Radiotherapy plan image providing method and apparatus

Abstract

The control circuitry receives a radiotherapy planning system request for the image data to support a particular radiotherapy planning step (typically for a particular corresponding patient). The control circuit then accesses specific image data that is particularly suitable for supporting a specific radiotherapy planning step and transmits the specific image data in response to a radiotherapy planning system request. The illustrative examples of the specific radiotherapy planning steps include but are not limited to a contour drawing step, a segmentation step, a dose prediction step, a dose calculation step and the like. By one approach and as an illustrative example, the foregoing particular image data may include patient image information including a segmented structure.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] These teachings generally relate to treating a planning target volume of a patient with energy according to an energy-based treatment plan, and more particularly to optimizing an energy-based treatment plan at least in part according to patient image data. BACKGROUND

[0002] The use of energy to treat disease is a known area of endeavor in the art. For example, radiation therapy is an important component of many treatment plans for reducing or eliminating unwanted tumors. Unfortunately, the energy applied does not inherently discriminate between unwanted matter and adjacent tissue, organs or the like that are desirable or even vital to the continued survival of the patient. Thus, energy such as radiation is typically applied in a carefully administered manner to at least attempt to limit the energy to a given target volume. So-called radiation treatment planning often serves this purpose.

[0003] A radiation treatment plan typically includes a specified value for each of various treatment platform parameters during each of a plurality of successive fields. Treatment planning for a course of radiation therapy is typically generated automatically through a so-called optimization process. As used herein, "optimization" is to be understood as improving a candidate treatment plan, without necessarily ensuring that the result of the optimization is in fact the only best solution. Such optimization typically involves automatically adjusting one or more physical treatment parameters (typically while observing one or more corresponding limitations on these aspects) and mathematically computing a possible corresponding treatment result (e.g., a dose level) to identify a given set of treatment parameters that represent a desirable therapy result and avoid undesirable collateral effects in a good tradeoff.

[0004] In developing a radiation treatment plan, patient images are typically used. In particular, images (e.g., computed tomography and / or tomographic images) that depict treatment volumes, organs at risk, and other patient structures and features. Complications, inaccuracies, inefficiencies and / or delays can arise when the provided images are not suitable per se to support a given corresponding radiation treatment planning step. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0005] The above needs are at least partially met through provision of the radiation treatment planning image providing method and apparatus described below in the detailed description, when viewed in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0006] Figure 1 A block diagram illustrating various embodiments configured in accordance with these teachings is shown;

[0007] Figure 2 A block diagram illustrating various embodiments configured in accordance with these teachings is shown;

[0008] Figure 3flowcharts configured in accordance with various embodiments of these teachings; and

[0009] Figure 4 flowcharts configured in accordance with various embodiments of these teachings;

[0010] The elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and / or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present teachings. Also, certain DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Generally, in accordance with these various embodiments, the control circuitry receives a radiation therapy planning system request for image data to support a particular radiation therapy planning step (typically for a particular corresponding patient). The control circuitry then accesses particular image data that is particularly suitable for supporting the particular radiation therapy planning step and transmits the particular image data in response to the radiation therapy planning system request. Illustrative examples of particular radiation therapy planning steps include, but are not limited to, a contouring step, a segmentation step, a dose prediction step, and a dose calculation step, to name a few. By way of one approach and by way of illustrative example, the aforementioned particular image data can include patient image information that includes segmented structures.

[0012] These teachings are flexible in practice and will accommodate various approaches with respect to accessing the aforementioned particular image data that is particularly suitable for supporting a particular radiation therapy planning step. By way of one approach, the foregoing includes accessing patient image information (such as, but not limited to, computed tomography image information and / or cone-beam computed tomography image information) and then processing the patient image information to generate the aforementioned particular image data that is particularly suitable for supporting a particular radiation therapy planning step. By way of simple example, the aforementioned processing can include, at least in part, modifying an image format.

[0013] By way of one illustrative example, when the particular radiation therapy planning step includes a contouring step, the aforementioned processing can include, at least in part, enhancing contrast in the patient image information.

[0014] As another illustrative example, when a particular radiation therapy planning step includes a dose calculation step, the aforementioned processing can at least partially include providing at least one of: electron density information for each patient voxel, mass density for each patient voxel, relative proton stopping power for each patient voxel, and / or volumetric material for each patient voxel.

[0015] By one approach, the aforementioned processing can at least partially include reconstructing the particular image data from single-energy computed tomography image data. By another approach, the aforementioned processing can at least partially include performing an effective electron density reconstruction from dual-energy computed tomography image data.

[0016] With this arrangement, a radiation therapy planning system (automated, partially automated, or non-automated) can provide differentiated patient images in a timely manner, each of which is particularly well-suited to support the needs of a given radiation therapy planning step. This, in turn, can help to facilitate faster competition of the planning process and / or more accurate therapy and more effective outcomes.

[0017] These and other advantages can become more apparent from a review of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Now, therefore, reference will be made to the drawings wherein: Figure 1 An illustrative apparatus 100 and application setting compatible with many of these teachings is first presented.

[0018] In a particular example, the apparatus 100 includes a control circuit 101. Thus, as a "circuit," the control circuit 101 includes a structure that contains at least one (and typically a plurality) of electrically conductive paths (e.g., paths composed of an electrically conductive metal such as copper or silver) that transport electrical power in an ordered manner, which paths typically also include corresponding electrical components (as appropriate, including passive components (e.g., resistors and capacitors) and active components (e.g., any of a variety of semiconductor-based devices)) to allow the circuit to affect the control aspects of these teachings.

[0019] Such a control circuit 101 can include a fixed purpose, hard-wired hardware platform (including, but not limited to, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) (which is a custom integrated circuit designed for a particular use, rather than an integrated circuit for general use), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.) or can include a hardware platform that is partially or wholly programmable (including, but not limited to, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, etc.). These architectural alternatives of such structures are well known and understood in the art and therefore need not be described further herein. The control circuit 101 is configured (e.g., through the use of corresponding programming, as is well known to those skilled in the art) to perform one or more steps, actions, and / or functions described herein.

[0020] The control circuit 101 is operatively coupled to a memory 102. Depending on the desires, this memory 102 can be integrated with the control circuit 101 or can be physically separate (in whole or in part) from the control circuit 101. This memory 102 can also be local with respect to the control circuit 101 (e.g., both share a common circuit board, frame, power supply, and / or housing) or can be partially or entirely remote from the control circuit 101 (e.g., the memory 102 is physically located in another facility, metropolitan area, or even country as compared to the control circuit 101).

[0021] In addition to information such as patient image information for a particular patient, other optimization information, and information about a particular radiation therapy platform as described herein, the memory 102 can also be used to, for example, non-transitorily store computer instructions that, when executed by the control circuit 101, cause the control circuit 101 to behave as described herein. (As used herein, "non-transitory" is to be understood to refer to the non-transient nature of the stored contents (and thus excludes the case that the stored contents merely form a signal or wave) rather than the volatileness of the storage medium itself, and thus includes non-volatile memory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM)) as well as volatile memory (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM)).

[0022] By one approach, the control circuit 101 is also operatively coupled to a user interface 103. This user interface 103 can include any of a variety of user input mechanisms (such as, but not limited to, a keyboard and keypad, a cursor control device, a touch-sensitive display, a voice recognition interface, a gesture recognition interface, etc.) and / or user output mechanisms (such as, but not limited to, a visual display, an audio transducer, a printer, etc.) to receive information and / or instructions from and / or provide information to a user.

[0023] If desired, the control circuit 101 can also be operatively coupled to a network interface (not shown). So configured, the control circuit 101 can communicate with other elements (both internal and external to the device 100) via the network interface. Network interfaces (including wireless and non-wireless platforms) are well known in the art and thus need not be described in detail here.

[0024] By one approach, the computer tomography device 106 and / or other imaging device 107 known in the art can obtain any desired portion or all of the imaging information related to the patient.

[0025] In this illustrative example, the control circuit 101 is configured to ultimately output an optimized energy-based treatment plan (e.g., an optimized radiation treatment plan 113). The energy-based treatment plan generally includes specified values for each of various treatment platform parameters during each of a plurality of successive exposure fields. In this case, the energy-based treatment plan is generated through an optimization process, examples of which will be provided further herein.

[0026] By one approach, the control circuit 101 can be operatively coupled to an energy-based treatment platform 114 configured to deliver treatment energy 112 to a corresponding patient 104 in accordance with the optimized energy-based treatment plan 113. The patient 104 can have a treatment volume 105 and one or more organs at risk (OARs) as represented by the first through Nth organs at risk (represented by reference numerals 108 and 109). These teachings are generally applicable to a variety of energy-based treatment platforms / devices. In a typical application setting, the energy-based treatment platform 114 includes an energy source, a radiation source 115 of, e.g., ionizing radiation 116.

[0027] By one approach, the radiation source 115 can be selectively moved by a gantry along an arcuate path (where, during the practice of treatment, the path at least to some extent encompasses the patient himself). The arcuate path can include a full or near-full circle, as desired. By one approach, the control circuit 101 controls movement of the radiation source 115 along the arcuate path, and can accordingly control when the radiation source 115 starts moving, stops moving, accelerates, decelerates, and / or the speed at which the radiation source 115 moves along the arcuate path.

[0028] As an illustrative example, the radiation source 115 can include an x-ray source based on, e.g., a radio frequency (RF) linear particle accelerator (linac). A linac is a type of particle accelerator that greatly increases the kinetic energy of charged subatomic particles or ions by subjecting them to a series of oscillating electric potentials along a linear beam line, which can be used to generate ionizing radiation (e.g., x-rays) 116 and high-energy electrons.

[0029] A typical energy-based treatment platform 114 can also include one or more support devices 110 (e.g., a couch) for supporting the patient 104 during a treatment session, one or more patient fixation devices 111, a gantry or other movable mechanism to allow selective movement of the radiation source 115, and one or more energy-shaping devices (e.g., beam-shaping devices 117, e.g., diaphragms, multi-leaf collimators, etc.) to provide selective energy shaping and / or energy modulation, as desired.

[0030] In a typical application setting, it is assumed herein that the patient support apparatus 110 can be selectively controlled by the control circuit 101 to move in any direction (i.e., any X, Y, or Z direction) during an energy-based treatment session. As the aforementioned elements and systems are well known in the art, further elaboration on these aspects is not provided herein unless relevant to the description.

[0031] By way of one approach and with reference now to Figure 2 The apparatus 100 can also provide for the aforementioned control circuit 101 (and / or the aforementioned memory 102) to be communicatively coupled to one or more remote resources 202 via one or more intervening networks 201. The remote resources 202 can themselves include control circuitry substantially as described above. The remote resources 202 can be physically remote from the facility housing the aforementioned control circuit 101, or can physically share the same facility as desired. The remote resources 202 can also be in communication with the aforementioned memory 102 and / or with other memory 203 that is physically remote from the apparatus 100. These memories 102, 203 can contain, for example, patient image information and / or specific image data that is particularly suitable for supporting a corresponding specific radiation treatment planning step as discussed herein.

[0032] Reference is now made to Figure 3 A process 300 that can be performed, for example, in connection with the above-described application setting (and more specifically, via one or both of the aforementioned control circuits 101, 202, hereinafter simply referred to as “the control circuit” or “said control circuit”) will be described. Generally speaking, the process 300 serves to facilitate the generation of an optimized radiation treatment plan 113, thereby facilitating treatment of a specific patient with therapeutic radiation in accordance with the optimized radiation treatment plan using a specific radiation treatment platform.

[0033] At block 301, the control circuit receives a radiation treatment planning system request (i.e., a request from a radiation treatment planning system) for image data to support a specific radiation treatment planning step. The request can be from outside the control circuit or can be an internal request, for example, from radiation treatment planning system automation software run by the control circuit. The teachings are intended to encompass a variety of different radiation treatment planning steps. Some non-limiting examples of these aspects include a contouring step, a segmentation step, a dose prediction step, and a dose calculation step.

[0034] In response to receiving the foregoing request, the control circuitry accesses, at block 302, particular image data that is particularly suited to support the particular radiation therapy planning step of the foregoing particular radiation therapy planning step. As used herein, a reference to image data that is "particularly suited to" support a particular radiation therapy planning step is understood to mean that one form of image data is more helpful to the planning step than a different form (possibly the original form) of image data. To be "helpful," the image has a form that can enable the planning step to be performed with greater accuracy, timeliness, and / or compatibility with the processing details of the planning step itself.

[0035] As an illustrative example, the particular image data can include patient image data that includes segmented structures (e.g., identified target volumes, organs at risk, and / or other tissues and structures within the patient).

[0036] The teachings are flexible in practice and will accommodate various approaches to the foregoing aspects. With temporary reference to Figure 4 Details of some of the approaches will be presented. It should be appreciated that these details are intended to serve an illustrative role and are not intended to place any limitations on the teachings.

[0037] At block 401, the control circuitry accesses patient image information. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this activity can occur prior to receiving the foregoing radiation therapy planning system request or can occur in response to receiving the request. The patient image information may, for example, include computed tomography image information and / or cone-beam computed tomography image information (e.g., originally sourced from the foregoing CT device 106 and / or imaging device 107).

[0038] At block 402, the control circuitry processes the patient image information to generate particular image data that is particularly suited to support a corresponding particular radiation therapy planning step (e.g., the foregoing particular radiation therapy planning step corresponding to the radiation therapy planning system request). And again, those skilled in the art will appreciate that this processing activity can occur prior to receiving the foregoing radiation therapy planning system request or can occur in response to receiving the request, as desired. The teachings will also accommodate processing the patient image information at least in part prior to being needed, and then further processing the partially processed patient information to provide the particular image data to support the corresponding particular radiation therapy planning step, as needed.

[0039] As an illustrative example, the foregoing processing can include, at least in part, modifying the image format. By one approach, the foregoing processing can include, at least in part, reconstructing from single-energy computed tomography image data. By another approach, when the patient image information includes dual-energy computed tomography image data, the foregoing processing can include generating any one or more of the following:

[0040] effective atomic number images (including effective atomic number (Zeff) maps);

[0041] effective atomic number images (including effective atomic number (Zeff) maps);

[0042] weighted average images (simulated mono-energetic spectra);

[0043] virtual mono-energetic images (attenuation for a single photon energy rather than a spectrum);

[0044] material decomposition images (mapping or removal of a known attenuating property of a substance, such as iodine, calcium, or uric acid);

[0045] virtual non-contrast images (e.g., iodine removed);

[0046] iodine concentration images (e.g., iodine maps);

[0047] calcium suppression images (calcium removed); and

[0048] uric acid suppression images (uric acid removed).

[0049] As a more specific illustrative example, when the particular radiation therapy planning step comprises a contouring step, the aforementioned processing can at least partially comprise enhancing contrast in the patient image information.

[0050] As another more specific illustrative example, when the particular radiation therapy planning step comprises a dose calculation step, the aforementioned processing can at least partially comprise generating particular image data that provides at least one of: electron density information for each patient voxel, mass density for each patient voxel, relative proton stopping power for each patient voxel, and volumetric material for each patient voxel (where volumetric material is used to identify a corresponding volume's material composition).

[0051] Referring again to Figure 3 At block 303, the control circuitry is responsive to the radiation therapy planning system requesting transmission of particular image data. Notably, when the aforementioned processing occurs prior to the radiation therapy planning process being initiated, the overall process can proceed more quickly, as there is no need to take the time to prepare such image data when needed.

[0052] The radiation therapy planning system, which is sourced from the aforementioned request, can then employ the received particular image data to perform the particular radiation therapy planning step that corresponds to that information. The radiation therapy planning system can subsequently make additional requests for image data to support other radiation therapy planning steps, and the aforementioned activities can be repeated to generate / provide appropriate image data to support the corresponding steps.

[0053] Upon completion of the radiotherapy planning process, the resulting optimized radiotherapy plan 113 can be used with the aforementioned radiotherapy platform 114 to apply the treatment energy 112 to one or more treatment volumes 105 in the patient 104.

[0054] By so configuring, these teachings can support providing a centralized image service that generates / stores / delivers patient images that are particularly well suited to support various use cases during radiotherapy planning. These teachings can greatly simplify and / or integrate imaging and radiotherapy planning workflows and help avoid radiotherapy planning systems that import only one patient image that then the system has to process for the application setting.

[0055] Those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications, changes, and combinations can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, if desired, these teachings can be used in application settings other than radiotherapy planning. Accordingly, such modifications, changes, and combinations are to be considered as within the scope of the present inventive concept.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: control circuitry configured to: receive a radiation therapy planning system request for image data to support a particular radiation therapy planning step; access particular image data specifically adapted to support the particular radiation therapy planning step; in response to the radiation therapy planning system request, transmit the particular image data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the particular radiation therapy planning step comprises one of: a contouring step; a segmentation step; a dose prediction step; a dose calculation step.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, the particular image data comprises patient image information including segmented structures.

4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, the control circuitry is configured to access the particular image data specifically adapted to support the particular radiation therapy planning step by: accessing patient image information; processing the patient image information to generate the particular image data specifically adapted to support the particular radiation therapy planning step.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein, the patient image information comprises at least one of computed tomography image information and cone-beam computed tomography image information.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 or 5, wherein, the control circuitry is configured to process the patient image information to generate the particular image data at least in part by modifying an image format.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 4-6, wherein, the particular radiation therapy planning step comprises a contouring step, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to process the patient image information to generate the particular image data at least in part by enhancing contrast in the patient image information.

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 4-7, wherein, the particular radiation therapy planning step comprises a dose calculation step, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to process the patient image information to generate the particular image data at least in part by providing at least one of: electron density information for each patient voxel; mass density for each patient voxel; relative proton stopping power for each patient voxel; volume material for each patient voxel.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein, the control circuitry is configured to process the patient image information to generate the particular image data specifically adapted to support the particular radiation therapy planning step at least in part by reconstructing the particular image data from single-energy computed tomography image data.

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 4-8, wherein, the control circuitry is configured to process the patient image information to generate the particular image data specifically adapted to support the particular radiation therapy planning step at least in part by effective electron density reconstruction from dual-energy computed tomography image data.

11. A method comprising: by control circuitry: receiving a radiation therapy planning system request for image data to support a particular radiation therapy planning step; accessing particular image data specifically adapted to support the particular radiation therapy planning step; in response to the radiation therapy planning system request, transmitting the particular image data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, the particular radiation therapy planning step comprises one of: a contouring step; a segmentation step; a dose prediction step; a dose calculation step.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein, the particular image data comprises patient image information including segmented structures.

14. The method of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein, accessing the particular image data specifically adapted to support the particular radiation therapy planning step comprises: accessing patient image information; processing the patient image information to generate the particular image data that is particularly suited to support the particular radiation therapy planning step.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The patient image information includes at least one of computed tomography image information and cone-beam computed tomography image information.

16. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein, Processing the patient image information to generate the particular image data includes at least in part modifying an image format.

17. The method of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein, The particular radiation therapy planning step includes a contouring step, and wherein processing the patient image information to generate the particular image data includes at least in part enhancing contrast in the patient image information.

18. The method of any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein, The particular radiation therapy planning step includes a dose calculation step, and wherein processing the patient image information to generate the particular image data includes at least in part providing at least one of: electron density information for each patient voxel; mass density for each patient voxel; relative proton stopping power for each patient voxel; volume material for each patient voxel.

19. The method of any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein, Processing the patient image information to generate the particular image data that is particularly suited to support the particular radiation therapy planning step includes at least in part reconstructing the particular image data from single-energy computed tomography image data.

20. The method of any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein, Processing the patient image information to generate the particular image data that is particularly suited to support the particular radiation therapy planning step includes at least in part performing an effective electron density reconstruction from dual-energy computed tomography image data.

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