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.

A system for charged particle therapy verification, comprising a first detector configured for detection of secondary particles emitted from a target irradiated with a charged particle beam, wherein the detector is configured to cause at least two consecutive elastic scatters in the detector for secondary particles of fast neutrons and two consecutive incoherent scatters followed by a third scatter, being one of: photoelectric effect, incoherent scatter or pair production for secondary particles of prompt gamma-ray types.

A system for estimating a dose from a proton therapy plan includes a memory that stores machine instructions and a processor coupled to the memory that executes the machine instructions to subdivide a representation of a volume of interest in a patient anatomy traversed by a planned proton field into a plurality of voxels. User input received by a GUI can be used to define the representation. The processor further executes the machine instructions to determine the distance from the source of the planned proton beam to one of the voxels. The processor also executes the machine instructions to compute the discrete contribution at the voxel to an estimated dose received by the volume of interest from the planned proton beam based on the distance between the source and the volume of interest.

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving treatment information relating to a treatment plan for proton- or ion-beam therapy intended to irradiate a target tissue; receiving machine-limitation information relating to one or more limitations of one or more machines involved in the proton- or ion-beam therapy; determining a time-optimized beam current for a proton or ion beam based on the treatment information and the machine-limitation information, wherein the time-optimized beam current minimizes the time required to deliver a required quantity of monitor units to one of a plurality of spots, wherein each of the plurality of spots is a particular area of the target tissue; and delivering the time-optimized beam current to the particular area.

Described is a computer-implemented method for determining a risk of hematologic toxicity in a subject to be treated with radiotherapy. The method involves processing treatment data including a prescribed dose of radiation for the subject and imaging data displaying radiation- sensitive tissues such as bone marrow and/or lymphoid organs in the subject to determine a received dose of radiation to be delivered to the radiation-sensitive tissues. The method further comprises processing patient data such as blood cell counts and the received dose of radiation to obtain a risk of hematologic toxicity in the subject in response to the radiotherapy. Also provided is a system and computer program product for performing the method.

A radiation therapy apparatus according to an embodiment includes a radiation generator and processing circuitry. The radiation generator is configured to emit radiation having an ultrahigh dose rate. The processing circuitry is configured to measure a dose of the radiation emitted from the radiation generator over a period of time. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate an accumulated dose and a dose rate of the radiation emitted from the radiation generator, on a basis of the dose of the radiation measured over the period of time. The processing circuitry is configured to control the radiation generator, on a basis of the dose of the accumulated dose and the dose rate.

A detector and a method for tracking an arrival time of single particles in an ion beam are disclosed, wherein the single particles are provided as a bunch of ions by a synchrotron. Herein, the detector comprises a detector segment comprising a scintillating material, the scintillating material being designated for generating radiation upon passing of a single particle comprised by the bunch of ions through the scintillating material, wherein the scintillating material comprises a plurality of scintillating fibers, the scintillating fibers being provided as a fiber layer, wherein the fiber layer is located perpendicularly with respect to a direction of the incident ion beam; at least one detector element, the detector element being designated for generating a detector signal from the radiation; and at least one evaluation device, the evaluation device being designated for determining information about the single particles from the detector signals provided by the at least one detector element.

It is an object to provide an imaging method and system. According to an embodiment, an imaging method comprises emitting neutrons into a material, wherein the material converts at least part of the emitted neutrons into a first plurality of gamma ray photons, and wherein at least part of the emitted neutrons pass through the material. Based on the neutrons passed through the material and the gamma ray photons, at least one property of the material can be deduced. An imaging method and an imaging system are provided.

The present invention relates to advanced Cherenkov-based imaging systems, tools, and methods of feedback control, temporal control sequence image capture, and quantification in high resolution dose images. In particular, the present invention provides a system and method for simple, accurate, quick, robust, real-time, water-equivalent characterization of beams from LINACs and other systems producing external-therapy radiation for purposes including optimization, commissioning, routine quality auditing, R&D, and manufacture. The present invention also provides a system and method for rapid and economic characterization of complex radiation treatment plans prior to patient exposure. Further, the present invention also provides a system and method of economically detecting Cherenkov radiation emitted by tissue and other media in real-world clinical settings (e.g., settings illuminated by visible light).

A computer-implemented method evaluates a protocol for radiation therapy for a target volume of a patient. The method uses a computer system executing software instructions establishing computer processes. The computer processes receiving and storing data defining the protocol and characterizing the target volume. The computer processes parse the data to extract parameters characterizing the protocol. The computer processes apply the extracted parameters and the target volume to a model that represents relationships among sub-processes and variables pertinent to execution of the protocol in a patient. The computer processes obtain from the model an evaluation of the protocol and providing the evaluation as an output.