Biopsy Map Dose Planning for Prostate Cancer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dose planning for cancer treatment faces challenges in precise delineation of tumor tissue and determination of correct doses, as existing imaging techniques provide only indirect measures of tumor probability and aggressiveness, leading to variations in treatment outcomes and side effects.
Innovation Solution
A dose planning system that utilizes a biopsy map creation module to link biopsy locations with tissue characteristics, a probability map calculation module to estimate tumor presence and aggressiveness, and a dose planning module to create spatially varying treatment plans based on tumor probability maps, incorporating image-guided biopsy systems and registration modules for accurate targeting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If imaging techniques (PET, MRI) are used to determine tumor probability and aggressiveness, then treatment planning can be performed, but the measurement precision is insufficient because these techniques provide only indirect measures of tumor probability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a biopsy map as an intermediary that directly links biopsy locations with tissue characteristics to create a spatially annotated map. This biopsy map serves as a more direct and precise mediator for determining tumor probability compared to indirect imaging techniques, while avoiding the complexity of multiple imaging modalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copied representation of the organ's tissue characteristics through the biopsy map, which reproduces the spatial distribution of tumor probability based on actual biopsy data rather than indirect imaging signals. This copied map provides more accurate tumor probability assessment.
2Reliability
If dose painting by numbers is implemented to vary dose based on tumor aggressiveness, then tumor control probability increases, but the device complexity increases due to reliance on multiple functional imaging techniques
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple imaging techniques and biopsy data into a single integrated biopsy map that combines spatial information with tissue characteristics. This unified approach achieves dose painting by numbers while reducing the complexity of relying on multiple separate functional imaging techniques.
3Loss of information
If multiple imaging modalities are used to assess tumor characteristics, then more information is available for treatment planning, but the loss of time increases due to multiple scanning procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary biopsy sampling at multiple locations before treatment planning, storing the tissue characteristics and spatial information in advance. This preliminary action creates a comprehensive biopsy map that can be reused for treatment planning without requiring repeated imaging procedures, thus reducing time loss while maintaining information completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
A dose planning system includes a biopsy map creation module configured for receiving biopsy information for an organ of interest regarding biopsy locations and tissue characteristics of tissue found at the biopsy locations and creating a spatially annotated biopsy map for the organ, by linking the spatial information on the biopsy locations to the tissue characteristics of tissue found at the corresponding biopsy locations. A probability map calculation module is configured for creating a tumor probability map by calculating a tumor probability for locations in the organ from which no biopsy was taken by using the tumor and/or tissue characteristics from the biopsy locations and a dose planning module configured for creating a dose plan based on the tumor probability map. The planning constraints are such that on average a higher tumor probability results in a higher planned dose and a lower tumor probability results in a lower planned dose.