| Varian Medical Systems International AG Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120105430 | Visualization of deformations using color overlays - Computer-implemented methods and apparati for graphically displaying deformations, said deformations defined by comparing a first image of an object ( | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120080578 | Six Degrees of Freedom Motion Platform - A motion platform includes a base, a platform, and a suspension supporting the platform above the base. Strings preload the platform toward the base while the suspension pushes the platform away from the base. Actuators pull and release the strings to manipulate the platform in multiple degrees of freedom. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120045035 | Apparatus and Method Pertaining to Radiation-Treatment Planning Optimization - A radiation-treatment planning apparatus accesses information regarding a treatment target and at least one operational parameter pertaining to a physical characteristic of a given radiation-treatment platform. The apparatus also accesses information regarding a candidate treatment plan using the given platform. The apparatus then optimizes the candidate treatment plan by permitting, temporarily, discontinuities of the at least one operational parameter as between adjacent ones of a plurality of control points to thereby yield an optimized treatment plan. By one approach, this operational parameter can comprise a speed at which a collimator aperture can be changed. In such a case, the aforementioned discontinuities can comprise discontinuities with respect to the speed at which this aperture can be changed. So configured, these teachings will accommodate temporarily permitting speeds that are too fast to be actually performed by the given radiation-treatment platform. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120012763 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Use of Jaws During Radiation Treatment - These various embodiments are employed in conjunction with the use of both a multi-leaf collimator and jaws that are interposed between a source of radiation and a treatment target while sourcing radiation from the source of radiation towards the treatment target. Generally speaking, during some portion of the aforementioned treatment, these teachings provide for manipulating the jaws to more tightly constrain, in at least one dimension, a beam-shaping aperture as is formed by the multi-leaf collimator. In many cases, as when the leaves of the multi-leaf collimator move back and forth horizontally, the foregoing can comprise manipulating the jaws in a vertical dimension | 01-19-2012 |
| 20110282685 | Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Developing Care Paths - A control circuit develops, in parallel, a plurality of care paths for at least one corresponding patient. This can comprise, for these care paths, serially completing a plurality of corresponding care-path-development phases (using, for example, input information of choice). Then, pursuant to these teachings and before concluding development of at least one of these care paths (and upon determining a change to the aforementioned input information during the developing process), automatically modifying at least one of the care-path-development phases as a function of the change and redeveloping the care plan as corresponds to the modified care-path-development phase. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110280373 | Apparatus and Method to Facilitate Generating a Treatment Plan for Irradiating a Patient's Treatment Volume - One provides ( | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110268249 | TREATMENT PLAN OPTIMIZATION METHOD FOR RADIOTHERAPY - Systems and methods for providing radiosurgery treatment to a patient by combining methods from both traditional radiosurgery and radiotherapy are disclosed. A dose sufficient to kill tissue is applied to a target area while a steep drop off, or gradient, is provided at the border between the target area and adjacent areas so that other portions of the brain or nearby structures or organs are not damaged. The treatment plan is optimized by using both measures known in the art along with a new gradient index or curve that indicates the amount of the drop off at the border between the target area and the surrounding tissues. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110200170 | Method and System for Treating Moving Target - A method and system for providing intensity modulated radiation therapy to a moving target is disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a treatment plan for providing radiotherapy using a multi-leaf collimator (“MLC”) comprises a plurality of sub-plans, each of which is optimized for a different phase of target movement. Movements of the treatment target are tracked in real time, and the choice of which sub-plan to implement is made in real time based on the tracked position of the target. Each of the sub-plans is preferably formulated to minimize interplay effects between target movements and MLC leaf movements, consistent with other planning goals. In addition, the sub-plans preferably include a predicted region corresponding to the next anticipated position of the target, in order to facilitate the transition to the next position. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110182409 | Method and Apparatus to Facilitate Treating a Target Portion of a Patient's Body with Radiation - One accesses information regarding the functionality of portions of the patient's body and then uses that information to optimize a radiation-treatment plan to treat a target portion of the patient's body while minimizing at least some collateral radiation-based damage to non-targeted functional portions of the patient's body. By one approach, the aforementioned information can comprise a functionality model as pertains to at least some portions of the patient's body. As one example in these regards, this can comprise optimizing the radiation-treatment plan such that the planned radiation beams tend to pass through non-targeted less-functional portions of the patient's body rather than through non-targeted portions of the patient's body of greater functionality. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110091014 | Dose Calculation Method for Multiple Fields - Systems and methods for developing a treatment plan for irradiating a treatment volume within a patient are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, control points used to calculate a dose of radiation delivered to the treatment volume may be combined to result in a smaller number of control points. The smaller number of control points may allow more efficient calculation of dose distributions resulting in a treatment plan that can be delivered to the patient earlier or may allow additional iterations of treatment plan optimization resulting in a more accurate dose distribution being delivered to the patient. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110069815 | Method and Apparatus to Facilitate Supplementing a Dose-Volume Histogram Constraint Using an Adaptive Dose-Volume Histogram Constraint - One provides a first dose-volume histogram (DVH) constraint as pertains to controlling localized excessive-radiation dosage with respect to a particular treatment volume. One then automatically determines whether to supplement this constraint by using an adaptive DVH constraint. These teachings will accommodate determining whether to supplement the first DVH constraint, at least in part, by determining whether a user has specified such supplementation (using, for example, a corresponding user interface) by, for example, placing at least one DVH constraint such that the constraint corresponds to a volume fraction at a range boundary. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20100232572 | USE OF PLANNING ATLAS IN RADIATION THERAPY - A method for determining a radiation treatment plan for a patient includes determining a reference plan, the reference plan including information regarding a reference region that has a different configuration from that of a region in the patient, and using the reference plan to determine the treatment plan for the patient. A method for use in a treatment planning process includes determining a reference plan that includes information regarding a reference region, determining a deformation field that registers the reference region in the reference plan with a region for a patient, and determining a result of using the reference plan as it applies for the patient. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100183120 | Gated Radiation Procedure Using Packages - A method of delivering radiation in a session includes delivering radiation towards a patient using a radiation system, wherein the radiation is delivered based at least in part on a physiological phase or a position of the patient, after the radiation is delivered, changing a configuration of the radiation system, wherein the act of changing the configuration is performed independent of at least one motion of the patient, and delivering additional radiation towards the patient after the configuration of the radiation system is changed, wherein the acts of delivering radiation and the act of changing the configuration are performed in response to a processor executing a treatment plan that prescribes a plurality of packages and a transition, the transition prescribing the act of changing the configuration of the radiation system when no radiation is being delivered by the radiation system. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100177871 | RADIATION TREATMENT PLANNING AND EXECUTION THAT CONSIDER THE TYPE OF CRITICAL ORGAN - A method for use in a treatment planning process or in a treatment process includes determining a type of critical organ for healthy tissue, and accumulating dose for the healthy tissue based on the type of critical organ. A method for use in a treatment planning process or in a treatment process includes determining a type of critical organ for healthy tissue, and determining a constraint for the healthy tissue, wherein the constraint is determined based on different movement trajectories and the type of critical organ. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100177870 | TREATMENT PLANNING USING MODULABILITY AND VISIBILITY FACTORS - A method for use in a treatment planning process includes determining a modulability factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the modulability factor. A system for use in a treatment planning process includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured for determining a modulability factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the modulability factor. A method for use in a treatment planning process includes determining a visibility factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the visibility factor. A system for use in a treatment planning process includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured for determining a visibility factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the visibility factor. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100171964 | Method and Apparatus to Provide Corrections for a Radiation-Therapy Beam - Information is provided regarding a block's sectional contour in a particular plane as corresponds to a radiation-therapy beam. For a point at which block effects are to be assessed, a point is projected onto a plane of the block and a plurality of straight lines is then formed. Each line has a particular relationship with respect to the projected point (such as having each such line intersect all others at the projected point). Intersections amongst these straight lines and the contour are used to evaluate corrections to the dose at the point. These teachings will accommodate identifying line segments that are located within the contour and that are bound by the intersections with the contour. Elementary contributions as correspond to each of these line segments can be averaged to evaluate delivered dose corrections that are due to the presence of beam-limiting and beam-shaping devices in the particular treatment plan. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100150309 | REAL TIME TREATMENT PARAMETER ALGORITHM FOR MOVING TARGETS - A method of determining a treatment parameter, includes determining an accumulated dose at a target region that undergoes motion, determining an accumulated dose at a critical region, and determining the treatment parameter based on the determined accumulated dose at the target region and the determined accumulated dose at the critical region, wherein the act of determining the treatment parameter is performed during a treatment session. A method of determining a treatment parameter, includes tracking a position of a target, delivering radiation to the target based on the tracked position, and compensating for an inaccuracy of the tracked position by using information regarding a delivered dose to determine a treatment parameter for a next beam delivery. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100061510 | Apparatus and Method to Facilitate Adapting a Radiation Treatment Plan - An existing radiation treatment plan is accessed for a given patient as well as first information (such as automatically generated updated information) regarding at least one physical characteristic as corresponds to the radiation treatment of this patient. One then initiates, prior to receiving second information (such as user input) regarding the first information, an automatic adaptation process to adapt the treatment plan to accommodate the first information. Upon later receiving second information regarding the first information, one then modifies the automatic adaptation process itself to incorporate the second information regarding the first information. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100054411 | Interactive Treatment Plan Optimization for Radiation Therapy - An interactive method for radiation treatment planning is disclosed. The method applies to staged treatment planning algorithms, as used, for example, with arc therapy. It allows the user to hold the optimization algorithm at a stage in order to make adjustments to the objective function before advancing to the next stage. If adjustments are made, the user can revert to an earlier stage and re-run the optimization process using the adjusted objective function. While a hold is imposed, the treatment planning software may continue optimization at the current stage. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100046713 | LEAF SEQUENCING ALGORITHM FOR MOVING TARGETS - A method of providing intensity modulated radiation therapy to a moving target is disclosed. The target moves periodically along a trajectory that is projected onto a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) plane. The MLC plane is divided into thin slices parallel to the movement of the target. The present invention optimizes the leaf sequence such that, within each slice, if a point receives radiation, all other points in that slice that receive the same amount or more fluence are also receiving radiation at the same time. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20090326615 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING MODULATION STRENGTH IN RADIATION THERAPY - Methods for developing and using treatment plans with improved modulation for radiation therapy are disclosed. The methods involve adding an extra component to the patient-related objective function in order to make the optimization algorithm used to develop the treatment plan arrive at a solution with increased modulation. The extra component may take many forms. For example, the user may specify that the treatment plan favor solutions using a range of monitor units. The present invention is particularly useful in conjunction with radiotherapy systems having multileaf collimators for beam shaping, and in connection with advanced radiotherapy techniques, such as IMRT and arc therapy. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090316975 | ANATOMIC ORIENTATION IN MEDICAL IMAGES - A method of constructing a navigation table relating a set of images representative of a region of interest in a subject to a reference system with reference positions indicating known anatomic landmarks of a reference subject comprising providing reference positions for two or more images identified with two or more anatomic landmarks indicative of the region of interest with reference positions of known anatomic landmarks corresponding to the identified anatomic landmarks, and determining reference positions for the remaining images by interpolation. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090316858 | TREATMENT PLAN OPTIMIZATION METHOD FOR RADIATION THERAPY - A treatment planning method and system for optimizing a treatment plan used to irradiate a treatment volume including a target volume, such as a tumor, is disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, gradients of a cost function that defines a treatment volume are back projected to a surface of interest. The method and system of preferred embodiments of the present invention calculate the gradients with respect to the dose received by the treatment volume. Machine parameters that are associated with the surface of interest may then be optimized based on the back projected gradients. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090299634 | MONITOR UNITS CALCULATION METHOD FOR PROTON FIELDS - A method for determining a monitor unit that is associated with a process using ions, includes obtaining a depth dose curve, determining a characteristic parameter based on the depth dose curve, and using the characteristic parameter to determine a first monitor unit factor. A system for determining a monitor unit that is associated with a process using protons, includes a processor that is configured for obtaining a depth dose curve, determining a characteristic parameter based on the depth dose curve, and using the characteristic parameter to determine a first monitor unit factor. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090154644 | TREATMENT PLANNING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RADIOTHERAPY - A treatment planning method and system for optimizing a treatment plan used to irradiate a treatment volume including a target volume, such as a tumor, is disclosed. According to the method, two dose calculation algorithms are used to develop the optimized treatment plan. A first dose calculation algorithm is used to obtain substantially complete dose calculations and a second, incremental, dose calculation algorithm is used to make more limited calculations. The incremental calculations may be performed, for example, with less precision, less accuracy or less scope (e.g., focused on a specific subvolume within the treatment volume) in order to reduce the time required to achieve an optimized plan. Each of the dose calculation algorithms may be iterated a plurality of times, and different cutoff criteria can be used to limit the number of iterations in a given pass. A treatment planning system of the invention uses software for implementing the complete and incremental dose calculation algorithms. The method and system are especially useful for IMRT and arc therapy where treatment plan optimization is particularly challenging. | 06-18-2009 |
