Continuous Arc Radiotherapy Planning System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiotherapy technologies face challenges in efficiently delivering radiation to tumors while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues, particularly in achieving effective treatment plans that involve rotation angles greater than 360 degrees.
Innovation Solution
A treatment planning system and radiotherapy system that include a gantry capable of continuous rotation, a radiation source, and a control system. The system acquires target volume images, arc information indicating a rotation angle of greater than or equal to 360 degrees, and prescription dose information to generate a treatment plan. The control system then controls the radiation source to arc continuously along specified directions, delivering radiation beams to target volumes efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the radiation source arcs in traditional directions (less than 360 degrees), then the treatment plan can be generated, but the treatment time is extended and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional arc therapy approach by implementing continuous arc rotation in a single direction for greater than 360 degrees, rather than the conventional back-and-forth or limited arc motion. This inversion of the rotation pattern eliminates the need to return the radiation source to the starting position, thereby reducing treatment time and improving efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous arc motion where the radiation source rotates continuously in one direction without reversing or pausing at intermediate positions. This continuous rotation maximizes the utilization of the radiation source motion, eliminating idle time and maintaining productive action throughout the treatment delivery process
2Loss of time
If the radiation source continuously arcs for greater than or equal to 360 degrees, then treatment time is reduced, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to manage multiple functions including gantry rotation control, radiation source positioning, and treatment plan execution within a unified architecture. This multi-functional design, while increasing capability to handle complex continuous arc motions, consolidates control logic to manage the overall system complexity
3Productivity
If traditional arc therapy methods are used, then the system is easier to operate, but the treatment efficiency is lower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static or limited dynamic arc therapy to a fully dynamic continuous rotation system. The radiation source continuously moves through greater than 360 degrees in a single direction, creating a dynamic treatment delivery mode that improves efficiency while the control system automates the complexity of this dynamic operation
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment planning system is provided. The treatment planning system includes one or more processors, a memory, and one or more application programs, wherein the one or more application programs are stored in the memory and, when loaded and run by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: acquire a target volume image; acquire arc information, wherein the arc information indicates that a rotation angle for which a radiation source continuously arcs along a first direction is greater than or equal to 360 degrees; acquire prescription dose information, wherein the prescription dose information includes target radiation doses for different regions; and generate a treatment plan based on the target volume image, the arc information, and the prescription dose information.