Applicator Entry-Point Planning to Reduce Ablation Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatment methods for cancer therapy using thermal ablation or radiation therapy face challenges with physical interference between applicators, leading to unnecessary tissue damage and multiple ablation of the same tissue.
Innovation Solution
A planning device and method that optimize applicator positioning by considering a distance between entry points, progressively inactivating entry points during iterations to ensure compliance with user-defined distances, reducing the freedom of selection and minimizing physical interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual placement of applicators is used based on physician experience, then treatment flexibility is maintained, but physical interference between applicators occurs causing unnecessary tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary planning and optimization of applicator positions before the actual treatment. The optimization algorithm calculates optimal entry points and applicator configurations in advance, ensuring that physical interference is avoided before it occurs during manual placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by evaluating different applicator configurations and selecting those that minimize physical interference. The optimization process iteratively adjusts applicator positions based on feedback about tissue overlap and interference, ultimately selecting the configuration with the least harmful effects.
2Manufacturing precision
If image-guided systems are used for applicator placement, then positioning accuracy is improved, but physical interference between applicators still occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The optimization algorithm acts as an intermediary between the image-guided positioning system and the physical applicator placement. It processes the positioning data and determines optimal configurations that avoid physical interference, serving as a mediator that translates accurate positioning into safe, non-interfering applicator arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters such as entry point locations, applicator angles, and depths to optimize the configuration. By adjusting these parameters, the system maintains positioning accuracy while avoiding the physical interference that occurs with standard image-guided placement.
3Reliability
If multiple applicators are placed to ensure complete tumor coverage, then treatment efficacy is improved, but the risk of ablating the same tissue multiple times increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the treatment volume and optimizes applicator positions to cover different regions. By dividing the tumor coverage task among multiple applicators with optimized, non-overlapping trajectories, the system ensures complete coverage while minimizing redundant ablation of the same tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The optimization algorithm allows for slight overlaps in ablation zones but controls them within acceptable limits. It accepts partial redundancy to ensure complete tumor coverage while preventing excessive action that would cause unnecessary multiple ablation of the same healthy tissue.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a planning device (2) for positioning treatment applicators (8). The device (2) comprises a providing unit (4) configured for providing a distance r to be considered between applicator entry points (10) and a processor (6). It has been found that when utilizing treatment applicators, in particular ablation treatment applicators, placing two or more applicators closely together increases the risk of ablating and damaging more tissue than required for the therapy success. By configuring the processor (6) to inactivating all entry points within a distance r from a currently selected entry point such that these entry points are unavailable to further optimization iterations, and then conducting a further optimization iteration, an optimal applicator configuration can be provided that is effective with regard to the therapy success while the risk of ablating more tissue than required is reduced.