A method of obtaining, from a target compound, a radioisotope of a target element comprised in the target compound includes irradiating the target compound with high energy photon irradiation (gamma irradiation). Thereby the target element radioisotope is formed. The method is performed such that the target element radioisotope is of different oxidation state than the target element, and is comprised in a target element radioisotope compound that is separable from the target compound by a physical and/or chemical separation method.

A dose rate-volume histogram is 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. An irradiation time-volume histogram can also be generated for the target volume. The irradiation time-volume histogram can be stored in computer system memory and used to generate the radiation treatment plan.

Typically, electron beam radiation therapy aims at delivering a uniform dose to a target volume containing cancer cells. Electron sources typically impinge a spatially uniform flux across the beam onto the patient; however, irregular patient and bolus surfaces, the latter encountered in bolus electron conformal therapy (ECT), scatter electrons unevenly creating non-homogeneous dose distributions in the target. However, spatially-modulated beam intensities can restore target dose homogeneity, as well as enable utilization of other advanced ECT methods. Unfortunately, present methods, which have attempted to spatially-modulate beam intensities, have been either impractical or ineffective. Here, a novel, passive method has been developed to spatially-modulate electron beam intensities by taking advantage of multiple Coulomb scattering. The method utilizes Island Blocks or Island Apertures, strategically located in transparent or opaque substrates, respectively, which are placed in the beam's path. This method spatially-modulates electron flux across the beam with insignificant loss of electron beam energy. Thus, delivering a uniform, highly conformal dose distribution to the target volume is possible. Further, the method is inexpensive and can be easily incorporated into existing electron therapy machines.

In order to achieve improved dose control, a device for irradiating an object having an optically observable property is provided. The device includes an applicator for irradiating the object, and a detector system that is configured to capture light being emitted from an irradiated region and, based thereon, to generate a detector signal. A processor unit is configured to calculate a value for the property based thereon and, based on the calculated value, to determine a dose for the irradiation.

Systems and methods for determining beam asymmetry in a radiation treatment system using electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) without implementation of elaborate and complex EPID calibration procedures. The beam asymmetry is determined based on radiation scattered from different points in the radiation beam and measured with the same region of interest ROI of the EPID.

A method for focusing an X-ray method is provided and the method includes: emitting an electron beam by an electron beam generator; shooting the electron beam onto a target to generate an X-ray beam; and causing the X-ray beam to pass through each collimating channel of a same collimating channel group of a collimator to focus on a focus of the collimating channel group. The collimator includes at least one collimating channel group. Each collimating channel group includes at least two collimating channels. The same collimating channel group has one focus or a plurality of focuses.

A system and method for imaging or treating a disease in a human or animal body. The system provides to the human or animal body a pharmaceutical carrier including one or more phosphors which are capable of emitting ultraviolet or visible light into the body and which provide x-ray contrast. The system includes one or more devices which infuse a diseased site with a photoactivatable drug and the pharmaceutical carrier, an initiation energy source comprising an x-ray or high energy source which irradiates the diseased site with at least one of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to thereby initiate emission of said ultraviolet or visible light into the body, and a processor programmed to at least one of 1) produce images of the diseased site or 2) control a dose of said x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to the diseased site for production of said ultraviolet or visible light at the diseased site to activate the photoactivatable drug.

A balloon applicator for an intraoperative radiation therapy system includes an x-ray beam shaping component for emitting x-rays in a plurality of possible directions in three dimensions. The balloon applicator includes connecting structure for connecting to the intraoperative radiation therapy system and an inflatable balloon contactor having an outer surface. The balloon applicator has a beam hardening system including a beam hardening compound disposed between the x-ray beam shaping component and the outer surface of the balloon. The beam hardening system is capable of hardening the beam in beam directions in three dimensions. An intraoperative radiation therapy system and a method for conducting intraoperative radiation therapy are also disclosed.

Described herein is a medical linear accelerator including an accelerator target structure constructed of a material having a thickness of less than 0.2 radiation lengths, and an accelerator structure to receive an electromagnetic wave and generate an output therapy dose rate of electrons having a beam energy between 4-25 mega-electronvolts (MeV).

In one aspect, radioactive nanoparticles are described herein. In some embodiments, a radioactive nanoparticle described herein comprises a metal nanoparticle core, an outer metal shell disposed over the metal nanoparticle core, and a metallic radioisotope disposed within the metal nanoparticle core or within the outer metal shell. In some cases, the radioactive nanoparticle has a size of about 30-500 nm in three dimensions. In addition, in some embodiments, the radioactive nanoparticle further comprises an inner metal shell disposed between the metal nanoparticle core and the outer metal shell. The metal nanoparticle core, outer metal shell, and inner metal shell of the radioactive nanoparticle can have various metallic compositions.