The invention comprises a method and apparatus for using a multi-layer multi-color scintillation based detector element to image a tumor of a patient using a process of determining residual energies of positively charged particles after passing through the patient, the process comprising the steps of: (1) transmitting the positively charged particles at known energies through the patient and into a multi-layer detector element; (2) detecting first and second secondary photons, resultant from passage of the positively charged particles, respectively from a first layer of a first scintillation material and a second layer of a second scintillation material at two respective layer depths, where the first wavelength range differs from the second wavelength range; (4) determining residual energies of the positively charged particles, using output from the step of detecting; and (5) relating the residual energies to body densities to generate an image.

A couch top extension includes a first section and a second section extending from the first section. The first section has a varying shape profile and the second section has a substantially uniform shape profile. A couch top extension includes an extension board comprising one or more identifiers capable of providing a detectable signal indicative of an identification of the extension board.

A head immobilization system for immobilizing a patient's head in a supine position of the patient includes a support rail structure adapted to be coupled to a patient rest. The system can further include a mask frame adapted to be coupled to at least one deformable upper mask sheet. The mask frame is releasably connected to the support rail structure via a first interface section and a second interface section, with at least two pins protruding from the first interface section in a first direction, and at least two pin-receptions provided at the second interface section. Each one of the pin-receptions receives one of the pins. A catch-mechanism for each pin-reception and each corresponding pin allows the pin to be pushed further into the pin-reception in the first direction, but interlocks in case of an attempted withdrawal of the pin from the pin-reception in a second, opposite direction.

A system for treating a patient during radiation therapy includes range compensators. Each of the range compensators shapes a distribution of a dose delivered to the patient by a beam emitted from a nozzle of a radiation treatment system. A positioning component holds the range compensator in place relative to the patient such that the range compensator lies on a path of the beam.

Controlling unit for a radiation source includes a mains-driven power supply terminal connectable to a mains-driven power supply, a battery-driven power supply terminal connectable to a battery-driven power supply, a failsafe power supply terminal, a processor unit to control the radiation source, and a patient-in-place sensor unit to provide a respective signal to the processor unit. The failsafe power supply terminal is connected to the mains-driven power supply terminal via a first diode and to the battery-driven power supply terminal via a second diode and he processor unit is connected to the failsafe power supply terminal to receive power from the higher voltage power supply terminal of the mains-driven power supply terminal and the battery-driven power supply terminal, respectively. The processor unit is adapted to shut down the radiation source in case a patient-not-in-place signal is provided.

The invention comprises a segmented rolling floor apparatus and method of use thereof, such as for use in a charged particle cancer therapy system. The segmented rolling floor comprises a first spool and a second spool, attached to opposite ends of the rolling floor, which cooperatively wind and unwind the rolling floor. The segmented rolling floor circumferentially surrounds a nozzle system penetrating through an aperture in the segmented rolling floor, where the nozzle system is used to deliver charged particles, from an accelerator, to a tumor of a patient. The rolling floor and nozzle systems move at respective rates maintaining the nozzle system in the aperture allowing for a safe/walkable floor while allowing treatment of the tumor as a gantry rotates the nozzle system and delivers protons to the tumor from positions above and below the floor.

It is an object of the invention to address the above mentioned issues related to image quality and patient positioning. This object is achieved by a mock-up antenna configured to be used during radiation treatment delivery, wherein the radiation treatment is delivered based on a radiation treatment plan and wherein the radiation treatment plan is at least partly based on a planning magnetic resonance image. The mock-up antenna is substantially transparent to radiation and comprises connection means configured to allow a connection between the mock up antenna and a fixation means, which fixation means is configured to fixate a position of the mock-up antenna during radiation treatment and. The mock-up antenna further comprises an inner surface configured to be positioned towards a patient in a way such that is affects a position and/or orientation of the patient during radiation treatment delivery, wherein the inner surface has a shape substantially similar to a shape of a working magnetic resonance imaging antenna used during an acquisition of the planning magnetic resonance image.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for tuning a charged particle beam path of a charged particle beam system used to treat a tumor of a patient, comprising the steps of: positioning a two-dimensional charged particle detector in a beam line downstream from a magnet pair; operating windings of the magnet pair at a first power level to generate a first magnetic field; measuring a beam position with the first two-dimensional charged particle detector; adjusting a correction magnetic field by driving voltage of a correction coil at a second power level, the second power level less than five percent of the first power level, where the first magnetic field and the correction magnetic field combine to yield an operational magnetic field; and the steps of measuring and adjusting the correction magnetic field changing the operational magnetic field to adjust a measured beam position toward a target beam position.

Disclosed herein is a method for deforming patient images obtained with a couch of one set of physical properties (e.g. curvature) based on the physical properties (e.g. curvature) of a couch where radiation therapy treatment will be performed. Also disclosed herein is a radiotherapy delivery system which includes a non-flat couch top, on-couch planning, and optional deformable image registration. The methods and systems use images from scanners of various couch top shapes for treatment of radiotherapy patients without a need for specialized treatment planning imaging. In such methods and systems, treatment delivery can be performed based on only diagnostic images and setup images acquired at the time of treatment on the treatment machine. The radiotherapy delivery systems can include any combination of volumetric imaging with radiotherapy treatments with photon, proton, electron, and\or other particle radiation.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for imaging a tumor with X-rays while, simultaneously or alternatingly, treating or imaging the tumor with positively charged particles. An X-ray imaging system, such as one or two sets of a cone beam X-ray source coupled to an X-ray detector, is rotatable about a first axis and a patient. The X-ray imaging system is positioned off axis a path of charged particles delivered through an exit port of a nozzle system from a synchrotron and does not block a path of the positively charged particles from the exit nozzle to the patient or an imaging path from the patient to a scintillation detector. Fiducial indicators are used to confirm an unobstructed path of the positively charged particles in a treatment room comprising many movable elements, such as the X-ray imaging system and a patient positioning system/couch.