support members such that a pitch angle of a head position of a patient secured in the head fixation apparatus may be adjusted. A set of adjustment mechanisms may releasably secure the cradle to the base at a selected lateral and/or pitch position.

Methods and devices are disclosed for treating a patient with an unruptured saccular aneurysm that is not associated with an arteriovenous malformation, wherein ionizing radiation is delivered to the brain of a patient through stereotactic radiosurgery. The radiosurgery may be performed with a Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery apparatus, LINAC device such as CYBERKNIFE stereotactic radiosurgery apparatus, or particle-beam device. The treatment impedes a natural progression of the aneurysm towards rupture and may actually obliterate the aneurysm. The treatment plan may be based in part on measured geometric properties of the aneurysm or on physical aneurysm properties such as permeability, wall thickness, wall motion, the presence of macrophages, shear stress, and flow velocities. The methods may be used in conjunction with endovascular coil embolization.

Apparatuses and methods for implanting objects, such as a marker, in the lungs of patients. In one embodiment, a bronchoscopic catheter assembly for implanting an object in the lung of a patient includes a handle, a delivery catheter projecting outwardly from the handle, and a push wire contained within the catheter. In one aspect of this embodiment, the catheter can be configured to releasably hold a plurality of markers at a distal end. In another aspect of this embodiment, the push wire can be operably connected to the handle and axially moveable within the delivery catheter to eject the marker out of the catheter within the bronchi of the patient. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the marker can further include an anti-migration device associated with the marker for holding the marker in place once the marker is deployed in the bronchi. The anti-migration device can be integral with the marker or positioned proximate to the marker to prevent migration of the marker.

A structure includes a base comprising a first ramp and an opposing, second ramp. The structure further includes a shell frame having an inner surface configured to a shape of a body part and an outer convex surface, wherein the outer convex surface of the shell frame rides upon, and moves relative to, upper surfaces of the first ramp and the second ramp to enable a pitch of the shell frame to be adjusted relative to the base.

A head stabilization device having the form of a skull clamp includes a first pin assembly and a second pin assembly. The pin assemblies are positioned opposite each other, and the first pin assembly has a first pin while the second pin assembly has a pair of pins. The pins used with the skull clamp are non-uniform. In this respect skull clamp can apply an equal force to a head of a patient from both sides. Additionally, the pressure at each pin location can be the same or substantially the same. This allows each of the pins to have the same or similar bone penetration when in use stabilizing the head of the patient.