Adaptive Radiotherapy Planning via Temporal Delineation Modeling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current external beam radiation therapy treatment plans are inefficient due to the need for operator-guided re-planning during treatment, which can lead to delays and increased clinical workload, as they do not account for changes in the target structure's delineation over time, such as tumor shrinkage, potentially affecting healthy tissue.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for generating radiotherapy treatment plans that include a modeling unit to estimate the target structure's delineation changes over time, allowing for iterative planning to adapt to these changes before and during treatment, using a series of estimates based on radiation dose delivery and additional treatments like chemotherapy, and an imaging unit for monitoring and selecting the best matching treatment plan.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If operator-guided re-planning is performed during radiation treatment to adapt to target structure changes, then treatment plan accuracy is improved, but clinical workload increases and treatment delays occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment plan accuracyVSAvoidtreatment delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary adaptive planning by generating multiple candidate treatment plans at different time points during the radiation treatment course before actual treatment delivery. These plans are prepared in advance based on predicted target structure changes, eliminating the need for time-consuming operator-guided re-planning during treatment and avoiding treatment delays while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates simplified digital copies (deformed images) of the target structure at different time points using deformation information. These copied representations allow automated comparison and selection of optimal treatment plans without requiring operators to manually review and adjust each plan, thereby reducing clinical workload while maintaining treatment plan accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Manufacturing precision

If operator-guided re-planning is performed during radiation treatment to adapt to target structure changes, then treatment plan accuracy is improved, but clinical workload increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment plan accuracyVSAvoidclinical workload

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically generating multiple candidate treatment plans, deforming images to represent target structure changes at different time points, and selecting the optimal plan without operator intervention. The automated selection process compares deformed images with actual treatment data and identifies the best matching plan, eliminating the need for operators to manually review and adjust each plan, thereby significantly reducing clinical workload.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Device complexity

If stationary delineation is used for treatment planning, then planning simplicity is maintained, but treatment safety deteriorates due to high risk of affecting healthy tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplanning simplicityVSAvoidhealthy tissue damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static to dynamic planning by generating treatment plans that account for temporal changes in target structure delineation. Multiple candidate plans are created for different time points, and the optimal plan is selected based on actual treatment progress, allowing the treatment approach to adapt dynamically to tumor shrinkage while maintaining planning simplicity through automated processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Object-affected harmful factors

If adaptive radiation therapy with re-planning is performed to avoid healthy tissue damage, then treatment safety is improved, but treatment timeliness deteriorates due to delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehealthy tissue damageVSAvoidtreatment timeliness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3380191B1Adaptive radiation therapy planning

Publication Date: 2022.03.02 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

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AI summary

The invention relates to a system for generating a radiotherapy treatment plan (33; 34) for treating a target structure within a patient body. The system comprises (i) a modeling unit configured to determine a series of estimates (31a-d; 32a-d) of a delineation of the target structure for consecutive points of time during the radiation therapy treatment on the basis of a model quantifying changes of the delineation with time, and (ii) a planning unit configured to determine the treatment plan (33; 34) on the basis of the series of estimates (31a-d; 32a-d) of the delineation of the target structure. Further, the invention relates to method carried out in the system.