A method of radiation therapy comprises, while a gantry of a radiation therapy system rotates continuously in a first direction through a treatment arc from a first treatment delivery position to a second treatment delivery position, causing an imaging X-ray source mounted on the gantry to direct X-rays through a target volume and receiving a set of X-ray projection images from an X-ray imager mounted on the gantry; determining a current location of the target volume based on the set of X-ray projection images; and while the gantry to continues to rotate to the second treatment delivery position, initiating delivery of a treatment beam of a treatment-delivering X-ray source mounted on the gantry to the target volume, and continuing to cause the gantry to rotate in the first direction from the second treatment delivery position to a third treatment delivery position.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor of a patient with positively charged particles, comprising the steps of transporting the positively charged particles along a beam transport path passing sequentially from an accelerator, through a beam transport line, through a nozzle, and toward a position of the patient, the step of transporting further comprising the steps of: (1) terminating a first Bragg peak, of a first set of the positively charged particles, in a position of the tumor and (2) flash treating the tumor with a second Bragg peak, of a second set of the positively charged particles, the second Bragg peak terminating post-patient relative to the nozzle. Optionally the second set of particles are delivered at a rate exceeding one MHz. Optionally, particles in common are used to both treat the tumor and image the tumor.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for aligning a charged particle beam path for treating a tumor of a patient, comprising: a cancer therapy system comprising the charged particle beam path sequentially passing: from an injector, through a synchrotron, along a beam transport line, and through a nozzle; a first two-dimensional detector configured to measure a beam state of positively charged particles; and an integrated intelligent system configured to classify the beam state into a set of beam shape factors, the integrated intelligent system configured to correct the beam shape through application of a condition-action rule: (1) adjusting a first voltage delivered to a first magnet positioned in the beam line prior to the first two-dimensional detector and (2) altering the beam shape through application of a second voltage to a second magnet position in the beam line adjacent to the first magnet.

A particle beam therapy apparatus has a position and posture setter that moves a movable body, that is at least one of the irradiation nozzle and the treatment table. A movement path of the movable body is determined when adapting the positional posture of the movable body from one condition among a plurality of prescribed conditions to another condition. An evaluation value is obtained for adapting the positional posture of the movable body to each of a plurality of prescribed conditions. This evaluation value is for a case of moving the movable body according to the movement path. A setting order is determined for adapting the positional posture of the movable body to each prescribed condition based on the evaluation value; and the positional posture of the movable body is adapted to each of the plurality of prescribed conditions by moving the movable body according to the determined movement path.

A method is provided of producing an optical filter. The method comprises depositing a first mirror layer onto a substrate; depositing an insulating layer on the first mirror; exposing at least some of a plurality of portions of a surface of the insulating layer to a dose of energy; developing the insulating layer in order to remove a volume from the at least some of the plurality of portions of the insulating layer, wherein the volume of the insulating layer removed from each portion. is related to the dose of energy exposed to each portion, and wherein a remaining thickness after the removal of the volume from each portion of the insulating layer is related to the dose of energy exposed to each portion. The method further comprising depositing a second mirror layer on the remaining thickness of each of the plurality of portions of the insulating layer.

An imaging apparatus and associated methods are provided to efficiently estimate scatter during multi-fraction treatments for improved quality and workflow. Estimated scatter from one fraction during a treatment course can be utilized during subsequent fractions, allowing for measurements with higher scatter-to-primary ratios. The quality of scatter estimates can be maintained, while workflow improves and dosage decreases. Scan configuration limits can be utilized to maintain a minimum level of scatter measurement quality. Patient information can be monitored to ensure that prior fraction scatter estimates are still applicable to current patient status.

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.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor of a patient with positively charged particles, comprising the steps of: (1) transporting the positively charged particles sequentially from an accelerator, through a beam transport line, through a nozzle, and toward a position of the tumor; (2) treating the tumor with first particles, of the positively charged particles, where at least fifty percent of the first particles pass through a patient position, from the nozzle, to a post-patient position; and (3) detecting a beam position of the first particles in the post-patient position with a detector. The flash treatment preferably delivers the first particles at a rate exceeding one MHz.

A method is described including online selecting of at least one of a plurality of optimal imaging times or a plurality of imaging angles and optimizing a parameter of an imaging system based on the online selecting.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for real-time monitoring of patient position and/or location during a radiation treatment session. Images acquired of a patient during a treatment session can be used to calculate the patient's position and/or location with respect to the components of the radiation therapy system. One variation of a radiation therapy system includes a circular gantry with a rotatable ring coupled to a stationary frame, a therapeutic radiation source mounted on the rotatable ring, and a patient-monitoring imaging system mounted on the rotatable ring. The patient-monitoring system may have one or more image sensors or cameras disposed on the rotatable ring within a bore region of the radiation therapy system, and may be configured to acquire image data as the ring rotates.