Radiation Dosimetry Isoline Adjustment for Dose Normalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing radiation therapy planning processes, particularly in particle therapy, face challenges in accurately and efficiently normalizing radiation doses due to non-uniform dose distribution in target areas, leading to a laborious trial-and-error process for adjusting prescribed doses and maintaining optimal dose coverage.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize multidimensional image data to display and adjust isolines or isosurfaces to closely approximate the target area's contour, allowing for flexible and accurate beam dosimetry regulation, either manually or automatically, through user interface controls and algorithms for visualization and calculation, ensuring optimal dose coverage and faster normalization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional trial-and-error methods are used for dose normalization, then flexibility in adjusting prescribed doses is maintained, but the process becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary dose calculations and generates isoline/isosurface visualizations before final dose prescription is finalized. By pre-calculating dose distributions and displaying isolines that approximate target contours, the system prepares multiple dose scenarios in advance, allowing clinicians to select and adjust between pre-computed options rather than performing iterative trial-and-error calculations during the planning finalization stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback through isoline and isosurface displays that show dose distribution relative to target area contours. The isolines are dynamically adjusted to approximate target contours, giving immediate visual feedback on dose coverage quality. This feedback mechanism allows clinicians to assess dose normalization accuracy in real-time and make precise adjustments without extensive trial-and-error iterations.
2Measurement precision
If complex algorithms are used to calculate precise isolines, then measurement precision of dose distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces isolines and isosurfaces as intermediary visual elements that simplify the representation of complex three-dimensional dose distributions. Instead of requiring clinicians to interpret complex volumetric dose data directly, the isolines serve as two-dimensional intermediaries that approximate target contours and provide intuitive visual feedback on dose coverage. This intermediary representation maintains measurement precision while reducing the perceived complexity for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates simplified copies or representations of the complex dose distribution data through isoline and isosurface visualizations. These isolines are mathematical copies that trace contours of constant dose values and approximate target area boundaries. By working with these simplified isoline representations rather than the full complex volumetric dose dataset, the system maintains the precision information while presenting a less complex interface to clinicians.
3Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of isolines is allowed, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity may decrease due to increased interaction time
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic isoline adjustment capabilities where isolines can be interactively modified by users through simple controls. The isolines are designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing clinicians to shift, scale, or reshape them to better match target contours. This dynamic adjustability maintains ease of operation by providing direct user control while the underlying system efficiently recalculates dose distributions in real-time, preventing significant productivity loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows modification of isoline parameters such as dose threshold values, contour approximation accuracy, and visual display properties. By enabling parameter changes in the isoline definitions, clinicians can optimize the isolines for different clinical scenarios and target geometries. These parameter adjustments are processed efficiently by the system, allowing rapid reconfiguration without substantially increasing the overall dose normalization time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device for regulating a therapeutic beam directed at an object are provided. The method includes displaying at least one multidimensional image data record encompassing at least one target area of the object. The method also includes determining the treatment beam dosage directed at the at least one target area, and recording and optionally visualizing an isoline or isosurface dependent on the treatment beam dosage in the at least one multidimensional image data record. The method includes adjusting the isoline or isosurface such that the isoline or isosurface approximates a contour of the target area as closely as possible or corresponds to the contour, and regulating the treatment beam dosage by evaluation of the adjusted isoline or isosurface.