Head-Mounted Holographic Positioning for Radiation Therapy Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The discrepancy in patient positioning between diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy sessions leads to inaccuracies in radiation delivery, compromising treatment effectiveness and increasing the risk of damage to healthy tissues.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a head-mounted display (HMD) with augmented or mixed reality technology to align the patient's position during radiation therapy with the diagnostic imaging position, facilitated by a reference point indicator and real-time feedback for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the patient's position during radiation therapy is allowed to differ from the diagnostic imaging position, then the patient's comfort and ease of positioning are improved, but the accuracy of radiation delivery deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a holographic copy of the diagnostic imaging position and displays it through the HMD, allowing the practitioner to visually compare the patient's current position with the recorded diagnostic position. This optical copying approach enables accurate position verification without physically constraining the patient during imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time visual feedback by overlaying the holographic diagnostic position onto the practitioner's field of view. The practitioner can immediately see whether the patient's current position matches the diagnostic position and make adjustments accordingly, creating a closed-loop positioning process.
2Manufacturing precision
If the patient's position is strictly maintained according to diagnostic imaging, then the radiation delivery accuracy is improved, but the ease of operation and patient comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system empowers the practitioner to perform self-verification of patient positioning using the HMD and holographic display. Rather than requiring complex external verification equipment or multiple practitioners, the system provides the positioning information directly to the practitioner who can independently assess and adjust patient position.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional mechanical positioning verification methods (such as physical measurement tools or multiple imaging sessions) with an optical information display system. The HMD and holographic visualization provide a non-contact, information-based approach to position verification that is both accurate and efficient.
3Device complexity
If traditional positioning verification methods are used without holographic display, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and position verification capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from two-dimensional imaging displays to three-dimensional holographic visualization in the practitioner's field of view. This dimensional enhancement allows for more intuitive spatial understanding of patient position and anatomical structures, improving verification accuracy without requiring complex physical measurement equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The HMD system serves multiple functions: it displays the holographic diagnostic position, provides real-time position verification, guides patient positioning adjustments, and records positioning data. This multi-functional approach consolidates several positioning verification tools into a single device, managing complexity while enhancing capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for positioning a patient (11) on a table (10) in preparation for radiation therapy to be delivered by a radiotherapy apparatus, the method comprising: registering (101), at a head-mounted display, HMD (15) worn by a medical practitioner (14), a position of a reference point (31) of a radiotherapy apparatus; providing (102) diagnostic imaging data (23) of the patient, including the patient's diagnostic position, wherein the diagnostic imaging data (23) is defined with reference to a diagnostic reference point (22); generating (103), by the visualization engine, a holographic visualization of the patient's diagnostic imaging position based on the diagnostic imaging data; and displaying (104) the holographic visualization of the patient's diagnostic imaging position (13) over the patient (11) using augmented reality or mixed reality technology of the HMD (15) to allow the medical practitioner (14) to align the current position of the patient with the patient's diagnostic imaging position (13).