The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor of a patient with charged particles, comprising the step of developing a multi-modality treatment plan, the multi-modality treatment plan directing: (1) use of a first beam type to treat a first volume of the tumor, the first beam type a first mass per particle and (2) use of a second beam type to treat a second volume of the tumor, the second beam type comprising a second mass per particle, where the second mass per particle is at least ten percent different than the first mass per particle and the second volume differs from the first volume. The multi-modality treatment plan is optionally formed by selectively merging treatment plans using the respective particle types or is developed using properties of the multiple particle types.

A method includes detecting a potential setup error in a radiation treatment delivery session of a radiation treatment delivery system, wherein the setup error corresponds to a change in a current position of a treatment target relative to a prior position of the treatment target, and wherein the change includes a rotation relative to the prior position of the treatment target. The method further includes modifying, by a processing device, one or more planned leaf positions of a multileaf collimator (MLC) of a linear accelerator (LINAC) of the radiation treatment delivery system to compensate for the potential setup error corresponding to the rotation of the prior position of the treatment target.

A medical image processing apparatus, includes: a reconstructed moving image obtainer that obtains a reconstructed moving image; a focus region identifier that identifies a first focus region corresponding to the designated focus; a fluoroscopic moving image obtainer that obtains at least one-period data on a fluoroscopic moving image; a second characteristics identifier that identifies each of two or more second characteristics regions corresponding to the internal body portion; a comparison selector that compares the two or more first characteristic regions; a conversion parameter calculation unit that calculates a conversion parameter for converting the first characteristic region.

A method for determining an irradiation plan includes specifying a target volume to be irradiated and a condition to be fulfilled, and implementing a first optimization. Implementing the first optimization includes providing a first data record, in which the target volume is mapped, and determining a first parameter set for the irradiation planning by implementing a first optimization algorithm. The first parameter set is optimized with respect to the condition to be fulfilled by using the first data record. The method also includes implementing a second optimization that includes providing a second data record that has a higher resolution than the first data record, determining a second parameter set by implementing a second optimization algorithm. The second parameter set is optimized with respect to the condition to be fulfilled by using the second data record and using the first parameter set. The method also includes generating an irradiation planning data record from the second parameter set.

Image information regarding a particular patient is provided, which image information includes, at least in part, a tumor to be irradiated. These teachings can also include providing non-image clinical information that corresponds to the particular patient. A control circuit accesses the foregoing image information and non-image clinical information and automatically generates a clinical target volume that is larger than the tumor as a function of both the image information and the non-image clinical information. The control circuit can then generate a corresponding radiation treatment plan based upon that clinical target volume, which plan can be utilized to irradiate the clinical target volume.

A method and computer program for dose calculation include using information from a fraction image to update contour information from a planning image and also includes using density information from the fraction image and the planning image for performing dose calculation.

A radiation therapy system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system combined with an irradiation system, which can include one or more linear accelerators (linacs) that can emit respective radiation beams suitable for radiation therapy. The MRI system includes a split magnet system, comprising first and second main magnets separated by gap. A gantry is positioned in the gap between the main MRI magnets and supports the linac(s) of the irradiation system. The gantry is rotatable independently of the MRI system and can angularly reposition the linac(s). Shielding can also be provided in the form of magnetic and/or RF shielding. Magnetic shielding can be provided for shielding the linac(s) from the magnetic field generated by the MRI magnets. RF shielding can be provided for shielding the MRI system from RF radiation from the linac.

Systems and methods are provided for generating a pseudo-CT prediction model that can be used to generate pseudo-CT images. An exemplary system may include a processor configured to retrieve training data including at least one MR image and at least one CT image for each of a plurality of training subjects. For each training subject, the processor may extract a plurality of features from each image point of the at least one MR image, create a feature vector for each image point based on the extracted features, and extract a CT value from each image point of the at least one CT image. The processor may also generate the pseudo-CT prediction model based on the feature vectors and the CT values of the plurality of training subjects.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for radiation treatment of tumors based at least in part on patient-specific imaging information. The methods, systems and apparatuses include computer programs encoded on computer-readable media. The methods include acquiring imaging information relating to a target to be treated. The imaging information is non-anatomic imaging information relating to the target acquired from at least one imaging marker that reflects at least one of the metabolic, physiological and histological features of the target. The methods further include computing a radiation dose based at least on the imaging information.

Systems and methods can include a system for positioning an ultrasound probe proximal to anatomy of a patient on a radiation couch including a substantially planar base including engagement features to directly or indirectly index the substantially planar base to the radiation couch and a centrally located guide extending longitudinally along a top side of the base, a probe holder, configured to be coupled to, to translate longitudinally, and to be user-accessed and user-controlled from within, a central region of the substantially planar base, a clamp, configured to localize the probe holder at a specified location along a translation path in the central region of the substantially planar base, leg supports shaped to accommodate a patient's legs from behind, the pair of leg supports being shaped and arranged to provide a space therebetween that can accommodate an ultrasound probe holder.