6231results about "Radiation/particle handling" patented technology

A virtual control system for an operating room establishes virtual control devices to control surgical equipment and patient monitoring equipment and to display control, status and functionality information concerning the surgical equipment and condition information of the patient. The virtual control devices permit direct interaction by the surgeon while maintaining a sterile field, and avoid the use of actual physical devices and electrical cables connecting them to the surgical equipment.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating the surface with neutral particle beams comprising an antenna container, a plasma generating part, a neutral particle beam generating part and a treating part, wherein the antenna container comprises antennas connected to high frequency electric power supply through which high frequency electric power supplies, the plasma generating part transfers gases from a gas injector into plasmas with the supplied power, the neutral particle beam generating part reverts the obtained plasmas to neutral particle beams via the collision thereof with metal plates, and the treating part treats the surface of a target with the neutral particle beams.

A method and system for physiological gating is disclosed. A method and system for detecting and predictably estimating regular cycles of physiological activity or movements is disclosed. Another disclosed aspect of the invention is directed to predictive actuation of gating system components. Yet another disclosed aspect of the invention is directed to physiological gating of radiation treatment based upon the phase of the physiological activity. Gating can be performed, either prospectively or retrospectively, to any type of procedure, including radiation therapy or imaging, or other types of medical devices and procedures such as PET, MRI, SPECT, and CT scans.

An imaging apparatus and related method comprising a source that projects a beam of radiation in a first trajectory; a detector located a distance from the source and positioned to receive the beam of radiation in the first trajectory; an imaging area between the source and the detector, the radiation beam from the source passing through a portion of the imaging area before it is received at the detector; a detector positioner that translates the detector to a second position in a first direction that is substantially normal to the first trajectory; and a beam positioner that alters the trajectory of the radiation beam to direct the beam onto the detector located at the second position. The radiation source can be an x-ray cone-beam source, and the detector can be a two-dimensional flat-panel detector array. The invention can be used to image objects larger than the field-of-view of the detector by translating the detector array to multiple positions, and obtaining images at each position, resulting in an effectively large field-of-view using only a single detector array having a relatively small size. A beam positioner permits the trajectory of the beam to follow the path of the translating detector, which permits safer and more efficient dose utilization, as generally only the region of the target object that is within the field-of-view of the detector at any given time will be exposed to potentially harmful radiation.

A radiation therapy system that includes a radiation source that moves about a path and directs a beam of radiation towards an object and a cone-beam computer tomography system. The cone-beam computer tomography system includes an x-ray source that emits an x-ray beam in a cone-beam form towards an object to be imaged and an amorphous silicon flat-panel imager receiving x-rays after they pass through the object, the imager providing an image of the object. A computer is connected to the radiation source and the cone beam computerized tomography system, wherein the computer receives the image of the object and based on the image sends a signal to the radiation source that controls the path of the radiation source.

A system for surgical imaging and display of tissue structures of a patient, including a display and an image processor for displaying such images in coordination with a tool image to facilitate manipulation of the tool during the surgical procedure. The system is configured for use with a fluoroscope such that at least one image in the display is derived from the fluoroscope at the time of surgery. A fixture is affixed to an imaging side of the fluoroscope for providing patterns of an of array markers that are imaged in each fluoroscope image. A tracking assembly having a plurality of tracking elements is operative to determine positions of said fixture and the patient. One of the tracking elements is secured against motion with respect to the fixture so that determining a position of the tracking element determines a position of all the markers in a single measurement.

An X-ray tomosynthesis system as an X-ray diagnostic system is provided. The system comprises an X-ray generator irradiating an X-ray toward a subject, and a planar-type X-ray detector detecting the X-ray passing through the subject and outputting two dimensional imaging signals based on the detected X-ray. The system comprises a supporting / moving mechanism supporting at least one of the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector so that the at least one is moved relatively to the subject. The system also comprises an element setting a ROI position of the subject, an element for obtaining a plurality of three dimensional coordinates of pixels included in the ROI, a calculating element obtaining two dimensional coordinates of data in the two dimensional imaging signals for each of the two dimensional imaging signals detected by the X-ray detector, the data being necessary for obtaining pixel values of the three dimensional coordinates; and an element for obtaining the pixel value of each of the three dimensional coordinates by extracting the corresponding data of the two dimensional coordinates from the detected two dimensional imaging signals and adding the extracting data.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to an ultraviolet (UV) cure chamber for curing a dielectric material disposed on a substrate and to methods of curing dielectric materials using UV radiation. A substrate processing tool according to one embodiment comprises a body defining a substrate processing region; a substrate support adapted to support a substrate within the substrate processing region; an ultraviolet radiation lamp spaced apart from the substrate support, the lamp configured to transmit ultraviolet radiation to a substrate positioned on the substrate support; and a motor operatively coupled to rotate at least one of the ultraviolet radiation lamp or substrate support at least 180 degrees relative to each other. The substrate processing tool may further comprise one or more reflectors adapted to generate a flood pattern of ultraviolet radiation over the substrate that has complementary high and low intensity areas which combine to generate a substantially uniform irradiance pattern if rotated. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

An x-ray scanning imaging apparatus with a generally O-shaped gantry ring, which has a segment that fully or partially detaches (or “breaks”) from the ring to provide an opening through which the object to be imaged may enter interior of the ring in a radial direction. The segment can then be re-attached to enclose the object within the gantry. Once closed, the circular gantry housing remains orbitally fixed and carries an x-ray image-scanning device that can be rotated inside the gantry 360 degrees around the patient either continuously or in a step-wise fashion. The x-ray device is particularly useful for two-dimensional and / or three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) imaging applications.

A radiation machine incorporating a diagnostic imaging system is disclosed. The invention provides a very stable design of the machine by supporting an inner gantry part, including a treatment and diagnostic radiation source and detector, by an outer gantry part at two support locations situated at opposite sides of a treatment volume in a patient to be irradiated. This stable gantry design provides a high rotation speed of the inner gantry part relative the outer gantry part around the target volume, which speed is adapted for the high resolution imaging system. Based on the obtained images, changes and developments in tumor tissue and misplacement of patient may be detected. The images may be compared to a reference image to detect any anatomical or spatial difference therebetween. Based on this comparison the settings of the radiation machine may be adapted accordingly.

A body scanning system includes a CT transmitter and a PET configured to radiate along a significant portion of the body and a plurality of sensors (202, 204) configured to detect photons along the same portion of the body. In order to facilitate the efficient collection of photons and to process the data on a real time basis, the body scanning system includes a new data processing pipeline that includes a sequentially implemented parallel processor (212) that is operable to create images in real time not withstanding the significant amounts of data generated by the CT and PET radiating devices.

The invention concerns a method for treating a target volume with a particle beam, in particular a proton beam, which consists in generating said particle beam using an accelerator and in producing from said beam a narrow spot directed towards the target volume, characterized in that said spot sweeping speed and the particle beam intensity are simultaneously varied.

In a system, method and workstation, images of a first subject are acquired with an image signal acquisition unit, the position of the image signal acquisition unit is determined, the position of a second subject is determined and the position of the second subject relative to the image signal acquisition unit is also determined and an image of the second subject is mixed into an image of the first subject acquired with the image signal acquisition unit.

A method for surgical imaging and display including (i.) positioning a defined set of markers disposed in a pattern so as to be imaged in each pose or view of an imaging assembly, the set of markers being fixed in pre-determined positions in a rigid carrier, (ii.) securing a first tracking element against motion with respect to the rigid carrier so that determining a position of the first tracking element in a single measurement determines positions of all the markers of the set, and (iii.) identifying images of at least a subset of the markers in a first view.

Nanostructured photonic materials, and associated components for use in devices and systems operating at ultraviolet (UV), extreme ultraviolet (EUV), and / or soft Xray wavelengths are described. Such a material may be fabricated with nanoscale features tailored for a selected wavelength range, such as at particular UV, EUV, or soft Xray wavelengths or wavelength ranges. Such a material may be used to make components such as mirrors, lenses or other optics, panels, lightsources, masks, photoresists, or other components for use in applications such as lithography, wafer patterning, astronomical and space applications, biomedical applications, biotech or other applications.

A radiation therapy system that includes a radiation source that moves about a path and directs a beam of radiation towards an object and a cone-beam computer tomography system. The cone-beam computer tomography system includes an x-ray source that emits an x-ray beam in a cone-beam form towards an object to be imaged and an amorphous silicon flat-panel imager receiving x-rays after they pass through the object, the imager providing an image of the object. A computer is connected to the radiation source and the cone beam computerized tomography system, wherein the computer receives the image of the object and based on the image sends a signal to the radiation source that controls the path of the radiation source.

A therapy system using an ion beam, which can shorten the time required for positioning a couch (patient). The therapy system using the ion beam comprises a rotating gantry provided with an ion beam delivery unit including an X-ray tube. An X-ray detecting device having a plurality of X-ray detectors can be moved in the direction of a rotation axis of the rotating gantry. A couch on which a patient is lying is moved until a tumor substantially reaches an extension of an ion beam path in the irradiating unit. The X-ray tube is positioned on the ion beam path and the X-ray detecting device is positioned on the extension of the ion beam path. With rotation of the rotating gantry, both the X-ray tube emitting an X-ray and the X-ray detecting device revolve around the patient. The X-ray is emitted to the patient and detected by the X-ray detectors after penetrating the patient. Tomographic information of the patient is formed based on signals outputted from the X-ray detectors. Information for positioning the couch is generated by using the tomographic information.

A system and method of obtaining serial biochemical, anatomical or physiological in vivo measurements of disease from one or more medical images of a patient before, during and after treatment, and measuring extent and severity of the disease is provided. First anatomical and functional image data sets are acquired, and form a first co-registered composite image data set. At least a volume of interest (ROI) within the first co-registered composite image data set is identified. The first co-registered composite image data set including the ROI is qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed to determine extent and severity of the disease. Second anatomical and functional image data sets are acquired, and form a second co-registered composite image data set. A global, rigid registration is performed on the first and second anatomical image data sets, such that the first and second functional image data sets are also globally registered. At least a ROI within the globally registered image data set using the identified ROI within the first co-registered composite image data set is identified. A local, non-rigid registration is performed on the ROI within the first co-registered composite image data set and the ROI within the globally registered image data set, thereby producing a first co-registered serial image data set. The first co-registered serial image data set including the ROIs is qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed to determine severity of the disease and / or response to treatment of the patient.

An apparatus and method for reconstructing image data for a region are described. A radiation source and multiple one-dimensional linear or two-dimensional planar area detector arrays located on opposed sides of a region angled generally along a circle centered at the radiation source are used to generate scan data for the region from a plurality of diverging radiation beams, i.e., a fan beam or cone beam. Individual pixels on the discreet detector arrays from the scan data for the region are reprojected onto a new single virtual detector array along a continuous equiangular arc or cylinder or equilinear line or plane prior to filtering and backprojecting to reconstruct the image data.

A method is disclosed for analyzing surgical techniques using a computer system for gathering and analyzing surgical data acquired during a surgical procedure on a body portion and comparing that data to pre-selected target values for the particular surgical procedure. The inventive method allows the surgeon, for example, to measure the technical success of a surgical procedure in terms of quantifiable geometric, spatial, kinematic or kinetic parameters. The method comprises calculation of these parameters from data collected during a surgical procedure and then comparing these results with values of the same parameters derived from target values defined by the surgeon, surgical convention, or computer simulation of the same procedure prior to the operation itself.

The present invention provides an increased degree of uniformity of radiation dose distribution for the interior of a diseased part. A particle beam therapy system includes a charged particle beam generation apparatus and an irradiation apparatus. An ion beam is generated by the charged particle beam generation apparatus. The irradiation apparatus exposes a diseased part to the generated ion beam. A scattering device, a range adjustment device, and a Bragg peak spreading device are installed upstream of a first scanning magnet and a second scanning magnet. The scattering device and the range adjustment device are combined together and moved along a beam axis, whereas the Bragg peak spreading device is moved independently along the beam axis. The scattering device moves to adjust the degree of ion beam scattering. The range adjustment device moves to adjust ion beam scatter changes caused by an absorber thickness adjustment. The Bragg peak spreading device moves to adjust ion beam scatter changes arising out of an SOBP device. These adjustments provide uniformity of radiation dose distribution for the diseased part.

The invention is intended to always ensure a sufficient level of patient positioning accuracy regardless of the skills of individual operators. In a patient positioning device for positioning a patient couch 59 and irradiating an ion beam toward a tumor in the body of a patient 8 from a particle beam irradiation section 4, the patient positioning device comprises an X-ray emission device 26 for emitting an X-ray along a beam line m from the particle beam irradiation section 4, an X-ray image capturing device 29 for receiving the X-ray and processing an X-ray image, a display unit 39B for displaying a current image of the tumor in accordance with a processed image signal, a display unit 39A for displaying a reference X-ray image of the tumor which is prepared in advance, and a positioning data generator 37 for executing pattern matching between a comparison area A being a part of the reference X-ray image and including an isocenter and a comparison area B or a final comparison area B in the current image, thereby producing data used for positioning of the patient couch 59 during irradiation.

One embodiment of the present invention is a method for suppressing artifacts in frequency-domain OCT images, which method includes (a) providing sample and reference paths with a significant difference in their chromatic dispersion (b) correcting for the effects of the mismatch in chromatic dispersion, for the purpose of making artifacts in the OCT image readily distinguishable from the desired image.

Substrate processing systems are described that have a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) unit positioned inside a process chamber. The CCP unit may include a plasma excitation region formed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode may include a first plurality of openings to permit a first gas to enter the plasma excitation region, and the second electrode may include a second plurality of openings to permit an activated gas to exit the plasma excitation region. The system may further include a gas inlet for supplying the first gas to the first electrode of the CCP unit, and a pedestal that is operable to support a substrate. The pedestal is positioned below a gas reaction region into which the activated gas travels from the CCP unit.

A system and method are provided for control of a navigation system for deploying a medical device within a subject, and for enhancement of a display image of anatomical features for viewing the projected location and movement of medical devices, and projected locations of a variety of anatomical features and other spatial markers in the operating region. The display of the X-ray imaging system information is augmented in a manner such that a physician can more easily become oriented in three dimensions with the use of a single-plane X-ray display. The projection of points and geometrical shapes within the subject body onto a known imaging plane can be obtained using associated imaging parameters and projective geometry.

A scanning unit for identifying contraband within objects, such as cargo containers and luggage, moving through the unit along a first path comprises at least one source of a beam of radiation movable across a second path that is transverse to the first path and extends partially around the first path. A stationary detector transverse to the first path also extends partially around the first path, positioned to detect radiation transmitted through the object during scanning. In one example, a plurality of movable X-ray sources are supported by a semi-circular rail perpendicular to the first path and the detector, which may be a detector array is also semi-circular and perpendicular to the path. A fan beam may also be used. Radiographic images may be obtained and / or computed tomography (“CT”) images may be reconstructed. The images may be analyzed for contraband. Methods of scanning objects are also disclosed.

There is described a system for carrying out and monitoring minimally-invasive interventions with an x-ray device, in which at least one x-ray emitter and a x-ray detector are attached to one or more robot arms of one or more multi-axis articulated-arm robots, with which they are able to be moved for recording images from different projection directions on a predeterminable path around a patient support facility. The system includes a control and evaluation unit with interfaces for catheters and devices for carrying out the minimally-invasive intervention. The control and evaluation unit is embodied for the processing of measurement and / or image data which it receives from the catheters and devices and for control of the catheters and devices for recording the measurement and / or image data. With the proposed system the workflow is covered completely and seamlessly from the examination to the therapy, especially in the treatment of tachycardial arrythmias.