Magnetic resonance-guided radiation field connection system and method suitable for patients with long target volumes

Abstract

The present invention provides a magnetic resonance-guided radiation field connection system and method suitable for patients with long target areas, belonging to the field of radiotherapy equipment control technology. The present invention divides the target area into N sub-target areas. The online radiotherapy process for the first sub-target area is: scanning the positioning image, adjusting the MR scanning range, scanning the MR image of the day, aligning it with the reference plan image, selecting the adaptive mode, determining the online adaptive plan, verifying and executing the plan. The online radiotherapy process for the nth sub-target area (n=2,3,...,N) is: adjusting the MR scanning range, scanning the reference plan MR image of the day, determining the reference plan of the day, scanning the MR image again, aligning it with the reference plan MR image of the day, selecting the adaptive mode, determining the online adaptive plan, performing pre-treatment synthesis evaluation, verifying and executing the plan. The present invention reduces the influence of the MR scanning length limitation of the magnetic resonance accelerator by adjusting the MR scanning range, and reduces the influence of the radiation field length limitation of the magnetic resonance accelerator by the radiation field connection method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of radiotherapy equipment control, and in particular to a magnetic resonance guided radiation field connection system and method suitable for patients with long target areas. Background Art

[0002] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided adaptive radiotherapy (ADAPT) can better protect organs at risk and reduce the incidence of complications, possessing significant clinical significance for improving tumor control and minimizing toxic side effects. Compared to traditional accelerators, MRI accelerators combine a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging scanner with a linear accelerator, offering superior soft tissue contrast and functional imaging capabilities. Patients undergo an MR scan before each treatment. Physicians use changes in tumor volume, location, and morphology as captured in MR images to promptly adjust the delineation of the target volume and organs at risk and develop an online radiotherapy plan. During MRI-guided radiotherapy, real-time MR imaging can be performed to display target motion, providing valuable insights for physicians in determining whether the target volume is off-target and whether organs at risk are being effectively protected. Furthermore, because MR is radiation-free, patients receive no excess radiation dose during the acquisition of MRI images, reducing the risk of radiation-induced cancer.

[0003] However, current MRI accelerators have certain limitations, limiting their patient capacity for treatment. This is due to two factors: First, the MR image scan length is limited. For example, Elekta's Unity MRI accelerator can only scan MR images up to 30 cm. Considering the significant degradation of MR image quality at the edges, the actual clear MR image is only approximately 25 cm. Second, the field length is limited, generally much smaller than that of conventional non-MRI accelerators. For example, the maximum field length of the Elekta Unity MRI accelerator in the head-to-foot direction is 22 cm, while the Elekta Versa HD conventional accelerator can reach 40 cm. To account for anatomical variations and setup errors during adaptive radiotherapy, MRI-guided radiotherapy also requires an additional 1 cm extension in both the head-to-foot direction. Therefore, compared to conventional non-MRI accelerators, the target volume that can be treated with MRI accelerators is somewhat limited. In practice, many patients have longer target volumes, such as those with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, long-segment esophageal cancer, and most cervical cancers. During the treatment of these patients, the target area and organs at risk may change in size and position. If magnetic resonance-guided radiotherapy technology can be used and the radiotherapy plan can be adjusted in time according to these changes, the best treatment effect can be ensured. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic resonance-guided radiation field connection system and method suitable for patients with long target volumes, so as to solve at least one technical problem existing in the above-mentioned background technology.

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a magnetic resonance-guided radiation field connection system suitable for patients with long target volumes, comprising:

[0007] A division module is used to divide the target area into N sub-target areas: a first sub-target area, a second sub-target area, ... and an Nth sub-target area, and define N-1 field connection areas in the area adjacent to each two sub-target areas;

[0008] A first determination module is configured to perform an MR scan on the first sub-target area, register the current-day MR image of the first sub-target area with the reference plan image, select an adaptive mode, and determine an online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the first sub-target area;

[0009] A generation module is used to perform an MR scan on the nth sub-target area (n=2, 3, ..., N), adjust the MR scanning range, ensure that the nth sub-target area, the radiation field connection area between the nth sub-target area and its adjacent n-1th sub-target area, and part of the n-1th sub-target area are scanned, and obtain a reference plan MR image of the nth sub-target area on the same day;

[0010] The second determination module is used to use the MR image of the nth sub-target area on the same day to determine the reference plan of the nth sub-target area on the same day based on the adaptive radiotherapy dose of the n-1th sub-target area; scan the MR image of the nth sub-target area again, align the new MR image with the reference plan MR image of the same day, select the adaptive mode, and determine the online adaptive radiotherapy plan of the nth sub-target area.

[0011] Furthermore, an MR scan is performed on the first sub-target area, including: first, performing a positioning image scan; second, based on the positioning image scan results, moving the MR scan center and adjusting the scanning range of the first sub-target area to ensure that the first sub-target area, the radiation field connection area between the first sub-target area and the second sub-target area, and part of the second sub-target area can be scanned; then, a same-day MR scan of the first sub-target area is performed.

[0012] Furthermore, for the first sub-target area, the MR image of the day is aligned with the reference plan image, the adaptive mode is selected, the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the first sub-target area is determined, and the online dose verification software is used to verify the online adaptive plan for the first sub-target area. The plan is executed after the dose verification is passed.

[0013] Furthermore, for the nth sub-target area (n=2, 3, ..., N), first, before adaptive radiotherapy of the nth sub-target area, the MR scanning center is moved and the MR scanning range is adjusted to ensure that the nth sub-target area, the radiation field connection area between the nth sub-target area and its adjacent n-1th sub-target area, and part of the n-1th sub-target area are scanned, and then an MR scan of the nth sub-target area is performed to generate a reference plan image for the day; secondly, the MR image of the nth sub-target area on the day is used to determine the reference plan for the nth sub-target area on the day based on the adaptive radiotherapy dose of the n-1th sub-target area.

[0014] Furthermore, the treatment bed is moved to the radiotherapy center of the nth sub-target area, the MR image of the nth sub-target area is scanned again, the new MR image is aligned with the reference plan MR image of the day, the adaptive mode is selected, and the online adaptive radiotherapy plan of the nth sub-target area is determined; the online adaptive radiotherapy plans of the nth sub-target area and the n-1th sub-target area are synthetically evaluated; the online dose verification software is used to verify the online adaptive plan of the nth sub-target area, and the plan is executed after the dose verification passes.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a magnetic resonance-guided radiation field connection method for patients with long target volumes based on the system described in the first aspect, comprising:

[0016] The target area is divided into N sub-target areas: the first sub-target area, the second sub-target area, ... and the Nth sub-target area. In the area adjacent to each two sub-target areas, N-1 field connection areas are defined;

[0017] Perform MR scanning on the first sub-target area, register the current-day MR image of the first sub-target area with the reference plan image, select the adaptive mode, and determine the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the first sub-target area;

[0018] For the nth sub-target volume (n=2, 3, ..., N), adjust the MR scanning range to ensure that the nth sub-target volume, the radiation field connection area between the nth sub-target volume and its adjacent n-1th sub-target volume, and part of the n-1th sub-target volume are scanned, and obtain the reference plan MR image of the nth sub-target volume on the same day;

[0019] Using the MR image of the nth sub-target area on the same day, the reference plan for the nth sub-target area on the same day is determined based on the adaptive radiotherapy dose of the n-1th sub-target area;

[0020] Scan the MR image of the n-th sub-target area again, align the new MR image with the reference plan MR image of the day, select the adaptive mode, and determine the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the n-th sub-target area.

[0021] Furthermore, an MR scan is performed on the first sub-target area, including: first, performing a positioning image scan; second, based on the positioning image scan results, moving the MR scan center and adjusting the scanning range of the first sub-target area to ensure that the first sub-target area, the radiation field connection area between the first sub-target area and the second sub-target area, and part of the second sub-target area can be scanned; then, a same-day MR scan of the first sub-target area is performed.

[0022] Furthermore, for the first sub-target area, the MR image of the day is aligned with the reference plan image, the adaptive mode is selected, the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the first sub-target area is determined, and the online dose verification software is used to verify the online adaptive plan for the first sub-target area. The plan is executed after the dose verification is passed.

[0023] Furthermore, an MR scan is performed on the nth sub-target area (n=2, 3, ..., N). First, before adaptive radiotherapy of the nth sub-target area, the MR scanning center is moved and the MR scanning range is adjusted to ensure that the nth sub-target area, the radiation field connection area between the nth sub-target area and its adjacent n-1th sub-target area, and part of the n-1th sub-target area are scanned. Then, an MR scan of the nth sub-target area is performed to generate a reference plan image for the day. Secondly, the MR image of the nth sub-target area on the day is used to determine the reference plan for the nth sub-target area on the day based on the adaptive radiotherapy dose of the n-1th sub-target area.

[0024] Furthermore, the treatment bed is moved to the radiotherapy center of the nth sub-target area, the MR image of the nth sub-target area is scanned again, the new MR image is aligned with the reference plan MR image of the day, the adaptive mode is selected, and the online adaptive radiotherapy plan of the nth sub-target area is determined; the online adaptive radiotherapy plans of the nth sub-target area and the n-1th sub-target area are synthetically evaluated; the online dose verification software is used to verify the online adaptive plan of the nth sub-target area, and the plan is executed after the dose verification passes.

[0025] Furthermore, in order to improve the implementation efficiency, the present method designs the following synchronous steps: ① while performing “image registration of the n-1th sub-target area (n=2,3,...,N) and selecting the adaptive mode”, “adjusting the MR scanning range of the n-th sub-target area and scanning the reference plan MR image of the day”; ② while executing “online adaptive planning of the n-1th sub-target area (n=2,3,...,N)”, “determining the reference plan of the n-th sub-target area for the day”.

[0026] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the influence of the MR scanning length limitation of the magnetic resonance accelerator is reduced by moving the MR scanning center and adjusting the MR scanning range; the influence of the field length limitation of the magnetic resonance accelerator is reduced by the multi-isocenter field connection radiotherapy method; an online adaptive planning pre-treatment synthesis evaluation method for multiple sub-target areas is added to ensure the safety of radiotherapy; the online adaptive process of different sub-target areas is synchronized to improve the radiotherapy efficiency; and the length of the target area that can be treated for patients can be effectively increased.

[0027] Additional advantages of the present invention will be more clearly given in the following description or learned through practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0029] Figure 1 The target area is divided into two sub-target areas: PTV_sub1 (green) and PTV_sub2 (blue), and a field overlap area PTV_overlap (red) is defined between the two sub-target areas.

[0030] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the MRI-guided dual-isocentric field-connected radiotherapy method for a long target volume, as described in an embodiment of the present invention. The green portion represents the reference plan design and dose verification process; the pink portion represents the online adaptive radiotherapy process for the PTV_sub1 sub-target volume; and the blue portion represents the online adaptive radiotherapy process for the PTV_sub2 sub-target volume.

[0031] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of a method for adjusting the MR scanning range according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 4 This is the dose distribution and dose volume histogram (DVH) diagram of the PTV_sub1 target area in the online adaptive synthesis plan described in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 5 This is the dose distribution and dose volume histogram (DVH) diagram of the PTV_sub2 target area in the online adaptive synthesis plan described in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0035] Those skilled in the art will understand that unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention belongs.

[0036] It should also be understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be understood to have a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the prior art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless as defined herein.

[0037] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, unless otherwise stated, the singular forms "a," "an," "said," and "the" used herein may also include plural forms. It should be further understood that the term "comprising" used in the specification of the present invention refers to the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or groups thereof.

[0038] In the description of this specification, reference to the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Those skilled in the art may combine and integrate different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as features of different embodiments or examples, unless otherwise contradictory.

[0039] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, the present invention is further explained below with reference to specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the specific embodiments do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of the present invention.

[0040] Those skilled in the art should understand that the drawings are merely schematic diagrams of embodiments, and the components in the drawings are not necessarily necessary for implementing the present invention.

[0041] In this embodiment, a magnetic resonance-guided radiation field connection system suitable for patients with long target areas is first provided, including: a division module for dividing the target area into N sub-target areas, and defining N-1 radiation field connection areas in the adjacent areas of every two adjacent sub-target areas; a first determination module for performing an MR scan on the first sub-target area, aligning the MR image of the first sub-target area on the same day with the reference plan image, selecting an adaptive mode, and determining an online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the first sub-target area; a generation module for performing an MR scan on the nth sub-target area (n=2, 3, ..., N) and adjusting the MR scanning range , ensuring that the nth sub-target area, the radiation field connection area between the nth sub-target area and its adjacent n-1th sub-target area, and part of the n-1th sub-target area are scanned, and the reference plan MR image of the nth sub-target area on the day is obtained; the second determination module is used to use the MR image of the nth sub-target area on the day to determine the reference plan of the nth sub-target area on the day based on the adaptive radiotherapy dose of the n-1th sub-target area; scan the MR image of the nth sub-target area again, align the new MR image with the reference plan MR image of the day, select the adaptive mode, and determine the online adaptive radiotherapy plan of the nth sub-target area.

[0042] In this embodiment, the aforementioned system is used to implement an MRI-guided multi-isocenter beam-joined radiotherapy method for a long target volume. This method divides the target volume into N sub-target volumes: a first sub-target volume, a second sub-target volume, ..., and an Nth sub-target volume. N-1 beam-joined regions are defined in the region adjacent to each of the two sub-target volumes.

[0043] Before adaptive radiotherapy for the first sub-target area, an MR image scan is required. This involves three steps: first, a scout scan is performed; second, based on the scout scan results, the MR scan center is moved and the scanning range of the first sub-target area is adjusted to ensure that the first sub-target area, the beam field connection area between the first and second sub-target areas, and part of the second sub-target area are scanned; then, a same-day MR scan of the first sub-target area is performed. Adaptive radiotherapy for the first sub-target area involves the following steps: registering the same-day MR image with the reference plan image, selecting the adaptive mode, designing an online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the first sub-target area, verifying the online adaptive plan for the first sub-target area using online dose verification software, and executing the plan after dose verification passes.

[0044] The adaptive radiotherapy process for the second and subsequent sub-target volumes (assuming the sub-target volume requiring radiotherapy is the nth sub-target volume (n = 2, 3, ..., N)) is as follows: First, before adaptive radiotherapy for the nth sub-target volume, the MR scanning center is moved and the MR scanning range is adjusted to ensure that the nth sub-target volume, the beam field connection area between the nth sub-target volume and its adjacent n-1th sub-target volume, and part of the n-1th sub-target volume are scanned. An MR scan of the nth sub-target volume is then performed to generate a reference plan image for the day. The reference plan MR image for the nth sub-target volume is then used to design the reference plan for the nth sub-target volume based on the adaptive radiotherapy dose for the n-1th sub-target volume. Next, the treatment couch is moved to the radiotherapy center for the nth sub-target volume, and an MR image of the nth sub-target volume is scanned again. The new MR image is then registered with the reference plan MR image for the day. The adaptive mode is selected, and an online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the nth sub-target volume is designed. Next, the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the nth sub-target volume and the n-1th sub-target volume was synthetically evaluated. Finally, the online dose verification software was used to verify the online adaptive plan for the nth sub-target volume. Once the dose verification passed, the plan was executed.

[0045] Among them, in order to improve the implementation efficiency, the following synchronization steps are designed in this method: ① Perform "image registration of the n-1th sub-target area (n = 2, 3, ..., N) and select the adaptive mode" while "adjusting the MR scanning range of the n-th sub-target area and scanning the reference plan MR image of the day"; ② Execute "online adaptive plan of the n-1th sub-target area (n = 2, 3, ..., N)" while "determining the reference plan of the n-th sub-target area on the day".

[0046] In this embodiment, the calculation formula for the treatable target area length is:

[0047]

[0048] Among them, L PTV is the maximum length of the treatable target volume PTV (head-to-foot direction), L is the maximum length of the target volume treatable by a single magnetic resonance accelerator (head-to-foot direction), N is the number of target segments (also the number of isocenters), l (n-1,n),overlap LxN is the length of the beam transition zone between the n-1th and nth sub-target volumes (where n = 2, ...N). LxN is the maximum target volume treatable with MR-guided radiotherapy when N beams with different isocenters do not overlap. Table 1 lists the number of target segments and isocenter settings required for MR-guided beam transition radiotherapy, depending on the target volume length.

[0049] Table 1

[0050] Target area length Number of target segments Number of isocenter settings ≤L 1 1 >L and ≤2L 2 2 >2L and ≤3L 3 3 >3L and ≤4L 4 4

[0051] For example, the maximum length of the target area that can be treated with a single field in the head-to-foot direction of Elekta's Unity accelerator is 20 cm (i.e., L = 20 cm). If the target area can be divided into two sections (i.e., N = 2), and the length of the connecting area l between the two sub-target fields is 5 cm, then the maximum length of the target area that can be treated (in the head-to-foot direction) is 35 cm.

[0052] Based on the Unity magnetic resonance accelerator of Elekta, the following uses an MR phantom as an example to illustrate the specific implementation of the magnetic resonance guided beam field connection system and method. Figures 1 to 5 The method described in this embodiment is described in detail.

[0053] First, perform CT positioning of the MR phantom embodiment and scan the CT image to delineate the target volume (PTV) and organs at risk. The delineated length of the MR phantom target volume is 30 cm. Therefore, according to Table 1, this embodiment divides the PTV into two sub-target volumes: the first sub-target volume (PTV_sub1) and the second sub-target volume (PTV_sub2). A field overlap region (PTV_overlap) is defined in the area adjacent to the two sub-target volumes. See the schematic diagram of the target volume segmentation of the phantom embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 According to Table 1, two radiotherapy isocenters are set in this embodiment, namely Iso_PTV_sub1 and Iso_PTV_sub2.

[0054] Next, a reference plan for PTV_sub1 was designed. Then, based on the doses from the reference plan for PTV_sub1, a reference plan for PTV_sub2 was designed. After the plan design was completed, the doses for both the PTV_sub1 and PTV_sub2 reference plans, as well as their combined plan, were verified using the ArcCHECK-MR phantom.

[0055] In this embodiment, the radiotherapy process implemented using the above system and method is as follows: Figure 2 As shown in Figure 2, the online adaptive process specifically includes the following steps:

[0056] (1) Patient positioning: The technician positions the patient according to the PTV_sub1 radiotherapy plan center.

[0057] (2) MR scan (PTV_sub1): First, perform a scout scan; second, based on the scout scan results, move the MR scan center and adjust the MR scan range of PTV_sub1 to ensure that PTV_sub1, PTV_overlap, and part of PTV_sub2 can be scanned. Obtain the same-day MR image of PTV_sub1. The method for adjusting the MR scan range in this embodiment is as follows: Figure 3 shown.

[0058] (3) Image registration, structure delineation, and mapping (PTV_sub1): Select the adaptive (ATS or ATP) mode. If the ATS mode is selected, the target volume and OAR structures on the reference CT image are mapped to the same-day MR image of PTV_sub1 through deformable registration. The physician delineates the target volume and OAR and saves them. If the ATP mode is selected, the same-day MR image is rigidly registered with the reference CT image and saved.

[0059] (4) MR scan (PTV_sub2): While performing step (3), move the MR scan center to PTV_sub2 and adjust the scan range of PTV_sub2 to ensure that PTV_sub2, PTV_overlap, and part of PTV_sub1 are scanned. Obtain the first set of MR images of PTV_sub2 for the day (also the reference planning images for the day).

[0060] (5) Image Registration, Structural Outlining, and Mapping (PTV_sub2): Select the adaptive ATS mode and map the target volume and OAR structures on the reference CT image to the first set of MR images of PTV_sub2 that day through deformable registration. The physician outlines the target volume and OAR structures. The purpose of this step is to ensure that the target volume PTV_sub2 and OAR structures can be mapped to the first set of MR images of PTV_sub2 that day, preparing for the following steps (7) and (10).

[0061] (6) Online adaptive plan design and online dose verification (PTV_sub1): Design an online adaptive radiotherapy plan for PTV_sub1. After the plan design is completed and clinical review is passed, the plan is locked. The dose verification software ArcherQA is used to verify the dose of the online adaptive radiotherapy plan. After verification, the plan is executed.

[0062] (7) Offline adaptive plan design for the day (PTV_sub2): During the execution of the PTV_sub1 adaptive plan, the offline Monaco system was opened, and the first set of MR images of PTV_sub2 on the day was used to design the reference plan for PTV_sub2 on the day based on the online adaptive radiotherapy dose of PTV_sub1.

[0063] (8) Patient positioning: The patient remains still, and the technician enters the accelerator room and moves the treatment bed to the center of the PTV_sub2 radiotherapy plan.

[0064] (9) MR scan (PTV_sub2): Adjust the scan range of PTV_sub2 to ensure that PTV_sub2, PTV_overlap, and part of PTV_sub1 are scanned. Obtain the second set of MR images of PTV_sub2 on the same day.

[0065] (10) Image registration, structure delineation, and mapping (PTV_sub2): Select the adaptive (ATS or ATP) mode. If the ATS mode is selected, the target volume and structures such as organs at risk on the first set of MR images of PTV_sub2 are mapped to the second set of MR images of the same day through deformation registration. The physician delineates the target volume and organs at risk. If the ATP mode is selected, the second set of MR images of PTV_sub2 are rigidly registered with the first set of MR images of the same day.

[0066] (11) Online adaptive plan design (PTV_sub2): Online adaptive radiotherapy plan design is designed using the second set of MR images of PTV_sub2 on the same day.

[0067] (12) Pre-treatment synthesis evaluation (PTV_sub1 and PTV_sub2) and online dose verification (PTV_sub2): Close the online Monaco system, open the offline Monaco system, and synthesize the online adaptive radiotherapy dose of PTV_sub1 and PTV_sub2. The doctor reviews the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for PTV_sub2 and the synthesized dose of PTV_sub1 and PTV_sub2 (the synthesized dose distribution is consistent with the DVH as shown in the figure). Figure 4 and Figure 5 After review, the online Monaco system was opened. The dose verification software ArcherQA was used to perform dose verification on the PTV_sub2 online adaptive radiotherapy plan. After verification, the plan was executed.

[0068] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Thus, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0069] The present invention is described with reference to flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that each process and / or block in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, as well as combinations of processes and / or blocks in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device generate instructions for implementing the processes in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1A device that provides the functions specified in a block or multiple blocks.

[0070] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to work in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture comprising an instruction device, which implements the process Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0071] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device, and a series of operating steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide the functions for implementing the process. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A step that specifies a function in one or more boxes.

[0072] Although the above describes the specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications or variations that can be made by those skilled in the art on the basis of the technical solutions disclosed in the present invention without the need for creative work should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance guided radiation field connection system suitable for patients with long target volumes, characterized in that: include: A division module is used to divide the target area into N sub-target areas: a first sub-target area, a second sub-target area, ... and an Nth sub-target area, and define N-1 field connection areas in the area adjacent to each two sub-target areas; A first determination module is configured to perform an MR scan on the first sub-target area, register the current-day MR image of the first sub-target area with the reference plan image, select an adaptive mode, and determine an online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the first sub-target area; A generation module is used to perform an MR scan on the nth segment sub-target area, adjust the MR scanning range, ensure that the nth segment sub-target area, the radiation field connection area between the nth segment sub-target area and its adjacent n-1th segment sub-target area, and part of the n-1th segment sub-target area are scanned, and obtain a reference plan MR image of the nth segment sub-target area on the same day; wherein n = 2, 3, 4, ..., N; The second determination module is configured to determine a reference plan for the nth sub-target area on the same day using the MR image of the nth sub-target area on the same day and based on the adaptive radiotherapy dose of the n-1th sub-target area; scan the MR image of the nth sub-target area again, register the new MR image with the reference plan MR image on the same day, select the adaptive mode, and determine the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the nth sub-target area; An MR scan of the first sub-target area is performed, including: first, performing a positioning image scan; second, based on the positioning image scan result, moving the MR scan center and adjusting the scanning range of the first sub-target area to ensure that the first sub-target area, the radiation field connection area between the first sub-target area and the second sub-target area, and part of the second sub-target area can be scanned; then, a same-day MR scan of the first sub-target area is performed; for the first sub-target area, the same-day MR image and the reference plan image are aligned, the adaptive mode is selected, and the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the first sub-target area is determined, and the online dose verification software is used to verify the online adaptive plan for the first sub-target area. The plan is executed after the dose verification passes.

2. The magnetic resonance guided radiation field connection system suitable for patients with long target volumes according to claim 1, characterized in that: For the nth sub-target area, first, before adaptive radiotherapy of the nth sub-target area, move the MR scanning center and adjust the MR scanning range to ensure that the nth sub-target area, the radiation field connection area between the nth sub-target area and its adjacent n-1th sub-target area, and part of the n-1th sub-target area are scanned. Then, perform MR scanning of the nth sub-target area to generate the reference plan image for the day. Secondly, use the MR image of the nth sub-target area on the day and determine the reference plan for the nth sub-target area on the day based on the adaptive radiotherapy dose of the n-1th sub-target area.

3. The magnetic resonance guided radiation field connection system suitable for patients with long target volumes according to claim 2, characterized in that: Move the treatment bed to the radiotherapy center of the nth sub-target area, scan the MR image of the nth sub-target area again, align the new MR image with the reference plan MR image of the day, select the adaptive mode, and determine the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the nth sub-target area; The online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the nth sub-target area and the n-1th sub-target area was synthetically evaluated; the online adaptive plan for the nth sub-target area was verified using online dose verification software, and the plan was executed after the dose verification passed.

4. A magnetic resonance-guided radiation field connection method for patients with long target volumes based on the system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: include: The target area is divided into N sub-target areas, and N-1 field connection areas are defined in the adjacent areas between every two adjacent sub-target areas; Perform MR scanning on the first sub-target area, register the current-day MR image of the first sub-target area with the reference plan image, select the adaptive mode, and determine the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the first sub-target area; Perform an MR scan on the nth sub-target area, adjust the MR scan range to ensure that the nth sub-target area, the radiation field connection area between the nth sub-target area and its adjacent n-1th sub-target area, and part of the n-1th sub-target area are scanned, and obtain the reference plan MR image of the nth sub-target area for the day; where n = 2, 3, 4, ..., N; Using the MR image of the nth sub-target area on the same day, the reference plan for the nth sub-target area on the same day is determined based on the adaptive radiotherapy dose of the n-1th sub-target area; Scan the MR image of the n-th sub-target area again, register the new MR image with the reference plan MR image of the day, select the adaptive mode, and determine the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the n-th sub-target area; Among them, the MR scanning of the first sub-target area includes: first, performing a positioning image scan; second, based on the positioning image scan results, moving the MR scanning center, adjusting the scanning range of the first sub-target area, ensuring that the first sub-target area, the radiation field connection area between the first sub-target area and the second sub-target area, and part of the second sub-target area can be scanned; then, performing a same-day MR scan of the first sub-target area; for the first sub-target area, aligning the same-day MR image and the reference plan image, selecting the adaptive mode, determining the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the first sub-target area, using the online dose verification software to verify the online adaptive plan for the first sub-target area, and executing the plan after the dose verification is passed.

5. The magnetic resonance-guided radiation field connection method for patients with long target volumes according to claim 4, characterized in that: For the nth sub-target area, first, before adaptive radiotherapy of the nth sub-target area, move the MR scanning center and adjust the MR scanning range to ensure that the nth sub-target area, the radiation field connection area between the nth sub-target area and its adjacent n-1th sub-target area, and part of the n-1th sub-target area are scanned. Then, perform MR scanning of the nth sub-target area to generate the reference plan image for the day. Secondly, use the MR image of the nth sub-target area on the day and determine the reference plan for the nth sub-target area on the day based on the adaptive radiotherapy dose of the n-1th sub-target area.

6. The magnetic resonance-guided radiation field connection method for patients with long target volumes according to claim 5, characterized in that: Move the treatment bed to the radiotherapy center of the nth sub-target area, scan the MR image of the nth sub-target area again, align the new MR image with the reference plan MR image of the day, select the adaptive mode, and determine the online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the nth sub-target area; The online adaptive radiotherapy plan for the nth sub-target area and the n-1th sub-target area was synthetically evaluated; the online adaptive plan for the nth sub-target area was verified using online dose verification software, and the plan was executed after the dose verification passed.

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