A system and method are disclosed for a patient positioning device for beam radiation therapy and radiological imaging. The system includes a base and a patient support surface coupled to the base, and the patient support surface includes a lower patient support hingedly coupled to the base and an upper support hingedly coupled to the lower patient support. The system also includes a substantially flat hinge that forms a continuous upper surface with an upper support surface of the lower patient support and the lower patient support.

A device for accurately locate the tumor in a radiation therapy machine (RTM) based on the patient's CT image is disclosed. The device immobilizes a patient in a repeatable location when a CT scan is made and the radiation therapy is given. The device includes a base plate to support the patient, on which there are: a pair of pins to constrain the armpits of the patient, a pair of shoulder pads to constrain the shoulders of the patient, a headrest and head pads to constrain the head of the patient, markers, and a jaw restrainer secured to the head pads. Coordinate transformations will be used to locate the tumor in the RTM.

A jig for placing a screw to stabilize a femoral nail comprises a shell, a drill guide assembly movably mounted on the shell, and having a plurality of radiopaque markers affixed thereon, a magnetic field generator, and a plurality of magnetic location sensors responsive to magnetic fields produced by the magnetic field generator. A position processor is operative to compute positional information of the magnetic location sensors based on signals communicated thereto. The positional information is placed in registration with an anatomical image so that the drill guide assembly can be aligned with a transverse bore in the femoral nail.

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.

To assist a surgeon performing a medical procedure, auxiliary images generally indicating internal details of an anatomic structure being treated are displayed and manipulated by the surgeon on a computer display screen to supplement primary images generally of an external view of the anatomic structure. A master input device controlling a robotic arm in a first mode may be switched by the surgeon to a second mode in order to function instead as a mouse-like pointing device to facilitate the surgeon performing such auxiliary information display and manipulation.

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.

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 headrest for an immobilization system for immobilizing at least a part of a patient is provided. The headrest includes a supporting structure and a sheet-like formed elastic panel attached to the supporting structure on at least two opposite sides of the elastic panel. The elastic panel is configured to support at least a part of a head and/or at least a part of a neck of a patient, wherein at least a part of the elastic panel is stretchable and configured to stretch when said at least part of the head and/or neck of the patient is arranged on the elastic panel, such that a shape of said at least part of the elastic panel is formed corresponding to a shape of said at least part of the head and/or neck of the patient.

The invention describes an immobilisation device (1) for radiotherapy comprising: an inclined plate (2) for supporting the back of a patient, wherein said plate (2) is inclined in a longitudinal direction and has a lower end (21) and an upper end (2u); and a lower platform (3) for supporting the buttocks of the patient, wherein said lower platform (3) can be coupled to the lower end (21) of the inclined plate (2), wherein the lower platform (3) is rotatable to make it easier to place the patient on the device (1). The lower platform can also comprise a protuberance (4) for supporting the perineum of the patient and plates (5) for immobilising their hips.

A method is disclosed of making a customized intraoral positioning device to be positioned within a patient's mouth for radiation therapy planning and treatment of a head and/or neck of the patient, the method comprising: receiving a prescribed treatment plan using the customized intraoral positioning device, wherein the treatment plan includes a prescribed incisor separation and/or tongue position of the patient for intended treatment; creating impressions of the patient's upper and lower arches of the patient's mouth; introducing a registration device into the patient's mouth to position the upper and lower arches at the prescribed incisor separation, so as to enable a model of the patient's upper and lower arches to be registered; creating models of the patients upper and lower arches based upon the impressions of the patient's upper and lower arches; digitizing the models of the patient's upper and lower arches; assembling the models of the patient's upper and lower arches on registration device; and digitizing the assembly of the models on the registration device so as to obtain a relationship between the upper and lower arches at the prescribed incisor separation.