Dynamic Radiation Therapy Plan Switching for Moving Targets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation therapy methods for moving targets, such as tumors, are inefficient as they rely on prior knowledge of the target's location, period, and phase, and require patients to follow a rigid breathing pattern, which can be difficult and lead to suboptimal treatment delivery.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates multiple treatment plans and dynamically switches between them based on real-time data on the target's movement, allowing for effective radiation delivery without relying on pre-defined trajectories, using a multi-leaf collimator and software modules for optimization, plan selection, and feedback-guided adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If gating method is used to deliver radiation only when target is within specified window, then radiation delivery precision is improved, but treatment efficiency deteriorates because target is irradiated only for periodic intervals
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the radiation beam parameters and multi-leaf collimator positions in real-time to track the moving target, rather than using fixed periodic gating windows. This allows continuous treatment delivery while maintaining precision by adapting to the target's actual position at any given moment.
2Manufacturing precision
If breathing synchronized delivery with rigidly defined track is used, then radiation delivery precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because patients must follow strictly defined breathing pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to the patient's natural breathing pattern without requiring them to follow a rigid predefined track. The treatment plan is adjusted in real-time based on actual target position, allowing patients to breathe naturally while maintaining treatment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the target position and provides real-time feedback to adjust the radiation beam parameters accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to compensate for natural breathing variations without requiring patient control, maintaining precision while improving ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple treatment plans are generated and dynamically switched based on real-time target movement data, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for multiple plans and switching mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single treatment plan that is dynamically adjusted in real-time based on target position, rather than switching between multiple pre-defined plans. The multi-leaf collimator and beam parameters are continuously modified to track the moving target, achieving adaptability without the complexity of plan switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a universal treatment plan that can adapt to various target positions and motion patterns through real-time parameter adjustment. The multi-leaf collimator serves multiple functions by dynamically configuring its leaf positions to match different target locations, eliminating the need for separate specialized plans.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for and method of delivering radiation therapy to a moving region of interest is disclosed. The method, in one implementation, includes the acts of generating a plurality of treatment plans for providing radiation therapy, delivering radiation therapy to the patient following one of the plurality of treatment plans, monitoring the patient while providing radiation therapy, and changing the treatment plan based at least in part on monitoring the patient.