Radiotherapy Gantry Beam Sequence Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiotherapy techniques are inefficient in terms of time, as they require significant rotation of the gantry between radiation beams, prolonging the treatment duration and limiting the number of patients that can be treated effectively in a given period.
Innovation Solution
An optimization algorithm is applied to arrange the radiation beams into an order that minimizes the aggregate amount of rotation by the rotatable gantry between beams, thereby reducing the time required to deliver the treatment plan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If radiation beams are delivered from multiple angles by rotating the gantry, then the radiation dose to healthy tissue is minimized, but the treatment time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The optimization algorithm pre-calculates and determines the optimal delivery sequence of radiation beams before treatment begins. By预先 arranging the beam delivery order to minimize gantry rotation, the system prepares the most efficient path in advance, reducing unnecessary rotation during actual treatment and thereby reducing treatment time while maintaining dose distribution quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the gantry rotation strategy by optimizing the sequence of beam delivery. Instead of following a fixed or simple sequential order, the system dynamically determines the optimal path through the parameter space of beam angles and sequences, adapting the rotation pattern to minimize total rotation while still delivering all required beams for effective treatment
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple radiation beams are delivered sequentially, then the prescribed dose is accumulated in the target region, but the aggregate rotation of the gantry increases treatment duration
Solution Approach 1:
The optimization algorithm pre-calculates and determines the optimal delivery sequence of radiation beams before treatment begins. By预先 arranging the beam delivery order to minimize gantry rotation, the system prepares the most efficient path in advance, reducing unnecessary rotation during actual treatment and thereby reducing treatment time while maintaining dose distribution quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of beam delivery sequence from a fixed or arbitrary order to an optimized order determined by the algorithm. By modifying this temporal parameter (the sequence in which beams are delivered), the system achieves faster treatment without compromising the spatial precision of dose delivery to the target region
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed, performed by a management apparatus for a radiotherapy system, the radiotherapy system comprising a source of therapeutic radiation mounted on a rotatable gantry. The method comprises: receiving, from a treatment planning apparatus, a treatment plan for delivery by the radiotherapy system, the treatment plan specifying a plurality of beams to be generated by the source of therapeutic radiation, wherein each beam is associated with first and second angles of the rotatable gantry, wherein the beam is initiated at one of the first and second angles, and terminated at the other of the first and second angles; applying an optimization algorithm to the plurality of beams, the optimization algorithm arranging the plurality of beams into an order such that an aggregate amount of rotation by the rotatable gantry between beams when delivering the treatment plan is minimized; and outputting the ordered plurality of beams to the radiotherapy system for implementation.