Adjustable patient immobilization system and method for patient immobilization

An adjustable anchor for securing differently sized combinations of anterior and posterior molds of a customized patient immobilizing system to patients prior to said patients receiving radiation therapy, comprising:

• (a) said anchor having a left side and a right side, with a base plate connected therebetween;
• (b) said left side and right sides being substantially parallel to each other;
• (c) said base plate defining a substantially flat area between said left side and said right side, said base plate having means for cooperating with said left side and said right side in order to enable said base plate to be expanded or contracted in a direction perpendicular to said sides so that different widths of said anterior-posterior mold combinations are accommodated;
• and
• (d) said left side and said right side of said anchor having means for securing holders for said anterior mold, wherein said base plate comprises at least two sections, each of said sections being substantially greater in length than in width, each of said sections being secured at one end to a respective side of said anchor and free at its other end, each of said sections having a tongue and groove joint along at least one lateral edge cooperating with a matching tongue and groove joint within an opening for said free end of said section built into a side of said anchor.

A method for accurately repositioning patients for radiation therapy in differently sized customized anterior and posterior molds utilizing the same adjustable anchor for said differently sized molds, comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing said posterior mold on a base plate of said adjustable anchor, said anchor having a left side and a right side, between said left side and said right side of said anchor;
• (b) adjusting said base plate and said left side and said right side of said anchor so that any one of said left side and said right side combinations of said differently sized posterior molds is secured by said anchor;
• (c) placing said customized anterior mold over an area of said patient conforming to said customized anterior mold;
• and
• (d) securing said customized anterior mold to said anchor.

A method for accurately repositioning patients for radiation therapy in differently sized anterior and posterior molds utilizing the same adjustable anchor and anterior mold holders for said differently sized molds, comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing said posterior mold on a base plate of said adjustable anchor, said anchor having a left side and a right side, between said left side and said right side of said anchor;
• (b) adjusting said base plate and said left side and said right side of said anchor so that any one of said left side and said right side combinations of said differently sized posterior molds is secured by said anchor;
• (c) securing said left side and said right side of any one of said left side and said right side combinations of said differently sized anterior molds in anterior mold holders;
• (d) placing said customized anterior mold over an area of said patient conforming to said customized anterior mold;
• and
• (e) securing said customized anterior mold in said anterior mold holders to said adjusted anchor.