Hybrid CPAP and Surface Imaging for Tumor Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiotherapy techniques face challenges in accurately targeting moving tumors, particularly due to respiration-induced motion, and determining optimal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) settings for patients, which can be time-consuming and affected by anxiety.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid continuous positive pressure and surface imaging system that includes a positive pressure unit, a surface camera system to capture body surface images, and a processing unit to model chest and abdominal movement, providing real-time feedback to adjust CPAP pressure and stabilize breathing patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If CPAP pressure is increased to stabilize tumor position, then tumor motion is reduced, but patient comfort deteriorates and anxiety increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors chest wall movement using surface imaging and provides real-time feedback to adjust CPAP pressure. This closed-loop control allows the system to maintain optimal tumor stabilization while automatically adjusting pressure to prevent excessive values that would cause patient discomfort and anxiety.
Solution Approach 2:
The CPAP pressure is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed, allowing it to be continuously optimized during treatment based on real-time monitoring of chest movement and patient response, thereby balancing tumor stabilization with patient comfort.
2Manufacturing precision
If optimal CPAP pressure is determined through trial and error, then tumor stabilization is achieved, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Real-time feedback from surface imaging systems provides continuous information about chest wall movement, enabling rapid identification of optimal CPAP pressure settings without time-consuming trial and error procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring and adjustment of CPAP settings before full treatment begins, using quick surface imaging assessments to establish optimal parameters in advance, thereby reducing overall treatment time.
3Reliability
If larger beam cross section is used to cover moving tumor, then tumor targeting is maintained, but healthy tissue exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
Real-time monitoring of chest wall movement provides feedback that allows dynamic adjustment of beam positioning and gating, enabling precise tumor targeting with smaller beam margins and reducing unnecessary exposure of healthy tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic beam positioning and gating synchronized with respiratory motion, allowing the beam to track the moving tumor accurately rather than requiring a statically enlarged beam to cover the entire motion trajectory.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a hybrid continuous positive pressure and surface imaging system for use in a radiotherapy system, including: a positive pressure unit adapted to apply a continuous positive pressure to lungs of a patient during radiotherapy; a surface camera system configured to continuously, or at intervals, capture body surface images of the patient; and a processing unit configured to continuously, or at intervals, model chest and/or abdominal movement of the patient in response to the applied continuous positive pressure based on the body surface images. The disclosure further relates to a computer-implemented method of providing real-time feedback to a positive pressure unit.