The invention relates to medical devices for carrying out internal examination, such as laryngoscopes. The laryngoscope is provided with a camera element within a channel inside the blade.

A computing system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), and memory coupled to the CPU and having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to execute operations to generate a radiation treatment plan. The operations include accessing a minimum prescribed dose to be delivered into and across the target, determining a number of beams and directions of the beams, and determining a beam energy for each of the beams, wherein the number of beams, the directions of the beams, and the beam energy for each of the beams are determined such that the entire target receives the minimum prescribed dose. The operations further include prescribing a dose rate and optimizing dose rate constraints for FLASH therapy, and displaying a dose rate map of the FLASH therapy.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining actual points along a positively charged particle beam path and/or vectors of the charged particle beam path, where the determined points and vectors aid tomographic construction of a three-dimensional image of a tumor and surrounding tissue. Further, the determined points and vectors of the positively charged particle beam are used in beam control safety, to modify a tumor treatment plan in real time, and/or in combination with co-gathered X-ray images to form a hybrid proton tomographyX-ray three-dimensional image. Preferably, common elements, such as an injector, accelerator, beam transport system, and/or patient positioning system are used for both tumor treatment and tumor imaging.

Radiation treatment planning includes accessing values of parameters such as a number of beams to be directed into sub-volumes in a target, beam directions, and beam energies. Information that specifies limits for the radiation treatment plan are accessed. The limits include a limit on irradiation time for each sub-volume outside the target. Other limits can include a limit on irradiation time for each sub-volume in the target, a limit on dose rate for each sub-volume in the target, and a limit on dose rate for each sub-volume outside the target. The values of the parameters are adjusted until the irradiation time for each sub-volume outside the target satisfies the maximum limit on irradiation time.

An example particle therapy system may include: a synchrocyclotron to produce a particle beam; a scanner to move the particle beam in one or more dimensions relative to an irradiation target; and an energy degrader that is between the scanner and the irradiation target. The energy degrader may include multiple plates that are movable relative to a path of the particle beam, with the multiple plates each being controllable to move while in the path of the particle beam and during movement of the particle beam. An aperture may be between the energy degrader and the irradiation target. The aperture being may be to trim the particle beam prior to the particle beam reaching the irradiation target.

A computing system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), and memory coupled to the CPU and having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to execute operations to generate a radiation treatment plan. The operations include accessing a minimum prescribed dose to be delivered into and across the target, determining a number of beams and directions of the beams, and determining a beam energy for each of the beams, wherein the number of beams, the directions of the beams, and the beam energy for each of the beams are determined such that the entire target receives the minimum prescribed dose. The operations further include prescribing a dose rate and optimizing dose rate constraints for FLASH therapy, and displaying a dose rate map of the FLASH therapy.

A high-intensity external ion injector can includes (a) an ion source defining a plasma chamber and including an aperture through which ions can escape the plasma chamber, (b) a microwave source configured to generate microwave radiation and direct the microwave radiation into the plasma chamber, (c) a gas source filled with a plasma-forming gas and configured to supply the plasma-forming gas to the plasma chamber, (d) a voltage source configured to apply a voltage to the plasma chamber, (e) an einzel triplet lens, (f) an ion focus positioned and configured to focus an ion beam exiting the aperture of the ion source through the einzel triplet lens, and (g) a periodic focusing structure positioned and configured to receive an ion beam exiting the einzel triplet lens.

A particle radiation therapy apparatus 10 includes: a bed 15 for positioning of a patient 12; irradiation ports 16 (16a, 16b) that output a particle beam in a treatment room 11; a horizontal-direction imaging unit 21 composed of a first X-ray source 25 and a first X-ray detector 26 that face each other with the bed 15 interposed therebetween; a vertical-direction imaging unit 22 composed of a second X-ray source 27 and a second X-ray detector 28 that face each other with the bed 15 interposed therebetween; a storage room 18 for housing the first X-ray detector 26 under the floor when the horizontal-direction imaging unit 21 is not used; and a support member 23 that moves the first X-ray detector 26 above the floor and supports it between the bed 15 and the side of the irradiation ports 16 when the horizontal-direction imaging unit 21 is used.

A dose rate-volume histogram can be generated for a target volume. The dose rate-volume histogram can be stored in computer system memory and used to generate a radiation treatment plan. The radiation treatment plan can be used as the basis for treating a patient using a radiation treatment system.

Methods and system for facilitating rapid radiation treatments are provided herein and relate in particular to radiation generation and delivery, beam control, treatment planning, imaging and dose verification. The methods and systems described herein are particularly advantageous when used with a compact high-gradient, very high energy electron (VHEE) accelerator and delivery system (and related processes) capable of treating patients from multiple beam directions with great speed, using all-electromagnetic or radiofrequency deflection steering is provided, that can deliver an entire dose or fraction of high-dose radiation therapy sufficiently fast to freeze physiologic motion, yet with a better degree of dose conformity or sculpting than conventional photon therapy.