Methods of immobilizing the head of a patient include heating a thermoplastic mask preform to a formable temperature, forming the thermoplastic mask over at least a mouth of the patient, and pushing a mouth receiving end of a bite piece into a portion of the thermoplastic mask preform that is positioned over the mouth of the patient, which moves the portion of the thermoplastic mask preform into the mouth of the patient. The methods also include allowing the thermoplastic mask preform to cool from the formable temperature, causing the portion of the thermoplastic mask moved into the mouth of the patient to harden.

Systems and methods are described for the monitoring of patient motion via the detection of changes in capacitance, as measured using a capacitance position sensing electrode array. The changes in capacitance may be processed to determine a corresponding positional offset, for example, using a calibration data set relating capacitance to offset for each electrode of the array. The detected positional offset may be employed to provide feedback to a surgeon or operator of a medical device, or directly to the medical device for the control thereof. A medical procedure may be interrupted when the positional offset is detected to exceed a threshold. Alternatively, the detected positional offset may be employed to manually or automatically reconfigure a medical device to compensate for the detected change in position. Various configurations of capacitive position sensing devices are disclosed, including embodiment in incorporating capacitive sensing electrodes with a mask or other support structure.

Systems and methods are described for the monitoring of patient motion via the detection of changes in capacitance, as measured using a capacitance position sensing electrode array. The changes in capacitance may be processed to determine a corresponding positional offset, for example, using a calibration data set relating capacitance to offset for each electrode of the array. The detected positional offset may be employed to provide feedback to a surgeon or operator of a medical device, or directly to the medical device for the control thereof. A medical procedure may be interrupted when the positional offset is detected to exceed a threshold. Alternatively, the detected positional offset may be employed to manually or automatically reconfigure a medical device to compensate for the detected change in position. Various configurations of capacitive position sensing devices are disclosed, including embodiment in incorporating capacitive sensing electrodes with a mask or other support structure.

The present invention relates to a head immobilization system for immobilizing a patient's head in a supine position of the patient, the system comprising: a support rail structure adapted to be coupled to a patient rest and extending at least on both lateral sides of the patient's head, a mask frame adapted to be coupled to at least one deformable upper mask sheet, wherein 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, wherein each one of the pin-receptions receives one of the pins, and a catch-mechanism for each pin-reception and each corresponding pin, which allows the pin to be pushed further into the pin-reception in the first direction, but which interlocks in case of an attempted withdrawal of the pin from the pin-reception in a second, opposite direction.

The present invention relates to a head immobilization system for immobilizing a patient's head in a supine position of the patient, the system comprising: a support rail structure adapted to be coupled to a patient rest and extending at least on both lateral sides of the patient's head, a mask frame adapted to be coupled to at least one deformable upper mask sheet, wherein 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, wherein each one of the pin-receptions receives one of the pins, and a catch-mechanism for each pin-reception and each corresponding pin, which allows the pin to be pushed further into the pin-reception in the first direction, but which interlocks in case of an attempted withdrawal of the pin from the pin-reception in a second, opposite direction.

Systems for immobilizing a patient are disclosed. The system includes at least one preform formed from a low melting temperature thermoplastic, the preform being configured to be formed to the anatomy of the patient, at least one frame coupled to the at least one preform, and at least one support configured to support the anatomy of the patient. The system also includes at least one lock mechanism coupled to at least one of the frame and the support and configured to couple the at least one frame to the at least one support, and at least one adjuster mechanism coupled to at least one of the at least one frame and the at least one support and configured to selectively adjust a distance between the at least one frame and the at least one support while the at least one frame is coupled to the at least one support.

Systems for immobilizing a patient are disclosed. The system includes at least one preform formed from a low melting temperature thermoplastic, the preform being configured to be formed to the anatomy of the patient, at least one frame coupled to the at least one preform, and at least one support configured to support the anatomy of the patient. The system also includes at least one lock mechanism coupled to at least one of the frame and the support and configured to couple the at least one frame to the at least one support, and at least one adjuster mechanism coupled to at least one of the at least one frame and the at least one support and configured to selectively adjust a distance between the at least one frame and the at least one support while the at least one frame is coupled to the at least one support.

A structure for positioning a body part includes a support base, and a shell frame having an inner surface configured to a shape of the body part. The shell frame is further configured to ride upon the support base, or upon a carriage that further rides upon the support base, to enable a pitch and/or a roll of the shell frame to be adjusted relative to the support base.

The present invention relates to a thermoplastic composition suitable for manufacturing a thermoplastic sheet for producing a medical cast, such as a radiation mask. The composition has a polymeric component comprising a mixture of a styrene acrylonitrile copolymer and polycaprolactone, optionally together with a cross-linker and/or a filler, wherein the polymeric component comprises, 20 to 40 weight % of a styrene acrylonitrile copolymer and 80 to 60 weight % of a polycaprolactone, expressed in weight % of the polymeric component, wherein the thermoplastic composition has a glass transition temperature of 35° C.-80° C. The invention further relates to a thermoplastic sheet and to a medical cast, in particular a radiation mask, obtainable from said composition. In a final aspect, the invention relates to a method for producing said sheet and said radiation mask.

The present invention relates to a thermoplastic composition suitable for manufacturing a thermoplastic sheet for producing a medical cast, such as a radiation mask. The composition has a polymeric component comprising a mixture of a styrene acrylonitrile copolymer and polycaprolactone, optionally together with a cross-linker and/or a filler, wherein the polymeric component comprises, 20 to 40 weight % of a styrene acrylonitrile copolymer and 80 to 60 weight % of a polycaprolactone, expressed in weight % of the polymeric component, wherein the thermoplastic composition has a glass transition temperature of 35° C.-80° C. The invention further relates to a thermoplastic sheet and to a medical cast, in particular a radiation mask, obtainable from said composition. In a final aspect, the invention relates to a method for producing said sheet and said radiation mask.