SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF IMAGE ACQUISITION FOR FOUR DIMENSIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

An example magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a sensor that detects a characteristic amplitude associated with a patient characteristic of a subject, a receiver that receive magnetic resonance data, a memory device, and a processor. The processor is programmed to determine when the characteristic amplitude of the subject reaches a first characteristic amplitude of a plurality of sequential characteristic amplitudes defined for a cycle of the patient characteristic, determine if a predetermined number of MRI images have been acquired for the first characteristic amplitude, capture magnetic resonance data with the receiver if the number of MRI images have not been acquired for the first characteristic amplitude and without regard for a location of the first characteristic amplitude in the sequence of the sequential characteristic amplitudes, and process the magnetic resonance data as an MRI image associated with the first characteristic amplitude. 1. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprising:a sensor configured to detect a characteristic amplitude of a subject, the characteristic amplitude associated with a patient characteristic of the subject;a receiver configured to receive magnetic resonance data;a memory device; and determine when the characteristic amplitude of the subject reaches a first characteristic amplitude of a plurality of sequential characteristic amplitudes defined for a cycle of the patient characteristic of the subject;', 'determine if a predetermined number of MRI images have been acquired for the first characteristic amplitude;', 'capture magnetic resonance data with the receiver if the number of MRI images have not been acquired for the first characteristic amplitude and without regard for a location of the first characteristic amplitude in the sequence of the plurality of sequential characteristic amplitudes; and', 'process the magnetic resonance data as an MRI image associated with the first characteristic amplitude., 'a ...

CT Simulation Optimization for Radiation Therapy Contouring Tasks

A method for optimizing a CT simulation protocol for different size patients for contouring and segmentation of organs and tumors. The method scanning different size phantoms, cadavers, or patients with a CT scanning x-ray tube to create a set of images and to create data sets for each different size phantoms, cadavers, or patients and then calculating an image quality index (IQI) as a benchmark for contouring accuracy. Finding an optimal IQI that characterizes patients of different sizes and using the optimal IQI to determine the accuracy of the contouring and segmentation of A CT simulation protocol for a patient. 1. A method for optimizing a CT simulation protocol for different size patients for contouring and segmentation of organs and tumors comprising:a. scanning different size phantoms, cadavers, or patients with a CT scanner to create a set of CT images, wherein CT scanning parameters are varied to create data sets for each different sized phantoms, cadavers, or patients and wherein radiation output of the CT scanner is recorded;b. calculating image quality indices (IQI) based on the data sets,c. selecting an optimum IQI from the IQI indices based on quality of CT images in the CT image set and on minimizing radiation output that produces the CT images; andd. creating a CT simulation protocol for a particular patient including CT scanning parameters, wherein the CT scanning parameters for the CT simulation protocol for the particular patient result in the optimal IQI.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the CT simulation protocol on additional patients over time produces additional CT images and data sets that are used to further define the optimal IQI.5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CT scanning parameters for acquiring the CT images include collimator setting claim 1 , rotation time claim 1 , pitch claim 1 , resolution claim 1 , filter claim 1 , slice thickness claim 1 , x-ray tube current claim 1 , x-ray tube potential claim 1 , and radiation ...

System and method for the validation and quality assurance of computerized contours of human anatomy

A system and method for validating the accuracy of delineated contours in computerized imaging using statistical data for generating assessment criterion that define acceptable tolerances for delineated contours, with the statistical data being conditionally updated and/or refined between individual processes for validating delineated contours to thereby adjust the tolerances defined by the assessment criterion in the stored statistical data, such that the stored statistical data is more closely representative of a target population. The present invention may be used to facilitate, as one example, on-line adaptive radiation therapy.

ACCEPTANCE, COMMISSIONING, AND ONGOING BENCHMARKING OF A LINEAR ACCELERATOR (LINAC) USING AN ELECTRONIC PORTAL IMAGING DEVICE (EPID)

The present invention is a method or system for acceptance testing and commissioning of a LINAC and treatment planning system (TPS). For a LINAC commissioning, the present invention collects reference data from a fully calibrated LINAC and compares the reference data with machine performance data collected from a testing LINAC. The compared results are analyzed to assess accuracy of the testing LINAC. For a TPS commissioning, the present invention collects standard reference data from standard treatment plans and standard input data and compares the standard reference data with results from standard tests that are performed by a testing treatment plan system. The compares results are analyzed to assess accuracy of the testing treatment plan system.

Developing predictive dose-volume relationships for a radiotherapy treatment

Embodiments develop a predictive dose-volume relationships for a radiation therapy treatment is provided. A system includes a memory area for storing data corresponding to a plurality of patients, wherein the data comprises a three-dimensional representation of the planning target volume and one or more organs-at-risk. The data further comprises an amount of radiation delivered to the planning target volume and the one or more organs-at-risk. The system further includes one or more processors programmed to access, from the memory area, the data and to develop a model that predicts dose-volume relationships using the three-dimensional representations of the planning target volume and the one or more organs-at-risk. The model is being derived from correlations between dose-volume relationships and calculated minimum distance vectors between discrete volume elements of the one or more organs-at-risk and a boundary surface of the planning target volume.

DEVELOPING PREDICTIVE DOSE-VOUME RELATIONSHIPS FOR A RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT

Embodiments develop a predictive dose-volume relationships for a radiation therapy treatment is provided. A system includes a memory area for storing data corresponding to a plurality of patients, wherein the data comprises a three-dimensional representation of the planning target volume and one or more organs-at-risk. The data further comprises an amount of radiation delivered to the planning target volume and the one or more organs-at-risk. The system further includes one or more processors programmed to access, from the memory area, the data and to develop a model that predicts dose-volume relationships using the three-dimensional representations of the planning target volume and the one or more organs-at-risk. The model is being derived from correlations between dose-volume relationships and calculated minimum distance vectors between discrete volume elements of the one or more organs-at-risk and a boundary surface of the planning target volume.

DEVELOPING PREDICTIVE DOSE-VOLUME RELATIONSHIPS FOR A RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT

Embodiments develop a predictive dose-volume relationships for a radiation therapy treatment is provided. A system includes a memory area for storing data corresponding to a plurality of patients, wherein the data comprises a three-dimensional representation of the planning target volume and one or more organs-at-risk. The data further comprises an amount of radiation delivered to the planning target volume and the one or more organs-at-risk. The system further includes one or more processors programmed to access, from the memory area, the data and to develop a model that predicts dose-volume relationships using the three-dimensional representations of the planning target volume and the one or more organs-at-risk. The model is being derived from correlations between dose-volume relationships and calculated minimum distance vectors between discrete volume elements of the one or more organs-at-risk and a boundary surface of the planning target volume. 1. A system for developing a predictive dose-volume relationship for a radiation therapy treatment , the system comprising:a memory area for storing data corresponding to a plurality of patients, the data comprising a three-dimensional representation of the planning target volume and one or more organs-at-risk, the data further comprising an amount of radiation delivered to the planning target volume and the one or more organs-at-risk; and access, from the memory area, the data corresponding to to the plurality of patients, the data comprising a three-dimensional representation of the planning target volume and one or more organs-at-risk, the data further comprising an amount of radiation delivered to the planning target volume and the one or more organs-at-risk; and', 'develop a model that predicts dose-volume relationships using the three-dimensional representations of the planning target volume and the one or more organs-at-risk, the model being derived from correlations between dose-volume relationships and ...

ML-BASED METHODS FOR PSEUDO-CT AND HR MR IMAGE ESTIMATION

The present disclosure describes a computer-implemented method of transforming a low-resolution MR image to a high-resolution MR image using a deep CNN-based MRI SR network and a computer-implemented method of transforming an MR image to a pseudo-CT (sCT) image using a deep CNN-based sCT network. The present disclosure further describes a MR image-guided radiation treatment system that includes a computing device to implement the MRI SR and CT networks and to produce a radiation plan based in the resulting high resolution MR images and sCT images. 1. A computer-implemented method of transforming a low-resolution MR image into a super-resolution MR image using an MRI SR deep CNN system comprising a deep CNN-based de-noising auto-encoder (DAE) network and a deep CNN-based super-resolution generative network (SRG) , the method comprising:receiving, using a computing device, a low resolution MR image;transforming, using the computing device, the low resolution MR image into a de-noised MR image using the DAE network; andtransforming, using the computing device, the de-noised MR data into the super-resolution MR image using the SRG network.2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the DAE network comprises: each convolutional encoder layer and each de-convolution decoder layer comprises a single convolutional/deconvolutional filter with stride 2; and', 'each convolutional encoder layer and each de-convolution decoder layer ends with a leaky and standard rectified linear unit (ReLU)., 'six convolutional encoder layers with 4×4 filters and six de-convolutional decoder layers with 4×4 filters, wherein3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the SRG network comprises:two up-sampling layers,eight residual blocks, each residual block comprising two 3×3 convolutional filters separated by a ReLU activation with an elementwise sum operator attached at the end of the layer; andtwo output layers, each output layer comprising a 3×3 convolutional filter, ...

System and Method for the Validation and Quality Assurance of Computerized Contours of Human Anatomy

A system and method for validating the accuracy of delineated contours in computerized imaging using statistical data for generating assessment criterion that define acceptable tolerances for delineated contours, with the statistical data being conditionally updated and/or refined between individual processes for validating delineated contours to thereby adjust the tolerances defined by the assessment criterion in the stored statistical data, such that the stored statistical data is more closely representative of a target population. The present invention may be used to facilitate, as one example, on-line adaptive radiation therapy.

MULTILEAF COLLIMATOR CONE ENABLING STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY

An apparatus includes a first multileaf collimator comprising a plurality of pairs of beam-blocking leaves each comprising an end portion. The end portions of beam-blocking leaves of two adjacent pairs are configured to collectively form an aperture when the two adjacent pairs of beam-blocking leaves are closed. The aperture may be sized and shaped to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery. 111-. (canceled)12. A multileaf collimator , comprising:a plurality of beam-blocking leaves arranged side by side in a first bank;a plurality of beam-blocking leaves arranged side by side in a second bank opposite to the first bank,wherein at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the first bank is provided with a first through-hole configured to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery.13. The multileaf collimator of claim 12 , wherein the first through-hole has a generally truncated cone shape or cylindrical shape.14. The multileaf collimator of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the second bank is provided with a second through-hole configured to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery claim 12 , wherein the second through-hole has a size different from a size of the first through-hole.15. The multileaf collimator of claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves is disposed in or proximate to a middle of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the first bank to facilitate alignment of the first through-hole with a beam's central axis when in use.16. The multileaf collimator of claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the first bank is further provided with a second through-hole configured to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery claim 12 , wherein the second through-hole has a size different from a size of the first through-hole.17. The multileaf collimator of claim 12 , wherein the ...

ACCEPTANCE, COMMISSIONING, AND ONGOING BENCHMARKING OF A LINEAR ACCELERATOR (LINAC) USING AN ELECTRONIC PORTAL IMAGING DEVICE (EPID)

The present invention is a method or system for acceptance testing and commissioning of a LINAC and treatment planning system (TPS). For a LINAC commissioning, the present invention collects reference data from a fully calibrated LINAC and compares the reference data with machine performance data collected from a testing LINAC. The compared results are analyzed to assess accuracy of the testing LINAC. For a TPS commissioning, the present invention collects standard reference data from standard treatment plans and standard input data and compares the standard reference data with results from standard tests that are performed by a testing treatment plan system. The compares results are analyzed to assess accuracy of the testing treatment plan system. 1. A method for acceptance testing and commissioning a treatment planning system (TPS) , said method comprising:collecting standard reference data wherein said standard reference data is composed of a plurality of treatment plans and predetermined results of such treatment plans;storing said standard reference data in a memory associated with at least one processor;performing, with a test performance engine, a plurality of standard tests based on standard input data wherein said test performance engine generates at least one test performance result for each standard test wherein said processor is configured to execute said test performance engine;comparing, with an analysis software program, said test performance result with said standard reference data wherein said test performance result is compared with at least one predetermined result of said treatment plan wherein said processor is configured to execute said analysis software program; anddetermining, with said analysis software program, whether each said test performance result meets a tolerance standard wherein said tolerance standard is a pre-determined standard corresponding to at least one of said standard tests.2. The method for acceptance testing and ...

ACCEPTANCE, COMMISSIONING, AND ONGOING BENCHMARKING OF A LINEAR ACCELERATOR (LINAC) USING AN ELECTRONIC PORTAL IMAGING DEVICE (EPID)

The present invention is a method or system for acceptance testing and commissioning of a LINAC and treatment planning system (TPS). For a LINAC commissioning, the present invention collects reference data from a fully calibrated LINAC and compares the reference data with machine performance data collected from a testing LINAC. The compared results are analyzed to assess accuracy of the testing LINAC. For a TPS commissioning, the present invention collects standard reference data from standard treatment plans and standard input data and compares the standard reference data with results from standard tests that are performed by a testing treatment plan system. The compares results are analyzed to assess accuracy of the testing treatment plan system. 1. A method for quality assurance testing of a linear accelerator (LINAC) , said method comprising:calibrating a reference machine according to standardized parameters, said reference machine comprising a LINAC and an electronic portal image device (EPID);adjusting parameters of said LINAC of said reference machine and performing radiation operations with said LINAC of said reference machine;collecting, based on said radiation operations, radiation measurement data from said EPID of said reference machine;collecting reference data of said reference machine, said reference data representing differences in radiation measurements at said EPID of said reference machine relative to any changes to said parameters of said LINAC of said reference machine;storing said reference data in a memory associated with at least one processor associated with said reference machine;analyzing said reference data via a software analysis program associated with said processor, said processor being configured to execute said software analysis program; andcalibrating another LINAC based on benchmarking relative to said reference data.2. The method for quality assurance testing of a linear accelerator (LINAC) of claim 1 , further comprising: ...

METHODS OF IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION TO REDUCE ARTIFACTS IN RAPID CBCT SCANS

A computer-implemented method for correcting artifacts within CT images of a subject includes providing iteratively correcting a CT volumetric image with a high-contrast mask by overpainting the high-contrast mask within CT volumetric image set by evaluating a model function and updating the CT projections to reflect the overpainting using a gradient descent based on previous overpainted CT projections, back-projecting the corrected CT projections to produce a corrected volumetric image set, and comparing the corrected CT volumetric image set against a previous corrected CT volumetric image set until convergence. The original voxels overpainted by the high-contrast mask are re-inserted into the converged CT volumetric image to produce the final CT volumetric image set. 1. A computer-implemented method for correcting artifacts within CT images of a subject , the method comprising:a. providing a CT volumetric image set obtained from the subject;b. providing a high-contrast mask comprising voxels from high-attenuation regions within the CT volumetric image set;c. combining, using a computing device, the high-contrast mask with the CT volumetric image to produce a masked CT volumetric image set; and i. overpainting the high-contrast mask within the masked CT volumetric image set by evaluating a model function to produce an overpainted CT volumetric image set;', 'ii. forward-projecting the overpainted CT volumetric data into a projection space to produce overpainted CT projections;', 'iii. updating the overpainted CT projections using a gradient descent based on previous overpainted CT projections to produce corrected CT projections;', 'iv. back-projecting the corrected CT projections to produce a corrected volumetric image set;', 'v. comparing the corrected CT volumetric image set against a previous corrected CT volumetric image set to determine if the corrected CT volumetric image set is converged; and', 'vi. repeating steps i.-v. if the corrected CT volumetric image ...

IMAGE DEFORMATION METHODS AND CURVED COUCH FOR RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT PLANNING

Disclosed herein is a method for deforming patient images obtained with a couch of one set of physical properties (e.g. curvature) based on the physical properties (e.g. curvature) of a couch where radiation therapy treatment will be performed. Also disclosed herein is a radiotherapy delivery system which includes a non-flat couch top, on-couch planning, and optional deformable image registration. The methods and systems use images from scanners of various couch top shapes for treatment of radiotherapy patients without a need for specialized treatment planning imaging. In such methods and systems, treatment delivery can be performed based on only diagnostic images and setup images acquired at the time of treatment on the treatment machine. The radiotherapy delivery systems can include any combination of volumetric imaging with radiotherapy treatments with photon, proton, electron, and\or other particle radiation. 1. A method for radiotherapy treatment planning comprising:identifying a diagnostic couch top shape of a diagnostic imaging modality;identifying a radiotherapy couch top shape of a radiotherapy system; anddeforming at least one diagnostic image of a patient acquired from the diagnostic imaging modality based on the radiotherapy couch top shape.2. The method of further comprising:creating a treatment plan for the patient based on the at least one deformed diagnostic image; andbypassing a radiotherapy simulation scan.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein deforming the at least one diagnostic image comprises using a biomechanical deformation model.4. The method of claim 1 , wherein deforming the at least diagnostic image comprises using artificial intelligence.5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one deformed diagnostic image is close to the actual radiotherapy treatment position.6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment plan comprises a calculation of a radiation dose distribution on the at least one deformed diagnostic image.7. The method of ...

System and Method for the Validation and Quality Assurance of Computerized Contours of Human Anatomy

A system and method for validating the accuracy of delineated contours in computerized imaging using statistical data for generating assessment criterion that define acceptable tolerances for delineated contours, with the statistical data being conditionally updated and/or refined between individual processes for validating delineated contours to thereby adjust the tolerances defined by the assessment criterion in the stored statistical data, such that the stored statistical data is more closely representative of a target population. In an alternative embodiment, a system and method for validating the accuracy of delineated contours in computerized imaging using machine learning for assessing delineated contours, with the machine learning training data being used to generate geometric attributes, and the geometric attributes used to construct intra- and interstructural geometric attribute distribution models to automatically detect contouring errors. The present invention may be used to facilitate, as one example, radiation therapy. 1. A system for validating the accuracy of delineated contours in computerized imaging , comprising:a storage unit storing one or more approved radiation therapy contours and a patient specific radiation therapy contour; receiving one or more approved radiation therapy contours,', 'calculating a geometric attribute of one or more of the approved radiation therapy contours,', 'constructing intra- and inter-structural geometric attribute distribution models using the machine learning methods,', 'receiving a patient specific radiation therapy contour,', 'calculating a patient specific radiation therapy contour geometric attribute using the patient specific radiation therapy contour, and', 'detecting the contouring error by fitting the geometric attributes of the patient specific radiation therapy contour to the intra- and interstructural geometric attribute distribution models., 'a processor configured to determine radiation therapy contour ...

Radiation modulator and methods of use and production thereof

The present disclosure is directed to a computer-implemented method for designing a patient-specific brachytherapy (BT) tandem applicator. The method is implemented using at least one processor in communication with at least one memory. The method includes receiving a radiation treatment plan for treating a region of interest. The radiation treatment plan includes a prescribed radiation dosage and patient anatomical data of the region of interested to be treated. The method also includes applying an inverse planning optimization model to determine an optimal thickness of an interior surface of the tandem applicator at a plurality of dwell positions within the region of interest. The method also includes generating a schedule of dwell times for the tandem applicator based on the generated position-dependent thickness profile. The method also includes transmitting design instructions to a 3D printer for fabrication of the tandem applicator.

System and method for the validation and quality assurance of computerized contours of human anatomy

A system and method for validating the accuracy of delineated contours in computerized imaging using statistical data for generating assessment criterion that define acceptable tolerances for delineated contours, with the statistical data being conditionally updated and/or refined between individual processes for validating delineated contours to thereby adjust the tolerances defined by the assessment criterion in the stored statistical data, such that the stored statistical data is more closely representative of a target population. In an alternative embodiment, a system and method for validating the accuracy of delineated contours in computerized imaging using machine learning for assessing delineated contours, with the machine learning training data being used to generate geometric attributes, and the geometric attributes used to construct intra- and interstructural geometric attribute distribution models to automatically detect contouring errors. The present invention may be used to facilitate, as one example, radiation therapy.

MULTILEAF COLLIMATOR CONE ENABLING STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY

An apparatus includes a first multileaf collimator comprising a plurality of pairs of beam-blocking leaves each comprising an end portion. The end portions of beam-blocking leaves of two adjacent pairs are configured to collectively form an aperture when the two adjacent pairs of beam-blocking leaves are closed. The aperture may be sized and shaped to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery. 1. An apparatus , comprising:a first multileaf collimator comprising a plurality of pairs of beam-blocking leaves each comprising an end portion, wherein the end portions of beam-blocking leaves of two adjacent pairs are configured to collectively form an aperture when the two adjacent pairs of beam-blocking leaves are closed, the aperture having a generally circular shape in a beam's eye view.2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a generally truncated cone or cylindrical shape.3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the two adjacent pairs are disposed in or proximate to a middle of the plurality pairs of the first multileaf collimator to allow alignment of the aperture with a beam's central axis when in use.4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a projected diameter of a size at an isocenter plane suitable for SRS.5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second multileaf collimator comprising a plurality of pairs of beam-blocking leaves claim 1 , whereinthe first multileaf collimator is arranged in a first level and the second multileaf collimator is arranged in a second level;the beam-blocking leaves of the first multileaf collimator are longitudinal movable in a first direction, the beam-blocking leaves of the second multileaf collimator are longitudinally movable in a second direction generally parallel with the first direction; andeach of the beam-blocking leaves of the second multileaf collimator laterally offsets a beam-blocking leaf of the first multileaf collimator in a beam's eye view.6. The apparatus of claim 5 ...

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RADIATION TREATMENT OPTIMIZED FOR NON-COPLANAR DELIVERY

A system or method for radiation treatment optimized for non-coplanar delivery, which includes a first collimator affixed to a gantry and a second collimator movably attached to the gantry to provide the second collimator a translation movement out of a gantry rotation plane. The system or method also includes a third collimator configured to collimate the beam in a direction of a target in the patient's body. The beam collimated by the third collimator is configured to follow the target during treatment. A method of performing rotation setup correction by rotating the treatment beam, without rotating the patient. 1. A system for radiation treatment , said system comprising:a gantry configured to rotate around a body of a patient positioned along with a longitudinal axis;a radiation treatment source affixed to said gantry, wherein said x-ray source is configured to emit the x-ray treatment beam in a direction that is transverse to said longitudinal axis;a first collimator affixed to said gantry, wherein said first collimator is configured to collimate the x-ray treatment beam emitted from said radiation treatment source; anda second collimator movably attached to said gantry, wherein said second collimator is configured to further collimate the x-ray treatment beam collimated by said first collimator and move out of a gantry rotation plane along said longitudinal axis.2. The system for radiation treatment according to claim 1 , wherein said system further comprising a third collimator configured to further collimate the x-ray treatment beam collimated by said second collimator.3. The system for radiation treatment according to claim 1 , wherein said x-ray source is configured to emit the x-ray treatment beam in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.4. The system for radiation treatment according to claim 2 , wherein said third collimator comprising:a guiding rail affixed to said gantry; anda cone collimator configured to further ...

Acceptance, commissioning, and ongoing benchmarking of a linear accelerator (linac) using an electronic portal imaging device (epid)

Multileaf collimator cone enabling stereotactic radiosurgery

An apparatus includes a first multileaf collimator comprising a plurality of pairs of beam-blocking leaves 200 each comprising an end portion. The end portions of beam-blocking leaves of two adjacent pairs are configured to collectively form an aperture 210 when the two adjacent pairs of beam-blocking leaves are closed. The aperture may be sized and shaped to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery.

Developing predictive dose-volume relationships for a radiotherapy treatment

Embodiments develop a predictive dose-volume relationships for a radiation therapy treatment is provided. A system includes a memory area for storing data corresponding to a plurality of patients, wherein the data comprises a three-dimensional representation of the planning target volume and one or more organs-at-risk. The data further comprises an amount of radiation delivered to the planning target volume and the one or more organs-at-risk. The system further includes one or more processors programmed to access, from the memory area, the data and to develop a model that predicts dose-volume relationships using the three-dimensional representations of the planning target volume and the one or more organs-at-risk. The model is being derived from correlations between dose-volume relationships and calculated minimum distance vectors between discrete volume elements of the one or more organs-at-risk and a boundary surface of the planning target volume.

Acceptance, commissioning, and ongoing benchmarking of a linear accelerator (LINAC) using an electronic portal imaging device (EPID)

The present invention is a method or system for acceptance testing and commissioning of a LINAC and treatment planning system (TPS). For a LINAC commissioning, the present invention collects reference data from a fully calibrated LINAC and compares the reference data with machine performance data collected from LINAC. The compared results are analyzed to assess accuracy of the testing LINAC. For a TPS commissioning, the present invention collects standard reference data from standard treatment plans and standard input data and compares the standard reference data with results from standard tests that are performed by a testing treatment plan system. The compares results are analyzed to assess accuracy of the testing treatment plan system.

Acceptance, commissioning, and ongoing benchmarking of a linear accelerator (LINAC) using an electronic portal imaging device (EPID)

The present invention is a method or system for acceptance testing and commissioning of a LINAC and treatment planning system (TPS). For a LINAC commissioning, the present invention collects reference data from a fully calibrated LINAC and compares the reference data with machine performance data collected from LINAC. The compared results are analyzed to assess accuracy of the testing LINAC. For a TPS commissioning, the present invention collects standard reference data from standard treatment plans and standard input data and compares the standard reference data with results from standard tests that are performed by a testing treatment plan system. The compares results are analyzed to assess accuracy of the testing treatment plan system.

Methods of image reconstruction to reduce artifacts in rapid CBCT scans

A computer-implemented method for correcting artifacts within CT images of a subject includes providing iteratively correcting a CT volumetric image with a high-contrast mask by overpainting the high-contrast mask within CT volumetric image set by evaluating a model function and updating the CT projections to reflect the overpainting using a gradient descent based on previous overpainted CT projections, back-projecting the corrected CT projections to produce a corrected volumetric image set, and comparing the corrected CT volumetric image set against a previous corrected CT volumetric image set until convergence. The original voxels overpainted by the high-contrast mask are re-inserted into the converged CT volumetric image to produce the final CT volumetric image set.

Multileaf collimator cone enabling stereotactic radiosurgery

An apparatus includes a first multileaf collimator comprising a plurality of pairs of beam-blocking leaves each comprising an end portion. The end portions of beam-blocking leaves of two adjacent pairs are configured to collectively form an aperture when the two adjacent pairs of beam-blocking leaves are closed. The aperture may be sized and shaped to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery.

ML-based methods for pseudo-CT and HR MR image estimation

The present disclosure describes a computer-implemented method of transforming a low-resolution MR image to a high-resolution MR image using a deep CNN-based MRI SR network and a computer-implemented method of transforming an MR image to a pseudo-CT (sCT) image using a deep CNN-based sCT network. The present disclosure further describes a MR image-guided radiation treatment system that includes a computing device to implement the MRI SR and CT networks and to produce a radiation plan based in the resulting high resolution MR images and sCT images.

Transfer of digital medical images and data

A system 100 for distributing images creates a self-sufficient, self-consistent medical imaging and other medical information transfer file 5 that contains image files and corresponding data sets that are bundled with an image viewer application. The medical image and data transfer file 5 is prepared using object serialization and contains a deserialization application. The transfer file is created at an origination device 10 and transmitted to a destination device 1000 as a packaged file over a computer network. The destination device 1005 receives the packaged file from the origination location and executes the viewer application with the image files and the data sets by opening the packaged file alone, without the need to run any other imaging/viewer application at the destination device. The viewer application has image viewing panes, an annotation tool, and image manipulation tools.

Image deformation methods and curved couch for radiotherapy treatment planning

Disclosed herein is a method for deforming patient images obtained with a couch of one set of physical properties (e.g. curvature) based on the physical properties (e.g. curvature) of a couch where radiation therapy treatment will be performed. Also disclosed herein is a radiotherapy delivery system which includes a non-flat couch top, on-couch planning, and optional deformable image registration. The methods and systems use images from scanners of various couch top shapes for treatment of radiotherapy patients without a need for specialized treatment planning imaging. In such methods and systems, treatment delivery can be performed based on only diagnostic images and setup images acquired at the time of treatment on the treatment machine. The radiotherapy delivery systems can include any combination of volumetric imaging with radiotherapy treatments with photon, proton, electron, and\or other particle radiation.