The invention comprises a method and apparatus for determining a radiation beam treatment path to a tumor, comprising the steps of: (1) delivering charged particles from an accelerator, along a first beam transport path, through an output nozzle, and along a treatment path to the tumor relative to a calibrated reference beam path from the output nozzle toward a patient position and (2) prior to the step of delivering, a main controller verifying an unobstructed linear path of the treatment path using a set of fiducial indicators positioned at least: on a first element physically affixed and co-movable with the output nozzle and on a moveable object in the treatment room. Optionally, voxels of the treatment beam path and potentially obstructing objects are defined in the treatment room using an axis system relative to the calibrated reference beam path and a reference beam point.

Apparatus and methods for therapy delivery are disclosed. In one embodiment, a therapy delivery system includes a plurality of movable components including a radiation therapy nozzle and a patient pod for holding a patient, a patient registration module for determining a desired position of at least one of the plurality of movable components, and a motion control module for coordinating the movement of the least one of the plurality of movable components from a current position to the desired position. The motion control module includes a path planning module for simulating at least one projected trajectory of movement of the least one of the plurality of moveable components from the current position to the desired position.

A radiation system is provided. The radiation system may include a bore accommodating an object, a rotary ring, a first radiation source and a second radiation source mounted on the rotary ring and a processor. The first radiation source may be configured to emit a first cone beam toward a first region of the object. The second radiation source may be configured to emit a second beam toward a second region of the object, the second region including at least a part of the first region. The processor may be configured to obtain a treatment plan of the object, the treatment plan including parameters associated with radiation segments. The processor may be further configured to control an emission of the first cone beam and/or the second beam based on the parameters associated with the radiation segments to perform a treatment and a 3-D imaging simultaneously.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for directing charged particles into a patient from several directions. A delivery system is described that uses a primary beam line from an accelerator to a path switching magnet used to dynamically direct bunches of the positively charged particles down a selected pathway of a plurality of physically separated beam transport lines to a single patient treatment position, where the selected pathways enter the patient from two or more sides. Optionally, a repositionable treatment nozzle is repositioned to interface with each beam transport line, which allows the charged particle delivery system to use a single scanning capable nozzle in combination with delivery of the charged particles to the two or more sides of the patient to implement a tumor irradiation plan without a necessity of a moveable beamline in, at, or near a treatment room.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for tracking and/or imaging impact of a particle beam treating a tumor using one or more imaging systems positionable about the tumor, such as a positron emission tracking and/or imaging system, where resulting tracking/imaging data: dynamically determines a treatment beam position, tracks a history of treatment beam positions, guides the treatment beam, and/or images a tumor before, during, and/or after treatment with the charged particle beam.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for imaging a tumor of a patient using one or more imaging systems positionable about the tumor and treating the tumor using positively charged particles, such as a process of: (1) rotating a gantry support and/or gantry, connected to at least a portion of a beam transport system configured to pass a charged particle treatment beam, circumferentially about the patient and a gantry rotation axis; (2) translating a translatable imaging system past the patient on a path parallel to an axis perpendicular to the gantry rotation axis; (3) imaging the tumor using the translatable imaging system; and (4) treating the tumor using the rotatable treatment beam.

A radiotherapy system (220, 320) comprises a first rotary support apparatus (204, 304) configured to support a radiation beam source (200, 300) and to cause a radiation beam source (200, 300) to rotate about a rotation axis (218, 318, 518), a second rotary support apparatus (214, 314, 414, 514) and a radiation shield (202, 302, 402, 502) mounted to the second rotary support apparatus (214, 314, 414, 514). The second rotary support apparatus (214, 314, 414, 514) is configured to cause the radiation shield (202, 302, 402, 502) to rotate about the rotation axis (218, 318, 518).

Systems and methods to monitor output energy of an X-ray source being used to emit a fan beam for scanning an object in a scanning system include a segmented detector positioned between a target of the X-ray source and the object. The segmented detector has at least two segments that are placed to cover at least two angular ranges of the fan beam and generate corresponding two sets of energy distribution data. A ratio is determined based on the two sets of energy distribution data in order to determine an initial electron energy and an end-point energy of the X-ray source based on the ratio.