Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media providing techniques for probing in-vivo beam ranges directly using therapeutic beams for particle therapy treatment are disclosed. In an embodiment, a configuration is determined for one or more probing spots, each spot corresponding to a planned location within an interior region of a tumor volume where a dose of radiation is to be delivered. At least one therapeutic beam is provided to the tumor volume, and one or more images may be captured to provide an indication of the range/depth of the probing spots. Providing the probing spots to the interior of the tumor volume reduces the risk that the dose is provided to sensitive tissue (e.g., because even if the dose is delivered to a location other than the planned location, the dose is likely to remain contained within the tumor volume).

In certain embodiments novel sparse orthogonal collimators (SOCs) for use in radiotherapy are provided. In certain embodiments the SOCs comprise 2 layer 4 bank orthogonal collimators with 2-8 leaves in each of the 4 banks. Instead of using the limited heuristic approach to create jaw-only IMRT, a novel fluence map optimization method is provided based on wavelet decomposition and this method is used for IMRT. An algorithm to simplify the fluence maps with minimal and predictable dose quality compromise is also provided.

An approach for enhancing radiation treatment of target tissue includes identifying a target volume of the target tissue; causing disruption of vascular tissue in a region confined to the target volume so as to define the target volume; based at least in part on the disruption of the vascular tissue, determining a radiation treatment plan having a reduced radiation dose for treating the target tissue; and exposing the target volume to the reduced radiation dose based on the radiation treatment plan.

Embodiments of the present invention describe systems and methods for providing proton therapy treatment using a beam line where the ESS is reduced or eliminated. For multi-room configurations, a beam line is included having quadrupole and steerer magnets to align and focus a particle beam extracted by an accelerator and guided by a bend section. A degrader is disposed between the bend section and the treatment room, and the energy analyzing functionality is performed by the gantry.

A treatment planning system is configured to create a treatment planning for radiotherapy and includes a processing device and a memory. The memory stores a plurality of calculation models, and the processing device uses at least two of the plurality of calculation models to calculate calculation values of biological effect indices representing an effect of radiotherapy with respect to a condition for radiotherapy, and searches for the condition so that at least two of the calculation values to be calculated approach a predetermined target value.

A system for medical imaging is provided. The system includes a scanning device configured with a scanning cavity, a control device, and an output device configured within the scanning cavity. The control device is configured to obtain one or more scan protocols and acquire at least one guide instruction corresponding to the one or more scan protocols. The output device is configured to obtain guide information corresponding to the at least one guide instruction and present the guide information. The scanning device is configured to scan a subject with the presentation of the guide information according to the one or more scan protocols.

Proton beams can deliver a highly targeted radiation dose to a narrow volume defined by their Bragg peaks. However, Bragg peak range uncertainties persist during dose delivery. Fortunately, pulsed proton beams generate protoacoustic emissions proportional to absorbed proton energy, thereby encoding dosimetry information in a detectable acoustic wave. The present embodiments provide methods and apparatuses to derive and model protoacoustic imaging with an ultrasound transducer, and examine the frequency characteristics of protoacoustic emissions, which are crucial parameters in imaging resolution.

One or more example embodiments of the present invention relates to a fin for collimating therapeutic radiation. The fin comprises a collimation area made of a first material and a holding area made of a second material. Herein, the collimation area and the holding area are soldered together. Herein, the first material is formed to collimate therapeutic radiation. Herein, the holding area can be coupled to an adjustment device for adjusting the fin.

Imaging guided radiation treatment apparatus and methods are described. A method includes processing a first population of x-ray cone beam projection images to compute therefrom a time sequence of sliding-window tomographic image volumes characterized in that each subsequent member of the time sequence is computed using at least one same x-ray cone beam projection image as used in computing at least one previous member of the time sequence. The method also includes operating an IGRT apparatus to deliver treatment radiation to the target based at least in part on a comparison between at least one of the time sequence of sliding-window tomographic image volumes and a pre-acquired image data set.

A radiation treatment apparatus, comprising a gantry structure comprising a beam member extending between first and second ends of the gantry structure. The radiation treatment apparatus also includes a radiation treatment head movably mounted to the beam member in a manner that allows (i) translation of the radiation treatment head along the beam member between the first and second ends, and (ii) gimballing of the radiation treatment head relative to the beam member, the gimballing comprising pivotable movement in at least one independent pivot direction defined with respect to the beam member. The radiation treatment apparatus also includes a patient couch operative coupled with the radiation treatment head in manner to provide movement of the patient couch relative to the radiation treatment head.