Disclosed herein are systems and methods for monitoring calibration of positron emission tomography (PET) systems. In some variations, the systems include an imaging assembly having a gantry comprising a plurality of positron emission detectors. A housing may be coupled to the gantry, and the housing may include a bore and a radiation source holder spaced away from a patient scan region within the bore. A processor may be configured to receive positron emission data from the positron emission detectors and to distinguish the positron emission data from the radiation source holder and from the patient scan region. A fault signal may be generated when the positron emission data from the radiation source holder exceeds one or more threshold parameters or criteria.

Systems and methods provide radiotherapy treatment by focusing an electron beam on an x-ray target (e.g., a tungsten plate) to produce a high-yield x-ray output with improved field shaping. A modified electron beam spatial distribution is employed to scan the x-ray target, such as a 2D periodic beam path, which advantageously lowers the x-ray target temperature compared to the typical compact beam spatial distribution. As a result, the x-ray target can produce a high yield output without sacrificing the x-ray target life span. The use of a 2D periodic beam path allows a much colder x-ray target functioning regime such that more dosage can be applied in a short period of time compared to existing techniques.

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.

Embodiments of systems, devices, and methods relating to a beam system. An example beam system includes a charged particle source configured to generate a beam of charged particles, a pre-accelerator system configured to accelerate the beam, and an accelerator configured to accelerate the beam from the pre-accelerator system. The pre-accelerator system can cause the beam to converge as it is propagated from the source to an input aperture of the accelerator. The pre-accelerator system can further reduce or eliminate source disturbance or damage caused by backflow traveling from the accelerator toward the source.

A focusing device for X-ray and Gamma-ray use in radiotherapy, the device comprising a radiopaque frustoconical shaped member having a first end and a second end, wherein the member comprises an array of radiolucent beam paths extending from the first end to the second end, wherein each of the beam paths has an entrance aperture at the first end, and an exit aperture at the second end; the entrance aperture through which source rays pass into the beam path, wherein the beam path emits a beam from the exit aperture when the source beams are in line with the longitudinal axis of the beam path or having a predetermined angle of deviation from the longitudinal axis of the beam paths; and wherein each of the longitudinal axis of the beam paths is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the member for convergence towards a focal point or multiple points.

The present invention relates to a beam shaping device for a boron neutron capture therapy apparatus and the boron neutron capture therapy apparatus comprising same allowing a user to select the number of filter modules in advance before neutron generation and arrange same. According to the present invention, it is possible to improve a therapeutic effect and minimize side effects during boron neutron capture therapy.

An energy degrading device for attenuating energy of a particle beam with reduced emittance growth. An energy degrader comprises an emittance control material that can preferentially scatter the beam particles that is incident on a surface with a shallow angle. In one approach, the energy degrader may include alternating layers of a low-Z and a high-Z material, wherein the low Z material serves to attenuate energy of the beam particles by virtue of scattering and the high Z material serves to suppress the emittance increase by scattering back the beam particles toward the beam axis. In another approach, the energy degrader may be composed of carbon nanotubes or a material with oriented crystalline structure that is substantially orientated in the incident direction of the particle beam. The carbon nanotubes may serve to preferentially scatter beam particles towards the central beam axis as well as attenuate energy thereof.

An example particle therapy system includes a particle accelerator to output a particle beam having a spot size; a scanning system for the particle accelerator to scan the particle beam in two dimensions across at least part of a treatment area of an irradiation target; and an adaptive aperture between the scanning system and the irradiation target. The adaptive aperture includes structures that are movable relative to the irradiation target to approximate a shape to trim part of the treatment area. The part of the treatment area has a size that is based on an area of the spot size.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for using a single robotic positioning arm to simultaneously move, relative to a proton beam path entering a treatment room containing the patient, both: (1) a patient support and (2) an imaging system. The robotic arm moving the imaging system and patient independently from movement of a nozzle system directing protons into the treatment rooms allows: simultaneously translating past the patient and rotating around the patient an X-ray source of the imaging system; translating a rotatable unit, of the imaging system, longitudinally past the patient on a translation guide rail; moving the patient support and the imaging system through at least four degrees of freedom relative to a movable proton beam; and/or simultaneous or alternating movement of the proton treatment beam and the imaging system relative to the patient.

Embodiments of the present invention disclose methods and systems for producing an adaptive pencil beam having an adjustable lateral beam size and Bragg-peak width. According to one disclosed embodiment, an apparatus for producing an adaptive pencil beam is disclosed. The apparatus includes a set of momentum band expanders configured to widen a momentum spread of a pencil beam, where a momentum band expander is selected from the set of momentum band expanders to receive the pencil beam, and a slit at dispersive focus of two dipole magnets to adjust a width of a Bragg-peak of the pencil beam. According to another disclosed embodiment, a method for producing an adaptive pencil beam with an adjustable lateral beam is disclosed. The method includes selecting a scatter foil, or setting of a defocusing/focusing magnet, and adjusting a lateral size of the pencil beam.