Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

Varian Medical Systems Technologies, Inc.

Other

Chevron Research Company

Imatrex, Inc.

Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc.

Dpix, LLC

Larry D Partain

Edward J Seppi

George Zentai

Stavros Prionas

Ivan Petrov Mollov

Hassan Mostafavi

Richard E Colbeth

John M Boone

Carlo Alberto Tognina

David H Humber

James Edward Clayton

Paul Stephen McLeod

Michael C Green

Lewis M Fraas

John A Cape

Raisa Pavlyuchkova

Felix Fernando

Stanley Mansfield

Douglas Perry Boyd

Samuel M Song

Robert M Sutherland

Junghyun Kwon

Roy E Rand

Gary Fredric Virshup

Kanai S Shah

Daniel Morf

Richard L Weisfield

Arundhuti Ganguly

Mingshan Sun

Alexander Sloutsky

Peter Munro

Namho Kim

Mysore R Lakshminarayana

William Wei-Yu Yao

Raisa Pavlyunchkova

Paul R Bennett

A system for tracking tumors during radiotherapy for interleaving treatment pulses with imaging pulses is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of multisource scanning eBeam X-ray tubes, each having multiple focal spots. The X-ray tubes are configured to emit X-rays in a plurality of different locations on a target by sequentially emitting the X-rays to the focal spots in the different focal spots. This is done such that the X-rays can be emitted to the plurality of different locations without substantially moving the X-ray tube or the target. The system further includes multiple imager panels configured to act as targets and configured to receive the X-rays from the focal spots of the X-ray tube. The system further includes a tomosynthesis reconstruction module configured to process outputs from the imager panels to construct a unified three-dimensional image that takes information from each of the different imager panels.

Tumor tracing device with multiple scan tubes

Methods of obtaining a suspect nodules' sizes and/or growth rate are provided. In one embodiment, the method begins with at a first time: (i) obtaining a first three dimensional (3D) data set cube of voxels of a patient's anatomy including nodules; (ii) creating a second 3D data set cube of the same size as the first where all voxel values are set to zero; (iii) creating multiple Maximum-Intensity-Projection (MIP) images from the first 3D data set cube taken at different angles; (iv) replacing those voxels in the second 3D data set cube with corresponding voxels from the first 3D data set cube that provide non-zero values in the multiple MIP images; and (v) converting data in the second 3D data set cube into closed surface volumes, cross sectional areas or linear dimensions using image segmentation. Data from a second time can be used to determine growth rate.

MIP determination of solid cancer size and size changes based on contrast enhanced MRI and CT imaging

A method of delivering external radiation beams to a target volume in a body portion includes positioning a radioactive isotope source at a plurality of locations spaced apart around the body portion, and collimating radiation beams of the radioactive isotope source from the plurality of locations, whereby the target volume in the body portion is deposited with a predetermined dose distribution. A radiation device employs a member having a configuration adapted to surround a body portion to be irradiated. The member has a channel and a plurality of collimators spaced apart along and coupled to the channel. The plurality of collimators define a plurality of dwelling locations for a radioactive isotope source in the channel and are configured to collimate radiation beams of the radioactive isotope source.

External beam radiotherapy and imaging with radioactive isotope

A system for tracking tumors during radiotherapy by interleaving treatment pulses with imaging pulses is disclosed. The system includes a multisource scanning eBeam X-ray tube having a plurality of focal spots. The X-ray tube is configured to emit X-rays to a plurality of different locations on a target by sequentially emitting the X-rays to the focal spots in the plurality of focal spots. This is done such that the X-rays can be emitted to the plurality of different locations on the target without substantially moving the X-ray tube or the target. The system further includes an imager panel configured to act as the target and configured to receive the X-rays from the focal spots of the X-ray tube. The system further includes a tomosynthesis reconstruction module configured to process output from the imager panel to construct an image.

Ebeam tomosynthesis for radiation therapy tumor tracking

A system and method are provided for imaging and treatment of tumorous tissue in a patient. In an embodiment, the system includes a radiation source for generating a radiation beam comprising high-energy photons with low energy distributions for high contrast imaging along with high energy distributions for efficient treatment dose delivery. The radiation source includes a charged particle accelerator that generates charged particles having energies of less than 6 megavolts (MV), a target to receive the charged particles and generate the high-energy photons of the radiation beam, and a collimator to emit the radiation beam. The system further includes an imaging device of high detective quantum efficiency to define a target region of the tumorous tissue in the patient using the radiation beam, and a controller to determine the shape and modulate the dose for treatment of the tumorous tissue based on the defined target region, using the radiation beam.

System and method for projection image tracking of tumors during radiotherapy

Methods of determining a probability of a suspect cancer nodule being malignant are provided. In one embodiment, the method begins with tabulating histogram data of malignant and benign nodules as a function of biomarker values for a specified patient population suspect of having a specific type of cancer. Next, the tabulated histogram data is separated into a plurality of biomarker bins where the bins are ranges of biomarker values, and malignancy probability fractions are calculated for each biomarker bin by dividing a number of true positives in each marker bin by a summed total of all true and false positives in each bin. Finally, a suspect nodule in a patient is scanned, a biomarker value for the suspect nodule determined, and a malignancy probability for the suspect nodule determined by reference to the tabulated histogram data and the malignancy probability fractions. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Method of determining the probabilities of suspect nodules being malignant

An x-ray imaging device may include a detector array and an x-ray converting layer coupled to the detector array. The detector array and the x-ray converting layer may be configured such that x-rays traverse the detector array before propagating in the x-ray converting layer. The x-ray imaging device may also include a buildup layer behind the x-ray converting layer. The x-ray imaging device may be used as a 'universal' imager for both MV and kV imaging.

Universal kV-MV imagers

Techniques described herein generally relate to identifying, assessing, and managing cancer growth rates and potential metastasis. Some example methods may include constructing one or more quantitative metrics for the potential metastasis in a selected population of other patients, acquiring a first set of numeric biomarker data for the patient before having placed a biomarker in the patient, acquiring a second set of numeric biomarker data for the patient after having placed the biomarker in the patient, determining a set of biomarker surrogate values for microvessel density information based on a mean numeric biomarker difference derived from the first set of numeric biomarker data and the second set of numeric biomarker data, determining a set of biomarker surrogate values for microvessel density information based on a mean numeric biomarker difference derived from the first set of numeric biomarker data and the second set of numeric biomarker data, and predicting quantitative and objective risk for the cancer growth rates and potential metastasis and adjusting a treatment plan based on the biomarker surrogate values and at least one of the one or more quantitative metrics.

Method and system for identifying, assessing, and managing cancer growth rates and potential metastasis

A method and apparatus for excess signal compensation in an imaging system is described. In one particular embodiment, the invention provides for non-linear background, offset (due to time dependent dark current) and/or lag (including constant, linear and non-linear terms, due to image persistence) corrections of large area, flat panel imaging sensors.

Method and apparatus for correcting excess signals in an imaging system

A radiation system includes a first radiation source and a first detector positioned opposite to each other configured to image a body portion, and a second radiation source and a second detector positioned opposite to each other configured to image a region of interest in the body portion. The first radiation source has a first spot size and the first detector has a first pixel size. The second radiation source has a second spot size and the second detector has a second pixel size. The first spot size of the first radiation source may be different from the second spot size of the second radiation source, and/or the first pixel size of the first detector may be different from the second pixel size of the second detector.

Imaging breast cancerous lesions with microcalcifications

A method for use in a medical procedure includes obtaining a contrast-enhanced image of a portion of a patient, the portion of the patient having an object, obtaining a non-contrast-enhanced image of the portion, wherein the contrast-enhanced image and the non-contrast-enhanced image are created at different times, and determining a position of the object using the contrast-enhanced image and the non-contrast-enhanced image. A method for use in a medical procedure includes obtaining a contrast-enhanced image of a portion of a patient, the portion of the patient having an object, obtaining a non-contrast-enhanced image of the portion, and determining a position of the object using the contrast-enhanced image and the non-contrast-enhanced image, wherein the act of determining the position is performed is substantially real time.

Systems and methods for tracking and targeting object in a patient using imaging techniques

Portions of the radiation source are obscured so that the radiation only passes through the specific areas of the patient related to the regions-of-interest to the doctor. Scattered radiation received by detector pixels that are obscured by direct-line of sight radiation are used to estimate the scattered radiation in the un-obscured portion, which can be used to increase the accuracy of the image taken through the un-obscured portion.

Methods, apparatus, and computer-program products for increasing accuracy in cone-beam computed tomography

Improved corrosion resistance for direct X-ray imaging detectors is obtained by providing a pixelated, electrically conductive barrier layer between the X-ray sensitive material and the pixel electrodes. Each barrier layer can cover part or all of its corresponding pixel electrode. In cases where pixel electrodes makes contact to underlying circuitry through vertical vias, it is preferred for the barrier layers to cover the via sections of the pixel electrodes. The barrier layers for each pixel electrode can be spaced apart from each other, or they can all be included within a continuous film on top of the pixel electrodes. Such a continuous film can be pixelated by spatially modulating its properties (e.g., thickness, doping) to significantly reduce lateral conductivity from pixel to pixel.

Corrosion barrier layer for photoconductive X-ray imagers

Method and apparatus for excess signal correction in an imager

Growing community of inventors

San Mateo, CA, United States of America

Larry D Partain