Loma Linda University

Other

University of Wollongong

University of Haifa

Carmel—haifa University Economic Corp Ltd.

Yeda, Ltd.

Reinhard W Schulte

Vladimir A Bashkirov

Helmut J Meinass

Yair Censor

William J Wicks

R Ford Hurley

Rachel Chechik

Amos Breskin

Scott N Penfold

Winston J Nethery

Guy Garty

Jamie Milligan

David A Lesyna

Gilmer Valdes-Diaz

Regina Burachik

Yalcin Kaya

Sergei Shchemelinin

Sergi Shchemelinin

Disclosed are systems, devices and methodologies relating to proton computed tomography. In some implementations, detection of protons can yield track information before and after an object for each proton so as to allow determination of a likely path of each proton within the object. Further, measurement of energy loss experienced by each proton allows determination that a given likely path results in a given energy loss. A collection of such data allows characterization of the object. In the context of energy loss, such a characterization can include an image map of relative stopping power of the object. Various reconstruction methodologies for obtaining such an image, including but not limited to superiorization of a merit function such as total variation, are disclosed. In some implementations, various forms of total variation superiorization methodology can yield excellent results while being computationally efficient and with reduced computing time. In some implementations, such a methodology can result in high quality proton CT images using relatively low dose of protons.

Systems and methodologies for proton computed tomography

An imaging system can use high-energy electrons at a low dose level to generate 3D computed tomography images and/or 2D radiographic images of living tissue and other objects. In some embodiments, a nozzle directs a source of high-energy electrons to the imaging target, and a detector system detects physical quantities of electrons that interact with the imaging target. In some embodiments, a computer system can calculate estimated paths taken by individual electrons within the imaging target, determine interactions between voxels of a digitized image of the imaging target and individual electrons, and reconstruct a digitized image of the imaging target based at least in part on the determined interactions between individual electrons and voxels. The imaging target can include but is not limited to living tissue, humans, pediatric patients, small animals, and other objects, such as those used in industrial applications.

Radiography and computed tomography with high-energy electron beams

Embodiments disclosed herein include methods for performing intensity-modulated radiation therapy on a subject using a plurality of pencil beams. The methods can include generating a treatment plan for intensity-modulated radiation therapy that satisfies dose constraints for each of a plurality of sub-volumes. The treatment plan can be generated using a superiorization technique that reduces total variation in dose space. Additional dose-volume constraints that permit a fraction of treatment doses to violate a prescription by up to a defined percentage of intensity can be used to assist in determining the treatment plan.

Systems and methods for intensity modulated radiation therapy

Disclosed are systems and methods for characterizing interactions or proton beams in tissues. In certain embodiments, charged particles emitted during passage of protons, such as those used for therapeutic and/or imaging purposes, can be detected at relatively large angles. In situations where beam intensity is relatively low, such as in certain imaging applications, characterization of the proton beam with charged particles can provide sufficient statistics for meaningful results while avoiding the beam itself. In situations where beam intensity is relatively high, such as in certain therapeutic applications, characterization of the proton beam with scattered primary protons and secondary protons can provide information such as differences in densities encountered by the beam as it traverses the tissue and dose deposited along the beam path. In certain situations, such beam characterizations can facilitate more accurate planning and monitoring of proton-based therapy.

Proton scattering analysis system

Disclosed are systems, devices and methodologies related to calibration of an ion based imaging apparatus such as a proton computed tomography scanner. In some implementations, energy degrader plates having known water-equivalent thickness (WET) values can be introduced to an ion beam to introduce different energy degradation settings. Energy detector responses to individual ions subject to such energy degradation settings can be obtained. Such responses can be normalized and correlated to water-equivalent path lengths (WEPL) of the ions based on the known WET values. Such calibration utilizing degrader plates can be performed relatively quickly and can yield accurate WEPL values that facilitate estimation of, for example, a CT image based on relative stopping power of an object.

Systems, devices and methods related to calibration of a proton computed tomography scanner

The therapeutic treatment of a patient using intensity-modulated proton therapy is described. In one example, a method of creating a proton treatment plan is presented that divides volumes of interest into sub-volumes, applies dose constraints to the sub-volumes, finds one or more feasible configurations of a proton therapy system, and selects a proton beam configuration that improves or optimizes one or more aspects of proton therapy. In some implementations, the method of dividing volumes into sub-volumes includes creating fractional sub-volumes based at least in part on proximity to a target volume boundary. In some implementations, the method of finding an improved or optimal proton beam configuration from a set of feasible configurations includes finding a minimum of a cost function that utilizes weighting factors associated with treatment sites.

Intensity-modulated ion therapy

Intensity-modulated proton therapy

Disclosed are systems, devices and methodologies relating to an ion induced impact ionization detector and uses thereof. In certain implementations, the detector can include a dielectric layer having one or more wells. An anode layer defining apertures to accommodate the openings of the wells can be disposed on one side of the dielectric layer, and a cathode such as a solid resistive cathode can be disposed on the other side so as to provide an electric field in each of the wells. Various design parameters such as well dimensions and operating parameters such as pressure and high voltage are disclosed. In certain implementations, such an ion detector can be coupled to a low pressure gas volume to detect ionization products such as positive ions. Such a system can be configured to provide single ion counting capability. Various example applications where the ion detector can be implemented are also disclosed.

Ion induced impact ionization detector and uses thereof

Disclosed are systems, devices and methodologies relating to proton computed tomography. In some implementations, detection of protons can yield track information before and after an object for each proton so as to allow determination of a likely path of each proton within the object. Further, measurement of energy loss experienced by each proton allows determination that a given likely path results in a given energy loss. A collection of such data allows characterization of the object. Such a characterization can include an image map of relative stopping power of the object. Various reconstruction methodologies for obtaining such an image can include superiorization of a merit function such as total variation. Various forms of total variation superiorization methodology can yield excellent results with reduced computing time. In some implementations, such a methodology can result in high quality proton CT images using relatively low dose of protons.

Systems and methods for enhancing the selective targeting of agents for preferential action at a target with reduced action with healthy tissue distal the target tissue. One or more agents can be combined with nano scale structures/particles for delivery to the target tissue. Appropriate bombardment with accelerated particle radiation, such as proton radiation, induces the release of the agents at the target site. Nano carriers can be combined with therapeutic and/or imaging enhancement agents. Imaging of the target tissue can provide a verification of the delivered dose of particle radiation. Nanocarriers can be provided with an outer shell selected for biocompatibility and durability in the in vivo environment and further selected to provide a feedback mechanism in the treatment environment to accelerate the release of the agent and reduce a total radiation dose needed for that release.

Growing community of inventors

Grand Terrace, CA, United States of America

Reinhard W Schulte