Patent ID: 7073508

Claim:
A pod for providing radiation treatment to a head and neck region of a patient, the pod comprising: a cantilevered support shell shaped to generally conform to the shape of the head and neck region of the patient, the shell extending longitudinally from a shell caudal end to a cephalad end, the shell extending laterally from a first shell lateral edge to a second shell lateral edge, the shell defining a channel between the first and second lateral edges, the shell having a shell inner surface and a shell outer surface, the shell comprising a first material to minimally perturb a radiation beam directed at the patient; a pod liner located above the shell inner surface, the liner covering at least a portion of the shell inner surface, the liner made of a second material to minimally perturb the radiation beam; a foam insert located above the liner and within the channel, the insert shaped to conform to the head and neck region of the patient, the insert comprising a third material to minimally perturb the radiation beam; a facemask located above the insert and attached to the shell to immobilize the patient, the facemask extending laterally between a first facemask lateral edge and a second facemask lateral edge, the facemask comprising a fourth material to minimally perturb the radiation beam; and a facemask-to-shell attachment system, the attachment system comprising: a first locating pin near the first shell lateral edge, wherein the first locating pin is in communication with the inner and outer surfaces of the shell, wherein the first locating pin comprises a fifth material to minimally perturb the radiation beam; and a first receiving slot near the first facemask lateral edge to receive the first locating pin.