IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,582,368
Granted Patent B2
US 12,582,368 · App. 17/881,593 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Setup for scout scans in a radiation therapy system

Inventors: Sevelin Stanchev (Las Vegas, NV); Stephen Thompson (Pacific Grove, CA)
Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
A61B6/488A61B6/0407A61B6/44A61B6/465A61B6/469A61N5/1081
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,582,368
App. No.
17/881,593
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for a radiation therapy system comprises: causing a graphical representation of a movable support couch of the X-ray imaging system to be displayed, wherein the graphical representation includes one or more reference markers that each correspond to a respective physical feature of the movable support couch; receiving a first user input that includes a first position indicator that corresponds to a first boundary of an X-ray imaging region; and generating an X-ray image of the X-ray imaging region, wherein a first edge of the X-ray image corresponds to the first boundary.

Claims (34)

1 . A computer-implemented method for an X-ray imaging system, the method comprising:

causing a graphical representation of a movable support couch of the X-ray imaging system to be displayed in a graphical user interface associated with the X-ray imaging system, wherein the graphical representation includes one or more reference markers that each correspond to a respective physical feature of the movable support couch;

receiving a first user input that includes a first position indicator that corresponds to a first region of the graphical user interface, wherein an edge of the first region defines a first boundary of an X-ray imaging region;

prior to generating an X-ray image of the X-ray imaging region, causing a graphical representation of an imaging isocenter's indicator to be displayed in conjunction with the graphical representation of the movable support couch in the graphical user interface; and

generating the X-ray image of the X-ray imaging region, wherein a first edge of the X-ray image corresponds to the first boundary.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the first user input comprises receiving the first user input via the graphical user interface.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation comprises a pictogram of at least a portion of a perimeter of the movable support couch.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation comprises a scaled diagram of at least a portion of the movable support couch.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the scaled diagram includes at least a portion of a perimeter of the movable couch.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more reference markers corresponds to a respective longitudinal position on the movable support couch.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a first reference marker of the one or more reference markers corresponds to a left-hand edge of the movable support couch, and a second reference marker of the one or more reference markers corresponds to a right-hand edge of the movable support couch.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a second user input that includes a second position indicator that corresponds to a second region of the graphical user interface, wherein an edge of the second region defines a second boundary of the X-ray imaging region.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the first boundary comprises a first longitudinal boundary of the X-ray imaging region and the second boundary comprises a second longitudinal boundary of the X-ray imaging region.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the first boundary comprises a first lateral boundary of the X-ray imaging region and the second boundary comprises a second lateral boundary of the X-ray imaging region.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising, causing the movable support couch to be repositioned prior to generating the X-ray image of the X-ray imaging region.

12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying the first boundary; and

receiving a third user input to confirm the first boundary.

13 . An X-ray imaging system comprising:

a movable support couch;

an imaging X-ray source configured to direct imaging X-rays to an X-ray imaging region proximate the movable support couch; and

a processor configured to perform the steps of:

causing a graphical representation of the movable support couch to be displayed in a graphical user interface associated with the X-ray imaging system, wherein the graphical representation includes one or more reference markers that each correspond to a respective physical feature of the movable support couch;

receiving a first user input that includes a first position indicator that corresponds to a first region of the graphical user interface, wherein an edge of the first region defines a first boundary of the X-ray imaging region;

prior to generating an X-ray image of the X-ray imaging region, causing a graphical representation of an imaging isocenter's indicator to be displayed in conjunction with the graphical representation of the movable support couch; and

generating the X-ray image of the X-ray imaging region, wherein a first edge of the X-ray image corresponds to the first boundary.

14 . The X-ray imaging system of claim 13 , further comprising a treatment-delivering X-ray source configured to rotate about an isocenter of the X-ray imaging system and direct treatment X-rays to a target volume proximate the X-ray imaging region.

15 . The X-ray imaging system of claim 14 , wherein the imaging X-ray source is configured to rotate about the isocenter.

16 . The X-ray imaging system of claim 13 , wherein each physical feature is visible to a user positioned at a position controller of the movable support couch when a patient is positioned on the movable support couch.

17 . The X-ray imaging system of claim 13 , wherein receiving the first user input comprises receiving the first user input via the graphical user interface.

18 . The X-ray imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the graphical representation comprises a pictogram of at least a portion of a perimeter of the movable support couch.

19 . The X-ray imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the graphical representation comprises a scaled diagram of at least a portion of the movable support couch.

20 . The X-ray imaging system of claim 19 , wherein the scaled diagram includes at least a portion of a perimeter of the movable couch.

21 . The X-ray imaging system of claim 13 , wherein each of the one or more reference markers corresponds to a respective longitudinal position on the movable support couch.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2022
From: STANCHEV, SEVELIN; THOMPSON, STEPHEN
To: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060726/0240 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240041416A1 · Feb 8, 2024
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