Fiducial-to-Plan Association in Radiation Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for associating implanted fiducials with their planned counterparts in medical procedures, such as radiation therapy, are often error-prone and inefficient, leading to inaccurate targeting of tumors and potential damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a localization system with an excitation source and sensor assembly to track the position of markers implanted in the body in real-time, providing accurate and low-latency data for precise radiation delivery, even as tumors move due to internal motions, and automatically associating fiducial markers with their planned positions using objective metrics and computer processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual tracking of fiducial identifiers is used during implantation and treatment planning, then the association process can be performed, but the process is error-prone and leads to inaccurate targeting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking of fiducial identifiers with an automated electromagnetic field-based localization system. The excitation source transmits electromagnetic signals to fiducial markers, and sensors detect their positions, automatically associating them with planned counterparts through computer processing. This eliminates human error in tracking and association while maintaining high precision and reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If higher radiation doses are delivered to disrupt cancer, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but surrounding healthy tissue is severely damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback through continuous tracking of fiducial marker positions during radiation delivery. The system monitors tumor movement and adjusts radiation delivery parameters dynamically, ensuring high doses are delivered only to the tumor while automatically adapting to preserve surrounding healthy tissue. This closed-loop control enables precise differentiation between tumor and healthy tissue boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static pre-planned radiation delivery to dynamic real-time adjustment. The localization system continuously updates tumor position data during treatment, allowing the radiation delivery system to adapt its trajectory and dosage in real-time. This dynamic approach ensures optimal tumor coverage while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues that may shift position relative to the tumor.
3Measurement precision
If real-time tracking with high refresh rates is implemented, then tracking precision is improved, but system complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The excitation source and sensor assembly serve multiple functions: they localize fiducial positions, track tumor movement, provide real-time feedback for radiation delivery adjustments, and enable both pre-treatment planning and intra-treatment monitoring. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating multiple subsystems into a single integrated platform that handles diverse tasks through unified hardware and software components.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments disclose systems and methods for tracking regions (e.g., tumor locations) within living organisms. Some embodiments provide real-time, highly accurate, low latency measurements of tumor location even as the tumor moves with internal body motions. Such measurements may be suitable for closed-loop radiation delivery applications where radiation therapy may be continuously guided to the tumor site even as the tumor moves. Particularly, the system may dynamically identify planned to actual fiducial correspondences by iterating through the possible assignment permutations. A successful permutation may be recorded and used to orient the patient during follow up treatment sessions.