Elekta, Inc.

Elekta Ab (publ)

Elekta Ab

Adrian Maxwell Smith

Shakil Ahmed Awan

Kevin J Brown

John Allen

Paul Boxall

Mark Alexander Furth

Paul Berwick

Ralf Spriesterbach

Ahmed Awan Shakil

A wireless signal transmitter is provided for a radiotherapy device, said radiotherapy device being configured to provide radiation to a subject via a source of radiation, and further being configured to output a non-continuous beam of radiation, wherein said non-continuous beam of radiation has a first, time-related property associated therewith. The wireless signal transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit a signal comprising data regarding the first, time-related property that is associated with the non-continuous beam of radiation, to a wireless signal receiver.

Signal transmitter for a radiotherapy device

A method of controlling a radiotherapy device, a computer readable medium and a radiotherapy device are disclosed. The radiotherapy device includes a radiation source coupled to a rotation means. The method includes applying radiation to a subject using the radiation source and rotating the radiation source around the subject using the rotation means according to a first fixed rotation scheme. The method further includes, during execution of the first fixed rotation scheme, determining that the subject is in a suboptimal position, pausing application of the radiation by the radiation source and logging a first angle of rotation of the radiation source at which application of the radiation is paused.

Delivery of radiotherapy

A radiotherapy system, comprising: a patient support, a radiation beam generator, a gantry on which the radiation beam generator is mounted, the gantry being moveable so as to rotate the radiation beam generator around the patient support, and a control system including a real-time control system mounted on the gantry and configured to provide real-time control signals to the patient support, the radiation beam generator, and the gantry.

Radiotherapy control system

A system and method of integrating a first computer and a second computer is disclosed. The first computer executes a software application having a graphical user interface. The second computer renders the graphical user interface, receives an identification of an event that has occurred in the software application, and identifies an action to be performed by the second computer in response to the occurrence of the event, the action being identified from a predefined sequence of actions. The second computer performs the identified action to modify the rendering of the graphical user interface.

Computer system integration

A fluorescing marker is used in order to mark (for example) a leaf of a multi-leaf collimator and/or the reference points within the field of view. The markers are illuminated with light tuned to cause the markers to fluoresce at a wavelength different to that of the illuminating light. The fluorescence is then detected by a camera. This method allows the image to be captured by the camera with increased contrast. Accordingly, the present invention provides a multi-leaf collimator for a radiotherapeutic apparatus, comprising at least one leaf having a fluorescent marker. The fluorescent marker will usually emit light of a wavelength longer than the incident light, allowing suitable filters to be provided in order to distinguish the light emitted by the markers. A suitable material for use in the fluorescent markers is ruby. The present invention also provides a radiotherapeutic apparatus comprising a multi-leaf collimator as defined above, and a camera arranged to view the fluorescent markers. A source of illumination for the fluorescent markers is ideally monochromatic, or nearly so. The camera can have a filter arranged to substantially prevent light of the wavelength emitted by the source of illumination from entering the camera, thereby improving the contrast of the image. The radiotherapeutic apparatus can also comprise a source of illumination that is optically co-located with a radiation source, to allow the radiation field that will be emitted to be checked visually by an operator. The co-located source is preferably substantially monochromatic, emitting substantially no light at the wavelength of the fluorescent markers. A filter can then be placed over an output of the radiotherapeutic apparatus, for blocking light of the wavelength of the fluorescent markers and thereby enhancing the contrast of the image that is taken of the fluorescent markers.

Machine vision system

An apparatus for enabling a first device to identify a second device comprises a first interface and a second interface. Each interface is configured to allow communication between the first device and the second device, and the first interface is distinct from the second interface. The apparatus further comprises one or more controllers configured to receive a first identifier from the second device via the first interface. If the first identifier has a predetermined value, the controllers receive a second identifier from the second device via the second interface. The controllers identify the second device using the second identifier.

Device identification

The ability to provide a fine resolution variation in the dose rate of radiotherapeutic apparatus would allow delivery times of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) and related techniques to be reduced significantly. A radiotherapeutic apparatus is described, comprising a source of radiation able to issue pulses of radiation at a base frequency, and a control apparatus arranged to permit pulses provided these match a pulse pattern chosen to achieve a selected time-averaged power level, the chosen pulse pattern being one selected from a plurality of pulse patterns that include patterns consisting of trains of pulses that include, relative to the base frequency, at least every nth and every mpulse where n&#x2260;m and the nand mpulses are non-coincident. Essentially, such an apparatus issues a pulse if it is the nth or the mor the k(etc) where n, m, k . . . are selectable independently.

Radiotherapeutic apparatus

A multi-leaf collimator for a radiotherapy apparatus comprises a plurality of elongate leaves mounted in a carriage, the carriage being mounted on a substrate, wherein the leaves are independently moveable relative to the carriage in a longitudinal direction, and the carriage is moveable in that direction relative to the substrate, and a control apparatus is arranged to receive a signal representing leaf positions relative to the substrate and to control the leaf positions relative to the carriage and the carriage positions relative to the substrate so as to achieve those leaf positions relative to the substrate. Most MLCs sense the current positions of the leaves relative to the substrate. The control apparatus can therefore compare the current leaf positions to the signaled leaf positions, and move the leaves and the carriage accordingly. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

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London, United Kingdom

Adrian Maxwell Smith