Apparatus and method for real-time tracking of bony structures

US10201291B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. · US
• VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS PARTICLE THERAPY GMBH & CO. KG · DE

Inventors

• John R. Adler · Stanford, US
• Ralf Bruder · Stade, DE
• Floris Ernst · Lübeck, DE
• Achim Schweikard · Hamburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 27, 2013
• Grant date: Feb 12, 2019
• Expiry date: Nov 9, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/061
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for measuring skin thickness. The method includes at a first 3D point on an outer surface of a patient, exposing the first point to near infrared (NIR) energy from an NIR source. The method includes measuring reflected energy emanating near the first 3D point, or beam incident point. The method includes determining a pattern of the reflected energy based on a distance from a center of the reflected energy, wherein the center is approximated by the first 3D point. The method includes determining a skin thickness measurement based on the pattern.