A couch according to an embodiment is a couch for a magnetic resonance imaging device, and includes a transformable couchtop, a movable couchtop, and processing circuitry. The transformable couchtop is configured to be at least partially transformable and to support a subject. The movable couchtop is configured to cause the transformable couchtop to move into a gantry of the magnetic resonance imaging device. The processing circuitry is configured to control transformation of the transformable couchtop. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire information regarding a receiver coil used in imaging of the subject, and to control the transformation of the transformable couchtop based on the information regarding the receiver coil.

A bilateral straight line mechanism that is part of a patient support mechanism.

A location pad includes multiple field-generators and a frame. The multiple field-generators are configured to generate respective magnetic fields in a region-of-interest of a patient organ, so as to measure a position of a medical instrument in the region-of-interest. The frame is transparent to an X-ray radiation, and is configured to fix the multiple field-generators at respective positions surrounding the region-of-interest.

A radiotherapy apparatus for the delivery of an energetic beam to a target tissue in a treatment zone, including: a rotatable gantry for rotating the end of a beam delivery system about a circle centered on an isocentre and normal to an axis of rotation Z1 of the gantry, the path between the end of the beam delivery system and the isocentre defining a central beam axis Z2 at every rotation angle of the gantry about the axis of rotation Z1; an imaging ring having a central bore and an imaging system for acquiring images of a patient in an imaging zone of the imaging system, wherein the imaging ring is located in the radiotherapy apparatus such that its imaging zone intersects the axis of rotation Z1 of the gantry, and wherein the imaging ring is mechanically coupled to the rotatable gantry through a mechanical structure.

Systems and methods are provided for a patient support device for an x-ray device for use during an examination of a patient including a patient couch and at least one support (6) bearing the patient couch. The patient couch includes a first, x-ray-transparent material disposed in an at least partially flexible covering made from a second x-ray-transparent material. The first material includes a solid, dimensionally stable state and a deformable state, in particular at least partially liquid and/or gaseous state, that are linked by reversible phase transitions. The patient support device further includes at least one induction device for inducing at least one of the phase transitions of the first material between the states by applying and/or removing energy.

A head stabilization system including a head restraint mechanism and a head harness configured to engage a head of a patient. The head restraint mechanism is configured to be operatively disposed on a patient support device and includes a generally vertically upstanding arcuate tilt guide. The head harness is releasably attachable to and at least partially supported by the head restraint mechanism. The head harness is selectively repositionable generally vertically relative to the tilt guide. The head restraint mechanism is configured to stabilize the head harness relative to the patient support device. The head restraint mechanism is configured to selectively allow lateral flexion of a neck of the patient, lateral rotation of the head of the patient, and extension and flexion of the neck of the patient.

A device for use with a four-dimensional radiological imaging modality includes: a base structure and a table slidably mounted with respect to one another. The base structure is at one end provided with a platform at an angle relative to the table, and a counteracting structure is arranged to apply to the table a load exerting force in a direction towards the one end provided with the platform from the opposite end of the base structure or vice versa.

A location pad includes multiple field-generators and a frame. The multiple field-generators are configured to generate respective magnetic fields in a region-of-interest of a patient organ, so as to measure a position of a medical instrument in the region-of-interest. The frame is transparent to an X-ray radiation, and is configured to fix the multiple field-generators at respective positions surrounding the region-of-interest.

One or more example embodiments of the present invention relates to a tilt module for a patient couch, having a first support unit, a second support unit and a linear drive system, wherein one of the first support unit and the second support unit is configured to fix the tilt module to a stand of the patient couch or to receive a couch board, wherein the second support unit is connected via a joint to the first support unit at a tilt angle, wherein the linear drive system couples the first support unit and the second support unit such that the second support unit is tiltable relative to the first support unit along a circular-like travel path with simultaneous variation of the tilt angle due to a change in length of the linear drive system.

A system and method for delivering microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) includes a computed tomography scanner (“CT”) configured to generate tomographic images of a subject, or patient, the scanner including an imaging apparatus, a gantry with an opening for positioning the patient therein, an axis of rotation around which the gantry rotates, and an x-ray source mounted to and rotatable with the gantry. The system includes a bed for patient positioning within the gantry opening and a multi-slit collimator removably mounted downstream of the x-ray source for delivering an array of microbeams of MRT to a targeted portion of the patient. Switching between MRT and CT is provided, and MRT modes of operation include a stationary mode, and continuous and step-wise rotational modes.