Method and apparatus for generating radiation blockers

A system for generating radiation blockers, said system including a fluoroscopic simulator for generating a fluoroscopic image of a patient and comprising:

• cutter means;
• computer means for digitized processing of said image and control of said system, said computer means including image grabbing means for grabbing and processing said fluoroscopic image to convert said fluoroscopic image to a computer-handleable image to further process said image and, to generate cutter control signals;
• means for delivering said cutter control signals to said cutter means, said cutter means being operative in response to said cutter control signals for cutting a blocker or blocker pattern corresponding to said image;
• and,
• wherein said blanks are comprised of styrofoam and said opaquing material includes barium.

A system for generating radiation blockers, said system including a fluoroscopic simulator for generating a fluoroscopic image of a patient and comprising:

• cutter means;
• computer means for digitized processing of said image and control of said system, said computer means including image grabbing means for grabbing and processing said fluoroscopic image to convert said fluoroscopic image to a computer-handleable image to further process said image and, to generate cutter control signals;
• means for delivering said cutter control signals to said cutter means, said cutter means being operative in response to said cutter control signals for cutting a blocker or blocker pattern corresponding to said image;
• and,
• wherein said blocker pattern has a radiation opaquing material applied thereto so that said blocker pattern is at least partially radiation opaque.

A cutter for cutting a radiation blocker, said cutter comprising:

• a carriage for holding a blank into which a contour is to be cut corresponding to a portion of a patient's anatomy that is to be irradiated;
• guide means;
• a laser cutter mounted on said guide means and adjacent said blank;
• two-axis positioning means for selectively moving said guide means and thereby said laser cutter;
• means for generating electrical signals representative of the portion of said patient's anatomy that is to be irradiated;
• and,
• means for delivering said signals to said two-axis positioning means, said two-axis positioning means being operative in response to said signals to move said laser cutter for cutting said blank in a contour corresponding to the portion of said patient's anatomy that is to be irradiated.

A method of generating a radiation blocker comprising the steps of:

• generating a fluoroscopic image of a selected portion of a patient's anatomy;
• grabbing said fluroscopic image and digitizing and processing said image;
• displaying said images on a display apparatus;
• generating a blocker contour corresponding to selected portions of said displayed image and generating blocker contour signals corresponding to said blocker contour;
• delivering said blocker contour signals to a cutter;
• and,
• cutting a blank in response to said blocker contour signals so that said blank has cut therein a contour corresponding to said selected portion of said image.

A method of generating a radiation blocker, said method being used to control a plurality of individually adjustable leaves for defining an aperture in an aperture control means and comprising the steps of:

• generating a fluoroscopic image of a selected portion of a patient's anatomy;
• grabbing said fluroscopic image and digitizing and processing said image;
• displaying said image on a display apparatus;
• generating a blocker contour corresponding to selected portions of said displayed image and generating blocker contour signals corresponding to said blocker contour;
• delivering said blocker contour signals to said aperture control means;
• and,
• operating said aperture control means in response to said blocker contour signals so that the said leaves are selectively adjusted to form an aperture corresponding to said selected portion of said displayed image.

A system for generating radiation blockers, said system including a fluoroscopic simulator for generating fluoroscopic images of a patient and comprising:

• cutter means;
• computer means for digitized processing of said images and control of said system, said computer means including image grabbing means for grabbing and processing said fluoroscopic images to convert said fluoroscopic images to computer-handleable images to further process said images, said computer means including image linearization means for linearization of said fluoroscopic images, image enhancing means for enhancing said fluoroscopic images, and image composing means for composing a plurality of said fluoroscopic images into a composite image, said fluoroscopic images being overlapping images that are offset with respect to one another, said computer means including contour image acquisition means for acquisition of a contour image and superpositioning means for superpositioning said contour image upon said composite image, and said computer means including means to generate cutter control signals;
• means for delivering said cutter control signals to said cutter means, said cutter means being operative in response to said cutter control signals for cutting a blocker paragon corresponding to said contour image;
• and
• verification means for verification of said blocker paragon, said verification means including projection means for projecting said blocker paragon's silhouette.

A method of generating a radiation blocker comprising the steps of:

• generating a plurality of fluoroscopic images of portions of a patient's anatomy, said fluoroscopic images being overlapping images that are offset with respect to one another;
• grabbing said fluoroscopic images and digitizing and processing said fluoroscopic images;
• linearizing and enhancing said fluoroscopic images;
• composing said plurality of fluoroscopic images into a composite image;
• displaying said composite image on a display apparatus;
• superposing and displaying a contour image upon said composite image;
• generating signals corresponding to said contour image;
• delivering said signals to a fabricating means;
• fabricating by said fabricating means in response to said signals a blocker paragon corresponding to said contour image;
• and
• verifying said blocker paragon by projecting said blocker paragon's silhouette.