Deformable Registration Phantom With 6-DOF Target Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radiation treatment patients exhibit movement and deformation due to physiological changes, posing challenges for delivering precise radiation doses to targets while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue, which existing image registration methods struggle to address effectively.

Innovation Solution

A deformable image registration phantom with a housing, parallel eccentric inner and outer cylinders, a ball and socket mount, and a target, allowing for six degrees of freedom and controlled deformation to simulate patient movements and verify the accuracy of image registration processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional image registration methods are used, then the treatment process is simple, but the accuracy of tracking patient movements and deformations is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of tracking patient movementsVSAvoidcomplexity of image registration system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a physical phantom that copies and simulates patient anatomy and movement patterns. The deformable phantom with six degrees of freedom replicates physiological movements (respiration, cardiac motion, peristalsis) to provide a test model for verifying image registration accuracy without requiring actual patient data or complex clinical systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The phantom incorporates adjustable parameters including six degrees of freedom for movement, variable deformation capabilities, and reconfigurable target positions. These parameter changes allow the system to simulate different physiological conditions and movement scenarios, enabling comprehensive verification of image registration algorithms under varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If deformable image registration is implemented to track patient deformations, then the accuracy of dose delivery improves, but the complexity of verification processes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of radiation dose deliveryVSAvoidcomplexity of verification apparatus

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The verification system is segmented into distinct functional components: the deformable phantom structure, the target object with tracking features, the six-degree-of-freedom movement mechanism, and the measurement system. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall verification process by breaking down the complex task into manageable parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The phantom serves as an intermediary device between the image registration system and actual patient treatment. It provides a controllable, measurable intermediate step that bridges the gap between theoretical algorithm verification and clinical application, allowing validation without direct patient involvement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a rigid phantom is used for verification, then the structure is simple and stable, but it cannot simulate physiological movements and deformations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to simulate patient movementsVSAvoidstructural complexity of phantom

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The phantom transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system with six degrees of freedom. Each degree of freedom (three translational and three rotational movements) is independently controllable, allowing the phantom to replicate complex physiological motion patterns including respiration, cardiac cycles, and gastrointestinal peristalsis that rigid phantoms cannot simulate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The phantom employs a nested structure where the target object is positioned within the deformable body, which itself is mounted on the six-degree-of-freedom mechanism. This nesting allows multiple levels of movement and deformation to be combined, creating realistic composite motion patterns while maintaining structural organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS12471876B2Deformable image registration phantom comprising a housing, an outer cylinder, a parallel eccentric inner cylinder rotatably mounted within the outer cylinder, a ball and socket mount, and a target mounted to the housing

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 MODUS MEDICAL DEVICES INC

AI summary

A deformable image registration phantom having a housing, an outer cylinder, a parallel eccentric inner cylinder, a ball and socket mount, and a target. The inner cylinder is rotatably mounted within the outer cylinder and the target is rotatably mounted, directly or indirectly, within the inner cylinder. Indexing detents are positioned on at least one of the housing, the outer cylinder, the inner cylinder, and the ball and socket mount and one or more detent pins positioned on another. The indexing detents are arranged about at least one rotational or translational axis of the phantom and the detent pins are configured to releasably engage with the indexing detents as the components of the phantom rotate or translate relative to one another.