Dynamic Radiation Beamlet Intensity Synchronization for Respiratory Motion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) systems face challenges in treating tumors with respiratory motion, such as those in lung and liver cancers, as existing techniques like gating, breath-hold, and chasing methods either prolong treatment time or do not achieve optimal dose conformity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses 3D image warping and biomechanical modeling to generate dynamic treatment plans that account for periodic organ motion, allowing continuous patient breathing by synchronizing radiation beamlet intensities with breathing phases, using a radiation therapy machine that provides intensity-modulated beamlets at multiple angles and a respiration monitor to adjust beamlet intensities accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gating technique is used to track patient breathing and suspend treatment when tumor is displaced, then treatment safety is improved, but treatment time is increased and dose conformity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the radiation beam intensity modulated and dynamically adjustable in real-time during the breathing cycle. Instead of suspending treatment during breathing phases, the system continuously delivers radiation with dynamically adjusted intensity that synchronizes with the tumor's motion through the breathing cycle, thereby maintaining treatment time while ensuring safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of beam intensity dynamically during treatment. By modulating the intensity of individual beamlets based on the tumor's position during the breathing cycle, the system maintains treatment safety without requiring treatment suspension, thus reducing overall treatment time while preserving dose conformity.
2Manufacturing precision
If breath-hold technique is used to treat tumors, then dose conformity is improved, but treatment time is increased and patient comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing the static breath-hold approach with dynamic intensity modulation during continuous breathing. The beam intensity is adjusted in real-time according to the tumor's position during the breathing cycle, achieving dose conformity without requiring the patient to hold their breath, thus reducing treatment time and improving patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous treatment delivery during the breathing cycle rather than interrupting for breath-hold phases. By synchronizing beam intensity modulation with the breathing cycle, the system maintains continuous useful action (radiation delivery) while achieving the same dose conformity as breath-hold techniques, thereby reducing overall treatment time.
3Productivity
If chasing technique is used to follow tumor trajectory, then treatment continuity is improved, but dose conformity is reduced due to tumor motion during treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modulating the intensity of individual beamlets based on the tumor's real-time position during the breathing cycle. This dynamic intensity adjustment compensates for tumor motion, maintaining dose conformity while allowing continuous treatment delivery without interruption, thus resolving the contradiction between treatment continuity and dose conformity.
Data Source
AI summary
Radiation treatment of the lung or surrounding tissue during continuous breathing is made possible by preparing a treatment plan linked to motion phase and then synchronizing the plan to motion phase as the patient follows a regular breathing schedule.