Infrared Positioning for Radiotherapy Couch Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radiotherapy setup methods lack precision in aligning the patient's target with the isocenter of the radiation equipment, leading to potential inaccuracies in treatment due to manual adjustments and reliance on invasive or complex imaging systems.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus utilizing an infrared positioning system to detect reference and positioning mark points, calculating offsets between these points and the isocenter, and adjusting the patient supporting device to align the image center with the isocenter, thereby improving precision and efficiency without invasive procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a positioning head frame or IGRT system is used to arrange patient position, then positioning accuracy can be improved, but device complexity and invasiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the positioning function from complex invasive systems (head frames, IGRT) and implements it through a simplified non-invasive infrared positioning system that tracks markers on the patient's body without requiring invasive fixation devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical positioning systems (head frames with fixation pins, physical adapters) with an optical-infrared positioning system that uses electromagnetic radiation to detect and calculate patient position and offsets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If manual adjustment of treatment couch is used to align patient with isocenter, then operation simplicity is maintained, but positioning precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automatic feedback control where the infrared positioning system continuously monitors marker positions, calculates offsets between image center and isocenter, and provides real-time feedback for adjusting the treatment couch position to achieve precise alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-positioning calculations by automatically determining offset values based on infrared tracker data and image registration, eliminating the need for manual measurement and calculation while maintaining operational simplicity through automated couch adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If invasive positioning methods are used to fix patient position, then positioning stability is improved, but patient comfort and safety deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning stabilityVSAvoidpatient discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces infrared-active markers as intermediaries between the patient and the positioning system. These markers are attached non-invasively to the patient's body and tracked by infrared cameras, providing stable positioning information without requiring invasive fixation to the patient's anatomy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical invasive fixation (head frames, body frames with pins) with an optical tracking system that uses infrared radiation to monitor marker positions, thereby maintaining positioning stability while eliminating physical intrusion into the patient's body

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the precision and efficiency of radiotherapy setup by automatically adjusting the patient's position based on infrared positioning data, reducing manual errors and improving treatment accuracy while maintaining a non-invasive approach.

Implementation Method 1

acquiring, at a setup stage, a position of a reference mark point provided on a noninvasive positioning device in an infrared coordinate system of an infrared positioning system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS11865367B2Setup method and apparatus, data processing device, and radiotherapy system

Publication Date: 2024.01.09 OUR UNITED CORP

AI summary

Provided is a setup method which can include: acquiring a position of a reference mark point provided on a noninvasive positioning device in an infrared coordinate system of an infrared positioning system; according to the position of the reference mark point in the infrared coordinate system, a relative position between the reference mark point and an image center point in an electronic scanning image, and a position of an isocenter of a radiotherapy equipment in a patient supporting device PSD coordinate system of the radiotherapy equipment, determining a first offset between the image center point and the isocenter in the PSD coordinate system; and adjusting the first offset to a first target offset by adjusting a position of a patient supporting device in the PSD coordinate system.