Systems for immobilizing a patient are disclosed. The system includes at least one preform formed from a low melting temperature thermoplastic, the preform being configured to be formed to the anatomy of the patient, at least one frame coupled to the at least one preform, and at least one support configured to support the anatomy of the patient. The system also includes at least one lock mechanism coupled to at least one of the frame and the support and configured to couple the at least one frame to the at least one support, and at least one adjuster mechanism coupled to at least one of the at least one frame and the at least one support and configured to selectively adjust a distance between the at least one frame and the at least one support while the at least one frame is coupled to the at least one support.

In one form, a bolus is configured to fit over a target body position and includes an internal relatively rigid endoskeleton structure and a surrounding relatively non-rigid skin interfacing layer. A positioning and locking system may include an indexing plate mountable to a fixture. The indexing plate includes a plurality of multiposition-enabling formations and corresponding reference locations and is configured to engage with at least one locking mechanism. The at least one locking mechanism is movable between and lockable relative to the multiposition-enabling formations. The locking mechanism is also configured to interface between the indexing plate and accessories/devices that require immobilisation, accurate and/or repeatable positioning, e.g. the bolus. In one example, an interconnecting formation is provided for rigidly interconnecting the at least one locking mechanism and the bolus in a recordable position for enabling repeated radiotherapy treatments on the same target body portion of the user in the same position.

A skin patch sensor having a groove therein to receive a sensor without leaving any air pockets is described. The skin patch sensor also has a water or tissue equivalent material and/or, in some embodiments, a moldable water equivalent material.

New techniques for controlling electromagnetic and other forms of radiation are provided. In some aspects of the invention, multiple sources of radiation with characteristics that are projected to constructively interfere at a target are provided. In other aspects, spatially-encoded source signals create a decrypted resulting beam at a planned, target location. In still other aspects, a variable shield which is also a lens is inserted between a radiation target and collateral material.

An optimization method for ion based radiotherapy includes inverse planning based on optimization variables related to the particle energy, a range modulator or ridge filter, a block and/or a range compensator. This enables automatic optimization of complex cases.

The present invention describes a membrane mask for immobilization of a region of interest during radiation therapy. The mask comprises at least one material forming a matrix, and at least one radiation-sensitive material integrated as micro- or nano-sized material elements in or onto the matrix. The radiation-sensitive material advantageously provides the possibility of using the mask for performing dosimetry. Use of the mask and a method for performing dosimetry also are described.

A radiotherapy system including a radiotherapy component, a structural imaging component, a functional imaging component, and a workstation coupled to the radiotherapy component, the structural imaging component, and the functional imaging component. The workstation includes a processor which combines the structural imaging data and the functional imaging data to produce a fused model for a least a portion of the region of interest, to generate a plan for radiotherapy treatment of the region of interest based on the fused model, and apply, via the radiotherapy component, the radiotherapy treatment.

Systems for immobilizing a patient are disclosed. The system includes at least one preform formed from a low melting temperature thermoplastic, the preform being configured to be formed to the anatomy of the patient, at least one frame coupled to the at least one preform, and at least one support configured to support the anatomy of the patient. The system also includes at least one lock mechanism coupled to at least one of the frame and the support and configured to couple the at least one frame to the at least one support, and at least one adjuster mechanism coupled to at least one of the at least one frame and the at least one support and configured to selectively adjust a distance between the at least one frame and the at least one support while the at least one frame is coupled to the at least one support.

A radioactive biodegradable adhesive system can include a first component and a second component. The second component can include a radioactive material. The first component and the second component are configured to polymerize to form a radioactive bolus. A method for treating a patient in need of brachytherapy can include providing the radioactive biodegradable adhesive system. The first component and the second component can be applied to a predetermined location to form the radioactive bolus at the predetermined location.

The invention comprises a system for patient specific control of charged particles in a charged particle beam path using one or more trays inserted into the charged particle beam path, such as at the exit port of a gantry nozzle in close proximity to a tumor of a patient. Each tray holds an insert, such as a patient specific insert for controlling the energy, focus depth, and/or shape of the charged particle beam. Examples of inserts include a range shifter, a compensator, an aperture, a ridge filter, and a blank. Trays in a tray assembly are optionally retracted into an output nozzle of a charged particle cancer treatment system. Optionally and preferably, each tray communicates a held and positioned insert to a main controller of the charged particle cancer therapy system.