A device for immobilization of a patient body part for radiotherapy applications includes at least one flanged support member and at least one support member fixation means for mounting the at least one flanged support member to a fixation surface at a distance from said fixation surface. The at least one flanged support member is adapted to receive and retain a first and optionally a second frame. The curved extension is adapted to retain the first frame or the first frame and the second frame. The invention also relates to a system, a method and a kit.

A system for treating a patient during radiation therapy is disclosed. The system includes a shell, a plurality of material inserts disposed in the shell, where each material insert of the plurality of material inserts respectively shapes a distribution of a dose delivered to the patient by a respective beam of a plurality of beams emitted from a nozzle of a radiation treatment system, and a scaffold component disposed in the shell that holds the plurality material inserts in place relative to the patient such that each material insert lies on a path of at least one of the beams.

An accessory device and an immobilization system including the device are provided for positioning at least a portion of a patient's body relative to an immobilization device including a low temperature thermoplastic sheet. The accessory device may include a patient fixation portion and a lock portion. The patient fixation portion is attached to or inserted in the patient during use. The lock portion may extend distally from the patient fixation portion generally along a lock portion axis. The lock portion includes a shape, surface feature, or configuration, such that the low temperature thermoplastic sheet may be conformed to the outer surface of the lock portion of the accessory device, such that unintended separation of the accessory device from the low temperature thermoplastic sheet is prevented. Methods of forming the accessory device and immobilization system are also provided.

An animal irradiation system includes a radioactive source and an irradiation fixing apparatus having irradiated bodies. The radioactive source includes a beam outlet having a first central axis. Radioactive rays generated by the radioactive source exit from the beam outlet and irradiate the irradiated bodies. The radioactive rays define a main axis around the first central axis. The irradiation fixing apparatus includes a box body, which is divided into multiple accommodating chambers around a second central axis. Each accommodating chamber accommodates an irradiated body. Multiple first irradiation holes corresponding to the accommodating chambers are formed on the box body. The radioactive rays pass through the first irradiation holes and then irradiate the irradiated bodies. A maximum distance from an inner wall of each first irradiation hole to the first central axis is less than a minimum distance from an inner wall of the beam outlet to the first central axis.

Disclosed herein is a medical system (400) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (402) configured for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data (444, 444′) from a subject (418) within an imaging zone (408). The medical system further comprises a subject support (100) configured for supporting at least a portion of the subject within the imaging zone, wherein the subject support comprises a radiotherapy couch top (102) 5 configured for receiving the subject. The radiotherapy couch top comprises a flat surface (104) configured for supporting the subject. The radiotherapy couch top further comprises a head support region (110) configured for receiving a head of the subject, wherein the head region comprises a depression (108). The head region is configured for receiving a flat head support plate (112). The medical system further comprises a flat head support plate. The flat head support plate is configured to form part of the flat surface (104′) when installed in the head region.

A fixation support device may be used for breast brachytherapy treatment methods with or without image guidance. The fixation device may also be used for other treatments in which it is desirable to be able to fixate a treatment modality relative to a patient.

Methods of immobilizing the head of a patient include heating a thermoplastic mask preform to a formable temperature, forming the thermoplastic mask over at least a mouth of the patient, and pushing a mouth receiving end of a bite piece into a portion of the thermoplastic mask preform that is positioned over the mouth of the patient, which moves the portion of the thermoplastic mask preform into the mouth of the patient. The methods also include allowing the thermoplastic mask preform to cool from the formable temperature, causing the portion of the thermoplastic mask moved into the mouth of the patient to harden.

A system and method are disclosed for a patient positioning device for beam radiation therapy and radiological imaging. The system includes a base and a patient support surface coupled to the base, and the patient support surface includes a lower patient support hingedly coupled to the base and an upper support hingedly coupled to the lower patient support. The system also includes a substantially flat hinge that forms a continuous upper surface with an upper support surface of the lower patient support and the lower patient support.

Disclosed is a rectum expanding balloon catheter. The rectum expanding balloon catheter includes a catheter body having a rectum insertion part inserted into a rectum and a gripping part extending from the rectum insertion part in a lengthwise direction thereof and that is used to insert the rectum insertion part into the rectum, and in which a fluid flow passage, along which a fluid flows, is formed in an interior thereof, a balloon that expands and contracts an area on an outside of the rectum insertion part and that locates the rectum insertion part in the rectum, and a stopper provided in the catheter body, and that restricts a length, by which the catheter body is inserted into the rectum, while being adhered to a periphery of an anal passage.

A three-dimensional model for a patient fixation device that serves to immobilize at least a portion of a particular patient when capturing CT image information of that patient is accessed and then registered with the pixels that correspond to the patient fixation device in the CT image. The model can specify rules of movement for each of a plurality of structural elements that comprise the patient fixation device and that are capable of movement relative to one another. By one approach the aforementioned registration occurs on a part-by-part basis for each of the structural elements. Following registration, the CT image can be automatically segmented.