Treatment planning system, automated overlap detection method, and treatment plan formulation method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a treatment planning system, an automatic overlap inspection method, and a treatment plan formulation method. The treatment planning system includes an image processing module, a data processing module, an overlap detection module, and a treatment plan generation module. The image processing module creates an irradiated body model including several voxel grids based on medical image data. The data processing module acquires a beam source model and determines the position parameters of the beam source model and the irradiated body model. The overlap detection module selects a reference object from several voxel grids, determines whether the reference object overlaps with the beam source model based on the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model, and adjusts the position parameters until the reference object no longer overlaps with the beam source model. The treatment plan generation module generates a treatment plan based on the adjusted position parameters. The present invention not only automatically determines whether a collimator overlaps with patient tissue and can inspect whether a collision between the collimator and patient tissue will occur during setup according to the treatment policy, but can also modify the radiotherapy plan more quickly and automatically generate a corresponding treatment plan.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of treatment planning, and more particularly to treatment planning systems, automated overlap detection methods, and treatment planning methods. [Background technology]

[0002] Radiotherapy is a local treatment method that uses radiation to treat diseases and is an important tool in cancer treatment. With the advancement of atomic science, radiotherapy using cobalt-60, linear accelerators, and electron beams has already become one of the main methods of cancer treatment. However, conventional photon or electron therapy, due to the physical limitations of the radiation itself, kills tumor cells but also damages numerous normal tissues in the beam path. Furthermore, because tumor cells have varying degrees of sensitivity to radiation, conventional radiotherapy is not highly effective against malignant tumors with high radiation resistance (e.g., glioblastoma multiforme, melanoma). To reduce radiation damage to normal tissues surrounding tumors, the concept of targeted therapy in chemotherapy has been applied to radiotherapy. Currently, radiation sources with high relative biological effectiveness (RBE), such as proton therapy, heavy ion therapy, and neutron capture therapy, are being actively developed for highly radiation-resistant tumor cells. Of these, neutron capture therapy combines the two concepts mentioned above. For example, in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), boron-containing drugs specifically accumulate in tumor cells, and combined with highly precise beam control, it offers a better cancer treatment option compared to conventional radiation therapy. Before administering radiation therapy, a medical physicist must predict the treatment effect and determine the treatment process; this process is the development of a radiation therapy treatment plan.

[0003] A crucial step in developing a treatment plan is determining the angle and direction of the collimator's irradiation to the patient. To protect healthy tissue from excessive radiation damage, the collimator outlet is usually positioned close to the tumor, allowing the collimator to guide the radiation particles toward the outlet, thus ensuring that most radiation particles are directed to the tumor and other healthy tissue is protected. In many cases, overlap between tissue and the collimator is unacceptable during actual treatment, otherwise it becomes difficult to set up the patient in a position corresponding to the treatment parameters. It is acceptable if the collimator overlaps only with the air portion of the voxel grid, or if a protruding treatment area on the body surface enters the internal space of the collimator. When developing a treatment plan, medical physicists must determine whether or not tissue overlaps with the collimator, and if they discover overlap during actual treatment, for example, after calculating the dose, or even during setup, it will hinder the smooth progress of the treatment. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] Therefore, to address the aforementioned technical challenges, it is necessary to provide an efficient and accurate treatment planning system, an automated method for checking for overlaps in treatment plans, and a method for formulating treatment plans. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In a first aspect, the treatment planning system according to the present invention includes an image processing module, a data processing module, an overlap detection module, and a treatment plan generation module. The image processing module acquires medical image data of the irradiated object, and based on the medical image data, creates a three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object that includes several voxel grids. The data processing module acquires a beam source model and determines the positional parameters of the beam source model and the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object. The overlap detection module comprises the voxel grid and the beam source. Model Determine the positional relationship with, The aforementioned treatment plan generation module generates a treatment plan.

[0006] The treatment planning system according to the present invention acquires information such as the voxel grid of the 3D voxel model of the irradiated body, the beam source model, and the position parameters of the 3D voxel model of the irradiated body by arranging an image processing module, a data processing module, an overlap detection module, and a treatment plan generation module. The overlap detection module determines whether the 3D voxel model of the irradiated body and the beam source model overlap and whether it is reasonable. Based on this, the system determines whether the collimator and patient tissue overlap and whether it is reasonable in the treatment plan. It also checks whether the treatment plan will cause a collision between the collimator and patient tissue during setup. All processes can be automatically checked and judged by the treatment planning system. Furthermore, it can provide guidance to medical physicists in advance, thereby enabling medical physicists to revise the treatment plan more quickly, and the treatment planning system can automatically generate the corresponding treatment plan.

[0007] In one embodiment, the overlap detection module determines the positional relationship between the voxel grid and the beam source model based on the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model. Model The positional relationship with the reference object is determined, and the reference object is selected from several of the voxel grids.

[0008] In one embodiment, the overlap detection module can determine the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model, and the positional relationship between the reference object and the internal irradiation space of the beam source model. If the treatment area of ​​the irradiated body cannot enter the internal irradiation space of the beam source, the tissue of the irradiated body cannot overlap not only with the beam source model, but also with the internal irradiation space of the beam source model. When selecting a beam source model, the module determines whether or not the treatment area of ​​the irradiated body can enter the internal irradiation space of the beam source model. The overlap detection module determines whether or not to allow the 3D voxel model of the irradiated body to enter the internal irradiation space of the beam source model, and whether or not the 3D voxel model of the irradiated body that has entered the internal irradiation space overlaps with the beam source model.

[0009] In one embodiment, the overlap detection module includes the reference object and the beam source. Model It can output an overlap indication signal. When the reference object overlaps with the beam source model, the overlap detection module will indicate to the user or medical physicist the irradiated object and the beam source. Model To determine whether or not it is necessary to adjust the relative positional relationship, an overlapping signal is output, and if adjustment is necessary, it can be adjusted based on the overlapping signal.

[0010] In one embodiment, the overlap detection module can determine the microstructure type of the overlapping reference material. When the overlap detection module determines that the reference material overlaps with the beam source model, it can determine whether the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object that has entered the internal irradiation space of the beam source model overlaps with the beam source model, further determine the microstructure type of the overlapping reference material, and thereby further determine whether it is necessary to adjust the range of the overlapping microstructure.

[0011] In one embodiment, the overlap detection module can determine the adjustment range of the position parameters. If the treatment site of the irradiated body cannot enter the internal irradiation space of the beam source, the system determines that the reference object overlaps with the beam source model and then provides a reasonable adjustment range of the position parameters for use as a reference for the medical physicist. If the treatment site of the irradiated body can enter the internal irradiation space of the beam source, the overlap detection module provides an adjustment range of the position parameters for overlapping or non-overlapping cases based on the tissue type of the reference object and uses this as a reference for adjustments by the medical physicist, thereby facilitating the formulation of treatment plans and effectively improving the work efficiency of the medical physicist.

[0012] In one embodiment, the overlap detection module is adjustable in terms of position parameters. The overlap detection module determines whether the reference object overlaps with the beam source model based on the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model, and automatically adjusts the position parameters.

[0013] In one embodiment, the overlap detection module can determine the type of voxel grid.

[0014] In one embodiment, the voxel grid includes a first-type grid and a second-type grid, depending on the type, wherein the first-type grid consists of the tissue of the irradiated object, and the second-type grid consists of air, and the reference object is selected from the first-type grid. If the system determines that the voxel grid is a first-type grid, it selects a reference object from the grid, performs a subsequent overlap determination, or causes an overlap detection module to perform a subsequent overlap determination; if the system determines that the voxel grid is a second-type grid, it does not select a reference object from the grid and does not perform the subsequent determination step.

[0015] In one embodiment, the tissue comprises a first type of tissue and a second type of tissue, depending on the type, wherein the first type of tissue is a surface flexible tissue and the second type of tissue is a non-deformable tissue.

[0016] When further determining the tissue type of the overlapping fiducial, if the overlapping tissue is the first type of tissue, i.e., a surface tissue such as the skin, or a surface soft tissue such as the skin, muscle, fat, etc., it is necessary to determine whether it is necessary to adjust the position parameters based on the overlapping range. If the overlapping tissue is the second type of tissue, i.e., a non-deformable tissue such as the skeleton, it is necessary to adjust the position of the irradiated object or the position of the beam source model.

[0017] In one embodiment, the fiducial may be selected from the second type of tissue.

[0018] When the tissue of the irradiated object is the first type of tissue, it is not necessary to adjust the position parameters of the three-dimensional voxel model or the beam source model of the irradiated object, or to provide an allowable adjustment range of the position parameters of the three-dimensional voxel model or the beam source model of the irradiated object. When the tissue of the irradiated object is the second type of tissue, it is necessary to adjust the position parameters of the three-dimensional voxel model or the beam source model of the irradiated object, or to provide a corresponding adjustment signal for the reference of medical physicists.

[0019] In one embodiment, the fiducial includes one, a plurality or all of the vertices, face-centered points, random points, contour lines or outer surfaces of the voxel grid. The random points may be random sampling points selected from the voxel grid, and the fiducial is obtained by simulating a sufficient number of random points.

[0020] In one embodiment, the position parameters include the relative distance, relative angle, and beam irradiation direction between the beam source model and the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object. The treatment planning system calculates and outputs the position parameters based on the medical image data.

[0021] In one embodiment, the overlap presentation signal includes an overlap position, an overlap width, and an overlap volume. When the reference object overlaps with the beam source model, an overlap presentation signal including the overlap position, the overlap width, the overlap volume, etc. is output and used as a reference for relative position adjustment by the user or medical physicist.

[0022] In one embodiment, the beam source model is selected based on the medical image data of the irradiated object. The data processing module can select an appropriate beam source model based on the three-dimensional voxel model or medical image data of the irradiated object.

[0023] In a second aspect, the overlap automatic inspection method according to the present invention includes a model acquisition step of acquiring a three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object including several voxel grids and a beam source model, a position parameter acquisition step of acquiring the position parameters of the beam source model and the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object, and an overlap determination step of determining the positional relationship between the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object and the beam source model based on the positional relationship between the voxel grid and the beam source model.

[0024] In one embodiment, before the overlap determination step, it further includes a reference object selection step of selecting a reference object from several voxel grids, and in the overlap determination step, the positional relationship between the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object and the beam source model is determined based on the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model.

[0025] In one embodiment, before the reference object selection step or the overlap determination step, or at the start of the reference object selection step or the overlap determination step, if it is determined that the voxel grid is a grid of the first type, a reference object is selected from the grid and the overlap determination step is executed; if it is determined that the voxel grid is a grid of the second type, a reference object is not selected from the grid and the overlap determination step is not executed. It further includes a grid type determination step. The voxel grid includes a first-type grid and a second-type grid, depending on the type; the first-type grid consists of the tissue of the irradiated object, and the second-type grid consists of air.

[0026] In one embodiment, the overlap determination step includes a position adjustment step in which, if the reference object overlaps with the beam source model, the position parameters of the beam source model or the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object are automatically adjusted until the reference object no longer overlaps with the beam source model.

[0027] In one embodiment, the overlap determination step further includes an overlap signal output step that outputs an overlap indication signal if the reference object overlaps with the beam source model.

[0028] In one embodiment, the overlap determination step further includes a spatial entry determination step in which the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object enters the internal irradiation space of the beam source model, and adjusts the positional parameters of the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object and the beam source model.

[0029] In one embodiment, the spatial entry determination step includes a positional relationship determination step that determines the positional relationship between the reference object and the internal irradiation space of the beam source model.

[0030] In one embodiment, the positional relationship determination step may be performed in the model acquisition step, and when acquiring the beam source model, it is determined whether the object to be irradiated can enter the internal irradiation space of the beam source model based on the size of the internal irradiation space of the beam source model and the size of the object to be irradiated.

[0031] In one embodiment, the spatial entry determination step further includes a tissue type determination step of determining the tissue type of the irradiated object that has entered the irradiation space and adjusting the position parameters based on the tissue type of the irradiated object.

[0032] In one embodiment, in the tissue type determination step, the tissue includes a first type of tissue and a second type of tissue depending on the type, the first type of tissue is a surface flexible tissue, and the second type of tissue is a non-deformable tissue. If the irradiated tissue is of type 1, it is not necessary to adjust the position parameters of the 3D voxel model or beam source model of the irradiated tissue, or to provide an adjustment range for the position parameters of the 3D voxel model or beam source model of the irradiated tissue. If the irradiated tissue is of type 2, the positional parameters of the 3D voxel model or beam source model of the irradiated tissue are adjusted or adjustment signals are provided.

[0033] In one embodiment, the reference material is selected from a second type of tissue.

[0034] In one embodiment, the position parameter acquisition step includes the relative distance, relative angle, and beam irradiation direction between the beam source model and the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object.

[0035] In one embodiment, in the overlap determination step, the reference object includes one, more, or all of the following: vertices of a voxel grid, face centers, random points, contour lines, or outer surfaces.

[0036] In one embodiment, in the overlap signal output step, the overlap signal includes the overlap position, the overlap width, and the overlap volume.

[0037] In one embodiment, in the model acquisition step, the beam source model is selected based on medical image data of the irradiated object.

[0038] In a third embodiment, the treatment plan formulation method according to the present invention is A model data acquisition step involves acquiring medical image data of the irradiated body and creating a 3D voxel model of the irradiated body, including several voxel grids, based on the medical image data. A position parameter determination step in which the position parameters of the beam source model and the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object are determined, Voxel grid and beam source Model A step to determine the positional relationship and adjust the positional parameters, The present invention is characterized by including a treatment plan generation step, which generates a treatment plan.

[0039] In one embodiment, prior to the overlap determination step, a reference object selection step is further included in which a reference object is selected from several voxel grids, and in the overlap determination step, the positional relationship between the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object and the beam source model is determined based on the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model.

[0040] In one embodiment, before the reference object selection step or the overlap determination step, or at the start of the reference object selection step or the overlap determination step, The grid type determination step further includes, if it is determined that the voxel grid is a first type grid, selecting a reference object from the grid and performing the overlap determination step, and if it is determined that the voxel grid is a second type grid, not selecting a reference object from the grid and not performing the overlap determination step, The voxel grid includes a first-type grid and a second-type grid, depending on the type; the first-type grid consists of the tissue of the irradiated object, and the second-type grid consists of air.

[0041] In one embodiment, the overlap determination step includes a position adjustment step in which, if the reference object overlaps with the beam source model, the position parameters of the beam source model or the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object are automatically adjusted until the reference object no longer overlaps with the beam source model.

[0042] In one embodiment, the overlap determination step further includes an overlap signal output step that outputs an overlap indication signal if the reference object overlaps with the beam source model.

[0043] In one embodiment, the overlap determination step further includes a spatial entry determination step in which the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object enters the internal irradiation space of the beam source model, and adjusts the positional parameters of the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object and the beam source model.

[0044] In one embodiment, the spatial entry determination step includes a positional relationship determination step that determines the positional relationship between the reference object and the internal irradiation space of the beam source model.

[0045] In one embodiment, the positional relationship determination step may be performed in the positional parameter determination step, and when acquiring the beam source model, it is determined whether the object to be irradiated can enter the internal irradiation space of the beam source model based on the size of the internal irradiation space of the beam source model and the size of the object to be irradiated.

[0046] In one embodiment, the spatial entry determination step further includes a tissue type determination step of determining the tissue type of the irradiated object that has entered the irradiation space and adjusting the position parameters based on the tissue type of the irradiated object.

[0047] In one embodiment, in the tissue type determination step, the tissue includes a first type of tissue and a second type of tissue depending on the type, the first type of tissue is a surface flexible tissue, and the second type of tissue is a non-deformable tissue. If the irradiated tissue is of type 1, it is not necessary to adjust the position parameters of the 3D voxel model or beam source model of the irradiated tissue, or to provide an adjustment range for the position parameters of the 3D voxel model or beam source model of the irradiated tissue. If the irradiated tissue is of type 2, the positional parameters of the 3D voxel model or beam source model of the irradiated tissue are adjusted or adjustment signals are provided.

[0048] In one embodiment, the reference material is selected from a second type of tissue.

[0049] In one embodiment, the position parameter determination step includes the relative distance, relative angle, and beam irradiation direction between the beam source model and the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object.

[0050] In one embodiment, in the overlap determination step, the reference object includes one, more, or all of the following: vertices of a voxel grid, face centers, random points, contour lines, or outer surfaces.

[0051] In one embodiment, in the overlap signal output step, the overlap signal includes the overlap position, the overlap width, and the overlap volume.

[0052] In one embodiment, in the model acquisition step, the beam source model is selected based on medical image data of the irradiated object. [Effects of the Invention]

[0053] The treatment planning system according to the present invention acquires information such as the voxel grid of the 3D voxel model of the irradiated body, the beam source model, and the position parameters of the 3D voxel model of the irradiated body by arranging an image processing module, a data processing module, an overlap detection module, and a treatment plan generation module. The overlap detection module determines whether the 3D voxel model of the irradiated body and the beam source model overlap and whether it is reasonable. Based on this, the system determines whether the collimator and patient tissue overlap and whether it is reasonable in the treatment plan. It also checks whether the treatment plan will cause a collision between the collimator and patient tissue during setup. All processes can be automatically checked and judged by the treatment planning system. Furthermore, it can provide guidance to medical physicists in advance, thereby enabling medical physicists to revise the treatment plan more quickly, and the treatment planning system can automatically generate the corresponding treatment plan. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0054] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a treatment planning system in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of the boron neutron capture reaction. [Figure 3] This is the nuclear reaction equation for neutron capture in 10B(n,α)7Li. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram of a neutron capture therapy system in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart of the automatic overlap inspection method in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart of an automated overlap inspection method in another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart of the treatment plan formulation method in an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0055] To further clarify the purpose, technical means, and advantages of this application, the application will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments. The specific embodiments described herein are for interpretive purposes only and do not limit the application.

[0056] As shown in Figure 1, the treatment planning system 20 according to the present invention can determine whether the irradiated object and the beam source overlap and generate a corresponding treatment plan.

[0057] In one embodiment of this invention, the treatment plan is a treatment plan that performs radiotherapy, preferably a treatment plan that performs neutron capture therapy, and more preferably a treatment plan that performs boron neutron capture therapy. In one embodiment of the present invention, boron neutron capture therapy will be briefly introduced as an example.

[0058] Neutron capture therapy has seen increasing application in recent years as an effective means of treating cancer, with boron neutron capture therapy being the most common. Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) uses boron ( 10 B) Utilizing the property that the contained agent has a high trapping surface for thermal neutrons,10 B(n,α) 7 Through Li neutron capture and fission reactions, two heavy charged particles, 4 He and 7 Li are generated. Figures 2 and 3 are respectively the schematic diagram of the boron neutron capture reaction and 10 B(n,α) 7 The nuclear reaction formula of Li neutron capture is shown. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the two charged particles have the characteristics of an average energy of about 2.33 MeV, a high linear energy transfer (LET), and a short range. The linear energy transfer and range of the α particle are 150 keV / μm and 8 μm respectively, 7 In the case of the Li heavy charged particle, they are 175 keV / μm and 5 μm. Since the total range of the two particles corresponds to about the size of one cell, the radiation damage to the living body is suppressed at the cell level. When the boron-containing agent selectively accumulates in tumor cells, combined with an appropriate neutron source, on the premise of not causing too much damage to normal tissues, the purpose of locally killing tumor cells can be achieved.

[0059] The neutrons used in boron neutron capture therapy can be supplied by a nuclear reactor or an accelerator. In one embodiment of the present invention, taking accelerator boron neutron capture therapy as an example, the accelerator accelerates charged particles (such as protons, deuterons, etc.), and the accelerated charged particles act on a metal target to generate neutrons. The appropriate nuclear reaction is selected according to the required neutron yield and energy, the energy and current magnitude of the available accelerated charged particles, the physical and chemical properties of the metal target, etc. The well-studied nuclear reactions are 7 Li(p,n) 7 Be and 9 Be(p,n) 9Both of these reactions are endothermic. The energy thresholds for these two nuclear reactions are 1.881 MeV and 2.055 MeV, respectively. Since the ideal neutron source for boron neutron capture therapy is epithermal neutrons at the keV energy level, theoretically, relatively low-energy neutrons can be generated by impacting a metallic lithium target with protons slightly above the threshold energy, allowing for clinical application without requiring much moderation. However, because the interaction area between the two targets, metallic lithium (Li) and metallic beryllium (Be), and protons at the threshold energy is not large, nuclear reactions are usually triggered with relatively high-energy protons to generate a sufficient neutron flux.

[0060] The Monte Carlo method can accurately simulate the collision trajectories and energy distribution of nuclear particles in three-dimensional space inside a radiation target. In boron neutron capture therapy, to help physicians formulate treatment plans by simulating the absorbed dose to the human body under specific radiation conditions, it is always necessary to perform various processing on medical images using computer technology to accurately create the grid model required for Monte Carlo software and perform simulation calculations in combination with the Monte Carlo software. Medical image data may be from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), PET-CT, or X-ray imaging. In this embodiment, the explanation is based on computed tomography (CT) data, and the CT file format is usually DICOM. As is well known to those skilled in the art, other medical image data may be used, and if such medical image data can be converted into a three-dimensional voxel prosthesis tissue model, it can be applied to the modular treatment planning system and system construction method disclosed in this invention.

[0061] As shown in Figure 4, the boron neutron capture therapy facility 100 includes a neutron beam source 10, a treatment planning system 20, and a control system 30. The neutron beam source 10 includes a neutron generator and a treatment table, the neutron generator generating a therapeutic neutron beam N and irradiating the patient's irradiation site on the treatment table. The treatment planning system 20 generates a treatment plan based on the patient's medical image data, and the control system 30 controls the neutron beam source 10 to perform irradiation therapy based on the treatment plan. In one embodiment, the treatment planning system 20 stores a patient tissue model template library, and based on the tissue model template library, the treatment planning system 20 creates a 3D voxel prosthesis tissue model corresponding to the medical image data of the irradiation site, and based on the 3D voxel prosthesis tissue model, it simulates and calculates the dose distribution when the patient receives irradiation therapy using a Monte Carlo simulation program and generates a treatment plan. By pre-configuring the tissue model template library, it is possible to prevent inaccuracies in the created models and dose calculations due to differences in the individual experience of operators such as physicians, and to avoid spending a lot of time and energy defining the basic biological information of the grid in the model. The control system 30 retrieves the treatment plan corresponding to the current patient from the treatment planning system 20 and controls the irradiation of the neutron beam source 10 based on the treatment plan.

[0062] A neutron generator includes a neutron generator, a beam shaping body, and a collimator. The neutron generator includes an accelerator and a target, the accelerator accelerating charged particles (e.g., protons, deuterons, etc.) to generate a charged particle beam such as a proton beam, the charged particle beam being irradiated onto the target and interacting with the target to generate a neutron beam (neutron beam), the target being preferably a metal target. A suitable nuclear reaction is selected based on the required neutron yield and energy, the energy and current magnitude of the accelerating charged particles that can be provided, the physical and chemical properties of the metal target, etc., and well-considered nuclear reactions are: 7 Li(p,n) 7 Be and 9 Be(p,n) 9B is the case, and both of these reactions are endothermic. In the embodiments of the present invention, a target made of lithium metal is used. However, as is well known to those skilled in the art, the target may be made of a metallic material other than lithium or beryllium, for example, tantalum (Ta) or tungsten (W), and the target may be disc-shaped, in other solid shapes, or in liquid form (liquid metal). The accelerator may be a linear accelerator, a cyclotron, a synchrotron, or a synchrocyclotron. In other embodiments, the neutron generator may be a nuclear reactor without an accelerator and a target.

[0063] Regardless of whether the neutron source for boron neutron capture therapy is from a nuclear reactor or from a nuclear reaction between accelerated charged particles and the target, the resulting field is actually a mixed radiation field, meaning the generated beam contains neutrons and photons ranging from low to high energies. For boron neutron capture therapy for deep tumors, excluding epithermal neutrons, the higher the content of other radiation, the greater the rate of non-selective dose deposition in normal tissue; therefore, it is necessary to reduce the radiation causing these unnecessary dose depositions as much as possible. Beam shaping devices can adjust the beam quality of the neutron beam generated by the neutron generator, reducing unnecessary dose deposition, and collimators focus the neutron beam, ensuring that the neutron beam has high targetability during treatment.

[0064] The beam shaping apparatus includes a reflector, a speed reducer, a thermal neutron absorber, a radiation shield, and a beam outlet. The speed reducer adjusts the energy of fast neutrons (>40 keV) emitted from the neutron generator to the epithermal neutron energy range (0.5 eV to 40 keV) and reduces the thermal neutron content (<0.5 eV) as much as possible. The speed reducer is made of a material with a large cross-section for fast neutrons and a small cross-section for epithermal neutrons. In a preferred embodiment, the speed reducer is made of at least one of D2O, AlF3, Fluental®, CaF2, Li2CO3, MgF2, and Al2O3. The reflector surrounds the speed reducer and reflects neutrons that have passed through the speed reducer and diffused to the surrounding area back into the neutron beam to improve neutron utilization. It is made of a material with high neutron reflectivity. In a preferred embodiment, the reflector is made of at least one of Pb or Ni. In the neutron beam transport path, a thermal neutron absorber is installed behind the decelerator to absorb thermal neutrons that have passed through the decelerator, thereby reducing the thermal neutron content in the neutron beam. The thermal neutron absorber is made of a material with a large surface area for interaction with thermal neutrons. In a preferred embodiment, the thermal neutron absorber is made of Li-6. In other embodiments, since the material of the decelerator contains Li-6, it is not necessary to install a thermal neutron absorber separately, and the decelerator may also serve as the thermal neutron absorber. A radiation shield shields neutrons and photons that leak out from parts other than the beam exit. The material of the radiation shield includes at least one of a photon shielding material and a neutron shielding material. In a preferred embodiment, the material of the radiation shield includes lead (Pb) as a photon shielding material and polyethylene (PE) as a neutron shielding material.

[0065] A collimator is installed behind the beam exit. The epithermal neutron beam emitted from the collimator is directed at the target object, passes through the superficial normal tissue of the object, and is then slowed down to thermal neutrons before reaching the tumor cells to achieve the therapeutic objective.

[0066] The treatment plan in the embodiment of the present invention includes irradiation conditions necessary for administering radiotherapy to the irradiated body. The irradiation conditions include positional parameters and dose parameters. Positional parameters include coordinate information representing the relative position between the irradiated body model and the beam source model, various coordinate information or relative position information of the irradiation source, and the angle or direction indicated by the relative position described above. In the process of formulating a treatment plan, it is generally necessary to calculate the positional parameters before calculating the dose parameters.

[0067] Typically, the beam source is located at the entrance or exit of the collimator (the side closer to the irradiated object). In some cases, the irradiated object cannot enter the collimator, and from a computational efficiency standpoint, the beam source at the collimator exit is closer to the irradiated object. Therefore, selecting the collimator exit as the beam source location allows for faster calculation of the dose distribution. In such cases, the beam source information at the exit is created based on the assumption that the inside of the collimator is filled with air. To achieve rational determination of the treatment position and accurate calculation of the treatment dose, the irradiated object cannot overlap with the collimator, nor can it overlap with the internal space of the collimator. In some other cases, the treatment site of the irradiated object can enter the collimator, so the entrance of the collimator is selected as the beam source location to calculate the dose distribution. covered The irradiated tissue must not overlap with the collimator. In conventional methods, the user or medical physicist must, after formulating a treatment plan, visually observe or rely on experience to determine whether or not there is overlap, and whether or not the overlap is reasonable, during simulated treatment or actual treatment, making the entire treatment process complicated.

[0068] As a result, the treatment planning system 20 of this embodiment includes an image processing module 1, a data processing module 2, an overlap detection module 3, and a treatment plan generation module 4.

[0069] Image processing module 1 acquires medical image data of the irradiated object, which is generally acquired by an external scanning device. Based on the medical image data, image processing module 1 creates a three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object. The three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object includes several voxel grids, and image processing module 1 creates voxel grids that describe the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object.

[0070] The data processing module 2 acquires the beam source model and determines the positional parameters of the beam source model and the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object.

[0071] Furthermore, the data processing module 2 obtains a 3D voxel model of the irradiated object from the image processing module 1 and obtains a beam source model from a pre-configured library. The pre-configured library may include beam source models of different shapes and sizes so that the data processing module 2 obtains a beam source model that matches the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object.

[0072] Furthermore, the data processing module 2 can select an appropriate beam source model based on a three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object or medical image data. In other alternative embodiments, the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object may be input or selected by the user, and the data processing module 2 can recall the corresponding beam source model based on the user's input or selection. The data processing module 2 calculates positional parameters based on the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object and the selected beam source model, which include the relative distance, relative angle, and beam irradiation direction between the beam source model and the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object. The data processing module 2 can also calculate irradiation parameters based on image data or the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object. To make it clear, the present invention does not require a collimator, and the beam is directly irradiated to the irradiated object after exiting the beam outlet of the beam shaper. For convenience of explanation, if a collimator is installed, the exit of the collimator is interpreted as the beam outlet, and the devices constituting the beam outlet are collectively referred to as the beam source, and the beam source model in the present invention is a model of the devices constituting the beam outlet.

[0073] Furthermore, in other alternative embodiments, when selecting a beam source model, the location of the beam source is determined, that is, when formulating a treatment plan, it is selected whether or not the treatment site of the irradiated body enters the collimator.

[0074] Furthermore, an irradiation space is formed at the beam outlet of the beam source, and this irradiation space is surrounded by the outer circumference of the beam outlet. For example, the irradiation space may be a radial opening.

[0075] The overlap detection module 3 detects the voxel grid and the beam source. ModelThe positional relationship is determined. In this embodiment, the overlap detection module 3 determines the positional relationship between the voxel grid and the beam source model based on the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model. The reference object is selected from at least some of the voxel grids, and the reference object includes one, more, or all of the vertices, face centers, random points, contour lines, or outer surfaces of the voxel grid. Specifically, the voxel grid includes a first type grid and a second type grid depending on the type. The tissue of the first type grid refers to organic or inorganic components that make up the human body, such as organs, blood vessels, skeleton, muscles, fat, and skin of the irradiated object. The second type grid is filled with air, and the reference object is selected from the first type grid.

[0076] Furthermore, the overlap detection module 3 can determine whether the positional relationship between the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object and the beam source model is reasonable. Specifically, the overlap detection module 3 or the data processing module 2 can determine whether the voxel grid belongs to a first type grid or a second type grid. If it determines that the voxel grid is a first type grid, it selects a reference object from the grid, performs subsequent overlap judgments, or causes the overlap detection module 3 to perform subsequent overlap judgments. If it determines that the voxel grid is a second type grid, it does not select a reference object from the grid and does not perform subsequent judgment steps. The overlap detection module 3 determines whether the reference object overlaps with the beam source model based on the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model, and adjusts the position parameters.

[0077] Furthermore, in one embodiment, if the overlap detection module 3 determines that the reference object overlaps with the beam source model, it adjusts the position of the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object or the position of the beam source model until the reference object no longer overlaps with the beam source model, outputs a signal to the data processing module 2, causes the data processing module 2 to recalculate the position parameters, obtains new position parameters, and re-executes the overlap determination.

[0078] Furthermore, in another embodiment, if the overlap detection module 3 determines that the reference object overlaps with the beam source model, it outputs a signal to the data processing module 2 until the reference object no longer overlaps with the beam source model. The data processing module 2 adjusts the position parameters of the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object or the position parameters of the beam source model and recalculates, obtaining new position parameters and making a new determination.

[0079] It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are all based on the case where the treatment area of ​​the irradiated body cannot enter the inside of the collimator, that is, the tissue of the irradiated body cannot overlap not only with the beam source model but also with the internal irradiation space of the beam source.

[0080] Furthermore, in other alternative embodiments, the overlap detection module 3 determines whether the positional relationship between the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object and the internal irradiation space of the beam source is reasonable, that is, whether to allow the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object to enter the internal irradiation space of the beam source, whether the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object that has entered the internal irradiation space of the beam source overlaps with the beam source model, and whether the treatment area of ​​the irradiated object can enter the internal irradiation space of the beam source when selecting the beam source model. If the overlap detection module 3 determines that the reference object overlaps with the beam source model, it can determine whether the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object that has entered the internal irradiation space of the beam source model overlaps with the beam source model.

[0081] Furthermore, the overlap detection module 3 can determine the tissue type of the overlapping reference object. The tissue includes Type 1 and Type 2 tissues, depending on the type. Type 1 tissues are superficial tissues such as skin, or superficial flexible tissues such as skin, muscle, and fat. Type 2 tissues are non-deformable tissues such as skeleton. The reference object is selected from Type 2 tissues. Specifically, if the overlapping reference object is Type 1 tissue, the system determines whether it is necessary to adjust the position parameters based on the overlap range, or provides an adjustment range for the position parameters via the treatment planning system 20. If the overlapping reference object is Type 2 tissue, the system needs to adjust the position of the irradiated object or the beam source model. After adjustment, the data processing module 2 calculates the position parameters and then the overlap detection module 3 makes a determination, or the overlap detection module 3 makes a direct determination. (Reference object and beam source model) The positional relationship If it is confirmed to be reasonable, the position parameters at this time are output to the treatment plan generation module 4, the dose is calculated, and a treatment plan is further formulated.

[0082] Furthermore, in another embodiment, the overlap detection module 3 also outputs an overlap indication signal between a reference object and a beam source to determine whether the user or medical physicist needs to adjust the relative positional relationship between the irradiated object and the beam source. If adjustment is necessary, the data processing module 2 calculates the result after the adjustment and then the overlap detection module 3 makes a decision, or the overlap detection module 3 makes a decision directly. Specifically, in this embodiment, the overlap indication signal includes the overlap position, overlap width, and overlap volume. Once it is confirmed that the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model is reasonable, the positional parameters at this time are output to the treatment plan generation module 4 to calculate the dose and further formulate a treatment plan.

[0083] As shown in Figure 5, an embodiment of the present invention further includes an automated overlap detection method based on a treatment plan. The method is Model acquisition step S100 involves acquiring a 3D voxel model of the irradiated object, including several voxel grids, and a beam source model. A position parameter acquisition step S200 is performed to acquire the position parameters of the beam source model and the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object, The system includes an overlap determination step S300 which determines the positional relationship between the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object and the beam source model based on the positional relationship between the voxel grid and the beam source model.

[0084] Prior to the overlap determination step, the process further includes a reference object selection step S400 in which a reference object is selected from several voxel grids, and in the overlap determination step S300, the positional relationship between the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object and the beam source model is determined based on the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model.

[0085] In the model acquisition step S100, the acquired beam source model is either pre-configured in the treatment planning system 20 or introduced by another device. Specifically, there are multiple beam source models, all of which are pre-stored in the treatment planning system 20 and can be selected by the physician based on medical image data of the irradiated body. The 3D voxel model of the irradiated body is created based on medical image data of the irradiated body, and the 3D voxel model of the irradiated body includes several voxel grids.

[0086] In the position parameter acquisition step S200, the position parameters of the beam source model and the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object include at least the relative distance, relative angle, and beam irradiation direction between the beam source model and the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object, and the treatment planning system 20 calculates and outputs these position parameters based on medical image data.

[0087] Before the reference object selection step S400 or the overlap determination step S300, or at the start of the reference object selection step S400 or the overlap determination step S300, The grid type determination step S500 further includes, if it is determined that the voxel grid is a first type grid, a reference object is selected from the grid and the overlap determination step is performed, and if it is determined that the voxel grid is a second type grid, no reference object is selected from the grid and the overlap determination step is not performed. The voxel grid includes a first-type grid and a second-type grid, depending on the type. The first-type grid consists of tissue from the irradiated body, and the second-type grid consists of air. Specifically, the tissue of the first-type grid refers to organic or inorganic components that make up the human body, such as organs, blood vessels, skeleton, muscles, fat, and skin. In the reference object selection step S400, the reference object is selected from the first-type grid. The voxel grid is generally a polyhedron, and in this embodiment, the voxel grid is a hexahedron, and the reference object is a point, line, or face of the voxel grid. To simplify the calculation process and reduce the system's memory usage due to calculations, preferably, a point of the voxel grid is used as the reference object. In this embodiment, the reference object is a vertex of the voxel grid. In a preferred embodiment, it is determined whether the eight vertices of the first-type voxel grid overlap with the beam source model, and if any one of the vertices overlaps with the beam source model, it is determined that the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated body overlaps with the beam source model. In other embodiments, the reference object includes, but is not limited to, one, more, or all of the following: face centers, random points, contours, or outer surfaces of a voxel grid. For example, the random points may be randomly sampled points selected from the voxel grid, and the reference object can be obtained by simulating a sufficiently large number of random points.

[0088] Furthermore, the overlap determination step S300 includes a position adjustment step S310 which, if the reference object overlaps with the beam source model, automatically adjusts the position parameters of the beam source model or the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object until the reference object no longer overlaps with the beam source model.

[0089] Furthermore, to simplify the adjustment process and reduce the system's memory usage due to calculations, when adjusting the position parameters of the beam source model or the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object, only the relative position between the beam source model and the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object needs to be adjusted, without adjusting the beam irradiation direction. That is, when adjusting the relative position between the beam source model and the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object, it is translated along the beam irradiation direction to ensure that the impact on changes in other parameters after adjustment is minimized. All processes can be automatically inspected, judged, and adjusted by the treatment planning system 20, improving the accuracy of the output treatment plan and avoiding the problem of it not fitting the actual setup.

[0090] Furthermore, in the overlap determination step S300, if the reference object overlaps with the beam source model, the user or medical physicist determines the irradiated object and the beam source. Model The process further includes an overlap signal output step S320 which outputs an overlap indication signal to determine whether or not it is necessary to adjust the relative positional relationship with the other object. If adjustment is necessary, the adjustment is made based on the overlap indication signal, and after the adjustment, the overlap determination step S300 is repeated. Furthermore, the overlap indication signal may include the overlap position, overlap width, and overlap volume, and is used as a reference for relative position adjustment by the user or medical physicist.

[0091] Furthermore, the overlap determination step S300 further includes a spatial entry determination step S330 in which the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object enters the internal irradiation space of the beam source model, and adjusts the position parameters of the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object and the beam source model.

[0092] Furthermore, the spatial entry determination step S330 may further include the following steps S331 and S332.

[0093] In the positional relationship determination step S331, the positional relationship between the reference object and the internal irradiation space of the beam source model is determined. Similar to the overlap determination method in steps S300 and S400, in this step, a reference object is selected and the positional relationship of the reference object is determined to determine whether or not to allow the 3D voxel model of the irradiated body to enter the internal irradiation space of the beam source model, and whether or not the 3D voxel model of the irradiated body enters the irradiation space. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the positional relationship determination step S331 may also be performed in the model acquisition step S100, and when selecting the beam source model, it is determined whether or not the irradiated body can enter the internal irradiation space based on the size of the internal irradiation space of the beam source model and the size of the irradiated body, and in particular whether or not the treatment area of ​​the irradiated body can enter the internal irradiation space.

[0094] In the tissue type determination step S332, the tissue type of the irradiated object that has entered the irradiation space is determined, and the position parameters are adjusted based on the tissue type of the irradiated object. In this embodiment, the tissue type of the irradiated object is determined by determining the type of voxel grid or reference object. Specifically, the tissue includes first-type and second-type tissues depending on the type. First-type tissues are superficial flexible tissues, including skin, muscle, fat, etc., and second-type tissues are non-deformable tissues, such as skeleton. Furthermore, if the irradiated object's tissue is of the first type, it is not necessary to adjust the position parameters of the 3D voxel model or beam source model of the irradiated object or to provide an adjustment range for the position parameters of the 3D voxel model or beam source model of the irradiated object. If the irradiated object's tissue is of the second type, the position parameters of the 3D voxel model or beam source model of the irradiated object are adjusted or an adjustment signal is provided. The reference object may be selected from the second type of tissue.

[0095] Specifically, regarding the positional relationship determination step S331 and the tissue type determination step S332, the order is not limited, and the type of the irradiated object may be determined first, followed by the selection of the reference object, or a reference object may be selected from all types of tissue, followed by the determination of the positional relationship of the reference object that satisfies the requirements.

[0096] The treatment plan generation module 4 generates a treatment plan based on the adjusted position parameters. If overlap occurs and the position parameters need to be readjusted, the treatment plan generation module 4 recalculates the irradiation parameters based on the irradiation parameters obtained by the data processing module 2 and the adjusted unknown parameters, and the generated treatment plan includes the adjusted position parameters and the new irradiation parameters. Furthermore, when adjusting the position parameters, the relative position between the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object and the beam source model is mainly adjusted, and if the directional parameters do not change, only the dose parameters may be recalculated when recalculating the irradiation parameters.

[0097] Each module in the above-described treatment planning system 20 may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, or a combination thereof. Each of the above modules may be built into the processor in the computer device in hardware form, or independently, or may be stored in the memory of the computer device in software form, so that the processor performs the operations corresponding to each of the above modules.

[0098] The treatment planning system 200 may include a terminal, a communication module, a server, a data storage module, etc. The terminal communicates with the server via the communication module. The image processing module 1, the data processing module 2, the overlap detection module 3, and the treatment planning generation module 4 may be integrated into the terminal. The terminal may be, but is not limited to, various personal computers, laptops, smartphones, tablet computers, Internet of Things devices, and portable wearable devices. Internet of Things devices may include smart speakers, smart TVs, smart air conditioners, smart in-car devices, etc. Portable wearable devices may include smartwatches, smart bracelets, head-mounted devices, etc. The data storage module is a server BaThey may be integrated or located in the cloud or on other network servers. The data storage module includes a non-volatile storage medium and internal memory. The non-volatile storage medium stores programs and data related to the image processing module 1, data processing module 2, overlap detection module 3, and treatment plan generation module 4, and also stores the operating system and computer programs. The internal memory provides an environment for the execution of the operating system and computer programs on the non-volatile storage medium. The servers may be implemented by independent servers or by a group of servers. The communication module communicates with external terminals by wired or wireless means, and the wireless method is implemented by Wi-Fi, mobile cellular network, NFC (Near Field Communication), or other technology.

[0099] The terminal further includes a display device and an input device. The image processing module 1, data processing module 2, overlap detection module 3, and treatment plan generation module 4 can display corresponding data and screens via the display device. The image processing module 1, data processing module 2, overlap detection module 3, and treatment plan generation module 4 can acquire parameters entered by the user via the input device. The display device may be a display, and the display may be a liquid crystal display or an electronic ink display. The input device may be a touch layer covered on the display, a key, trackball, or touchpad installed on the terminal, or an external keyboard, touchpad, or mouse.

[0100] As shown in Figure 7, the embodiment of the present invention further includes a treatment plan formulation method as an execution method for the treatment planning system 20, which can determine the overlap situation and generate a corresponding treatment plan, and the explanation of parts that are the same as or similar to the above will be omitted. The treatment plan formulation method is Step A100 involves acquiring medical image data of the irradiated body and creating a 3D voxel model of the irradiated body, including several voxel grids, based on the medical image data. A position parameter determination step A200 determines the position parameters of the beam source model and the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object, Voxel grid and beam source Model Step A300 determines the positional relationship and adjusts the positional parameters to determine the overlap, This includes a treatment plan generation step A400, which generates a treatment plan.

[0101] Furthermore, this embodiment further includes a reference object selection step A500 prior to the overlap determination step A300, in which a reference object is selected from several voxel grids, and in the overlap determination step A300, the positional relationship between the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object and the beam source model is determined based on the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model.

[0102] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the reference object selection step A500 is, Step A501 determines whether the voxel grid belongs to a first type grid or a second type grid, The process further includes step A502, which involves selecting a reference object from a first type grid.

[0103] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the overlap determination step A300 is, Step A301 determines whether the reference object overlaps with the beam source model, or whether the reference object enters the beam source model, The process further includes step A302, which involves adjusting the position parameters and repeating step A301 if the reference object overlaps with or enters the beam source model, and performing step A400 if the reference object does not overlap with or enters the beam source model. Model If there is no overlap from the beginning, the generated treatment plan will include the positional parameters determined in step A200.

[0104] In the flowcharts relating to each of the embodiments described above, the steps are shown sequentially according to the instructions of numbers, arrows, or connecting lines. However, it should be understood that these steps are not necessarily performed in the order indicated by the numbers. Unless otherwise explicitly stated herein, the execution of these steps is not limited to a strict order, and these steps may be performed in other orders. Furthermore, at least some of the steps in the flowcharts relating to each of the embodiments described above may include multiple steps or stages, and these steps or stages may not necessarily be performed at the same time, but may be performed at different times, and these steps or stages may not necessarily be performed sequentially, but may be performed sequentially with or alternately with other steps or at least some of the steps or stages in other steps.

[0105] As those skilled in the art will understand, the implementation of all or part of the flow in the above embodiments can be completed by a computer program that instructs the relevant hardware, the computer program may be stored in a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed, it may include the flow of each embodiment of the above embodiments. Any reference to memory, database or other medium used in each embodiment provided herein may include at least one of non-volatile memory and volatile memory. Non-volatile memory may include read-only memory (ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, rush memory, optical memory, high-density embedded non-volatile memory, resistive random access memory (ReRAM), magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM®), phase change memory (PCM), graphene memory, etc. Volatile memory may include random access memory (RAM) or external cache memory, etc. As an example rather than an limitation, RAM may take various forms, such as static random access memory (SRAM) or dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The databases relating to each embodiment provided herein may include at least one of relational databases and non-relational databases. Non-relational databases may include, but are not limited to, blockchain-based distributed databases. The processors relating to each embodiment provided herein may include, but are not limited to, general-purpose processors, central processing units, graphics processing units, digital signal processors, programmable logic devices, quantum computing-based data processing logic, etc.

[0106] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way, and for the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in these combinations of technical features, they should all be considered to fall within the scope described herein.

[0107] The embodiments described above are merely examples of some embodiments of the present application, and although their descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be understood as limiting the scope of the claims of this application. Furthermore, a person skilled in the art could make several modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and all of these would fall within the scope of protection. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the attached claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0108] 100 Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Facilities 10 Neutron beam source 20 Treatment Planning System 30 Control Systems 1. Image Processing Module 2. Data Processing Module 3. Overlap detection module 4. Treatment plan generation module

Claims

1. It includes an image processing module, a data processing module, an overlap detection module, and a treatment plan generation module. The image processing module acquires medical image data of the irradiated object, and based on the medical image data, creates a three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object that includes several voxel grids. The data processing module acquires a beam source model and determines the positional parameters of the beam source model and the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object. The overlap detection module determines the positional relationship between the voxel grid and the beam source, The treatment plan generation module is a treatment planning system characterized by generating a treatment plan.

2. The treatment planning system according to claim 1, characterized in that the overlap detection module determines the positional relationship between the voxel grid and the beam source model based on the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model, and the reference object is selected from several voxel grids.

3. The treatment planning system according to claim 1, characterized in that the overlap detection module is capable of determining the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source, and the positional relationship between the reference object and the internal irradiation space of the beam source.

4. The treatment planning system according to claim 2, characterized in that the overlap detection module is capable of determining the type of voxel grid.

5. The treatment planning system according to claim 4, wherein the voxel grid comprises a first type grid and a second type grid depending on the type, the first type grid consists of the tissue of the irradiated body, the second type grid consists of air, and the reference material is selected from the first type grid.

6. The treatment planning system according to claim 2, characterized in that the overlap detection module is capable of determining the tissue type of the overlapping reference material.

7. The treatment planning system according to claim 6, characterized in that the tissue includes a first type of tissue and a second type of tissue depending on the type, wherein the first type of tissue is superficial flexible tissue and the second type of tissue is non-deformable tissue.

8. The treatment planning system according to claim 7, characterized in that the reference material is selected from the second type of tissue.

9. The treatment planning system according to claim 2, characterized in that the reference material includes one, more, or all of the vertices, face centers, random points, contour lines, or outer surfaces of the voxel grid.

10. The treatment planning system according to claim 1, characterized in that the position parameters include the relative distance, relative angle, and beam irradiation direction between the beam source model and the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object.

11. A model acquisition step to obtain a three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object, including several voxel grids, and a beam source model, A position parameter acquisition step to acquire position parameters of the beam source model and the 3D voxel model of the irradiated object, An automated overlap inspection method characterized by including an overlap determination step of determining the positional relationship between a three-dimensional voxel model of an irradiated object and a beam source model based on the positional relationship between the voxel grid and the beam source model.

12. The automatic overlap inspection method according to claim 11, further comprising a reference object selection step of selecting a reference object from several voxel grids prior to the overlap determination step, wherein in the overlap determination step, the positional relationship between the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object and the beam source model is determined based on the positional relationship between the reference object and the beam source model.

13. Before the aforementioned reference object selection step or the aforementioned overlap determination step, or at the start of the reference object selection step or the aforementioned overlap determination step, The grid type determination step further includes, if it is determined that the voxel grid is a first type grid, selecting a reference object from the grid and performing the overlap determination step, and if it is determined that the voxel grid is a second type grid, not selecting a reference object from the grid and not performing the overlap determination step, The automatic overlap inspection method according to claim 12, characterized in that the voxel grid includes a first type grid and a second type grid depending on the type, the first type grid consisting of tissue of the irradiated object and the second type grid consisting of air.

14. The automatic overlap inspection method according to claim 12, characterized in that the overlap determination step includes a position adjustment step of automatically adjusting the position parameters of the beam source model or the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object until the reference object no longer overlaps with the beam source model when the reference object overlaps with the beam source model.

15. The automatic overlap inspection method according to claim 12, characterized in that the overlap determination step includes a spatial entry determination step that determines whether or not the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object enters the internal irradiation space of the beam source model.

16. A model data acquisition step involves acquiring medical image data of the irradiated body and creating a three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated body, including several voxel grids, based on the medical image data. A position parameter determination step in which the position parameters of the beam source model and the three-dimensional voxel model of the irradiated object are determined, An overlap determination step that determines the positional relationship between the voxel grid and the beam source and adjusts the positional parameters, A method for formulating a treatment plan, characterized by including a treatment plan generation step for generating a treatment plan.

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