A system and method of delivering a radiation therapy treatment plan to a patient. The treatment plan is delivered using a radiation therapy system including a moveable support for supporting a patient, a gantry moveable relative to the support and supporting a radiation source and multi-leaf collimator for modulating the radiation source. The support and gantry are moved during delivery of the treatment plan.

The invention provides a patient shuttle system and an irradiation system for particle therapy. A patient shuttle system of one embodiment of the invention includes: a patient table (110) adapted to carry a patient; a patient table drive unit (120) that moves and/or rotates the patient table; and a transfer unit (130) having a base (131) on which the patient table drive unit is placed. In a home position state of the patient shuttle system (100), the patient table and first and second arms of the patient table drive unit are configured to be folded in the height direction (Z-axis). A robot arm base connected to the second arm is fixed at a position off the center of the base in plan view, and thereby a helper space (135) where a helper may ride is secured on the base. The robot arm base is fixed in a recess (138) provided in the base.

A radiation system includes a first ring, a radiation source capable of providing radiation suitable for treating a patient, the radiation source secured to the first ring, a second ring located behind the first ring, and an imager secured to the second ring. A radiation system includes a first device having a radiation source capable of generating a radiation beam suitable for treating a patient, and a second device having imaging capability, wherein the first device is oriented at an angle that is less than 180° relative to the second device. A radiation system includes a structure having a first opening, a radiation source rotatably coupled to the structure, an imaging device rotatable relative to the structure, and a processor for controlling a rotation of the radiation source and a rotation of the imaging device, wherein the radiation source is rotatable relative to the imaging device.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for directing protons to a tumor, comprising the steps of: (1) holding a patient with a patient support; (2) providing an imaging system comprising: a rotatable unit at least partially surrounding an axial perimeter of the patient support, a translation guide rail, an imaging source attached to the rotatable unit, and an imaging detector attached to the rotatable unit; (3) translating and rotating the imaging source and the imaging detector relative to the patient support using the translation guide rail and the rotatable unit; and (4) providing an attachment section connected: on a first end to a robotic arm positioning system and on a second end to the patient support and the imaging system, the robotic arm positioning system repositioning, relative to a nozzle system linked to the synchrotron, the attachment system supporting the patient support system and the imaging system.

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.

An example particle therapy system includes a particle beam output device to direct output of a particle beam; a treatment couch to support a patient containing an irradiation target, with the treatment couch being configured for movement; a movable device on which the particle beam output device is mounted for movement relative to the treatment couch; and a control system to provide automated control of at least one of the movable device or the treatment couch to position at least one of the particle beam or the irradiation target for treatment of the irradiation target with the particle beam and, following the treatment of the irradiation target with the particle beam, to provide automated control of at least one of the movable device or the treatment couch to reposition at least one of the particle beam or the irradiation target for additional treatment of the irradiation target with the particle beam.

A system proton treatment system including a proton accelerator structured to generate a proton beam, a plurality of beamline pathways configured to direct the proton beam from the proton accelerator to a corresponding plurality of treatment rooms, a rotatable bending magnet located between the proton accelerator and the plurality of treatment rooms, the rotatable bending magnet being structured to selectively rotate between multiple treatment rooms, and an upright patient positioning mechanism disposed in each of the treatment rooms, the upright patient positioning mechanism being structured to support a patient within a particular treatment room and to rotate the patient between a fixed imaging source and imaging panel.

A radiotherapy system includes X-ray imaging apparatuses that obtain an X- ray image of the patient on a reference plane, and a position determination apparatus. The position determination apparatus calculates parameters of a region estimation model, using, as input data, a reference fluoroscopic image obtained before radiotherapy, and also using, as teacher data, a reference ROI image obtained with respect to the reference fluoroscopic image before radiotherapy. During radiotherapy, the position determination apparatus estimates a region of interest with respect to the X-ray image and a DRR image, based on the parameters and the X-ray image, determines a degree of matching between the X-ray image and the DRR image for the region of interest while virtually changing a relative position/orientation relationship between a CT image and the reference plane, and determines an amount of deviation in position/orientation between the patient and the CT image.

A virtual beam's-eye view of a planning target volume is generated based on volumetric image data acquired immediately prior to radiation therapy by a radiation therapy system. The virtual beam's-eye view can then be displayed to confirm that, with the patient disposed in the current position, the planned beam-delivered treatment extends beyond the surface of the skin. In some embodiments, the virtual beam's-eye view can be displayed in conjunction with a beam's-eye view that is generated based on volumetric image data acquired during treatment planning, to create a blended beam's-eye view. In some embodiments, a field outline of a treatment beam can be superimposed on the blended beam's-eye view, thereby illustrating whether the planned beam-delivered treatment extends beyond the surface of the skin of the patient. The blended beam's-eye view can facilitate a manual confirmation process that verifies the planned beam-delivered treatment extends beyond the surface of the skin.

Radiation treatment planning includes accessing values of parameters such as a number of beams to be directed into sub-volumes in a target, beam directions, and beam energies. Information that specifies limits for the radiation treatment plan are accessed. The limits include a limit on irradiation time for each sub-volume outside the target. Other limits can include a limit on irradiation time for each sub-volume in the target, a limit on dose rate for each sub volume in the target, and a limit on dose rate for each sub-volume outside the target. The values of the parameters are adjusted until the irradiation time for each sub-volume outside the target satisfies the maximum limit on irradiation time.