Unified EBRT and Brachytherapy Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiotherapy treatment planning methods for combining external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy in the same patient often result in suboptimal treatment plans due to changes in patient geometry and the need for separate planning for each modality.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based method for optimizing radiotherapy treatment plans that simultaneously optimizes the treatment parameters for both EBRT and brachytherapy using a joint optimization problem, allowing for better overall treatment planning and refinement based on actual delivery results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate treatment plans are developed for EBRT and brachytherapy, then the planning process is simpler and easier to implement, but the treatment plan accuracy and effectiveness deteriorate due to not accounting for patient geometry changes and equipment insertion effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the planning of EBRT and brachytherapy into a single unified treatment plan that simultaneously optimizes both modalities. The system integrates patient geometry changes and equipment insertion effects into one comprehensive planning process, allowing the treatment parameters for both radiation types to be optimized together rather than separately, thereby improving overall treatment accuracy while maintaining operational feasibility through automated optimization algorithms
2Loss of time
If traditional separate planning methods are used for EBRT and brachytherapy, then the planning process requires less computational resources and time, but the treatment effectiveness deteriorates due to inability to account for inter-modality geometric changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing patient geometry change parameters and equipment insertion effects before the actual treatment planning. The system pre-processes geometric transformations and dose distribution models, allowing the optimization algorithm to quickly generate accurate unified treatment plans without requiring extensive real-time computational resources, thus reducing planning time while maintaining high treatment effectiveness
3Manufacturing precision
If a unified optimized treatment plan combining EBRT and brachytherapy is developed, then treatment effectiveness and accuracy improve, but the planning process becomes more complex and computationally intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex unified optimization problem into manageable sub-problems. The system divides the treatment plan into distinct EBRT and brachytherapy components, each with its own optimization criteria and constraints, while maintaining their interdependence through geometric transformation models. This segmentation allows the complex optimization to be performed systematically through iterative algorithms, reducing the perceived complexity while achieving accurate unified treatment planning
4Productivity
If treatment parameters for EBRT and brachytherapy are optimized simultaneously, then the overall treatment plan improves, but the computational resources and processing power required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action through iterative optimization algorithms that cycle through multiple stages of planning and refinement. The system performs periodic evaluations of treatment parameters, geometric transformations, and dose distributions in successive iterations, gradually converging on the optimal unified plan. This periodic approach allows efficient use of computational resources by focusing calculations on the most critical parameters at each iteration stage rather than simultaneously optimizing all parameters at full precision, thereby improving planning efficiency while controlling energy consumption
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-based method of optimizing a radiotherapy treatment plan for a patient is proposed, wherein a complete treatment comprising both external beam therapy and brachytherapy is optimized in one procedure using an optimization problem comprising an objective function designed to optimize the total dose distribution as a combination of a first dose distribution to be provided by a first radiation set and a second dose distribution to be provided by a second radiation set. One of the radiation sets is external beam radiotherapy and the other is brachytherapy. The optimization is based on a total desired dose for the whole treatment, images of the patient before the treatment starts and an estimated image of the patient after the first radiation set has been delivered.