Integrated CT Imaging for Real-Time Adaptive Radiotherapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiation therapy systems lack the capability for real-time, high-soft-tissue-contrast imaging during treatment due to limitations in onboard imaging systems, which cannot provide sub-second temporal resolution and are prone to image artifacts, leading to inaccurate dosing and inability to compensate for anatomical changes during treatment.
Innovation Solution
A radiation therapy system incorporating a distributed-source CT scanning system that rotates with the LINAC, enabling sub-second temporal resolution and high soft tissue contrast imaging, allowing for real-time detection of intra-fraction motion and anatomical variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional onboard imaging systems are used in radiation therapy systems, then the system structure remains simple, but real-time high-soft-tissue-contrast imaging capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a conventional CT scanner with a radiation therapy system by integrating the CT scanner's gantry, x-ray source, and detector array into the radiation therapy system's structure. This merging allows the system to perform both radiation therapy delivery and high-quality CT imaging functions using a unified platform, achieving real-time high-soft-tissue-contrast imaging capability while maintaining operational simplicity through integrated control systems
2Speed
If the gantry rotates slowly during treatment delivery, then treatment beam stability is improved, but CT scan acquisition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by rotating the gantry through multiple complete revolutions during treatment delivery, with each rotation enabling a full CT scan acquisition. The continuous periodic rotation at optimized speeds allows the fast detector array to capture complete 360-degree projection data sets repeatedly, achieving sub-second temporal resolution through multiple periodic cycles rather than requiring a single slow rotation
Solution Approach 2:
The gantry maintains continuous rotation during both treatment beam delivery and CT scan acquisition, eliminating idle periods between scanning operations. The continuous rotational motion ensures that the x-ray source and detector array constantly sweep through the patient anatomy, enabling uninterrupted data acquisition and real-time imaging feedback without stopping the treatment process
3Reliability
If a distributed-source CT scanning system is integrated, then real-time anatomical detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The CT imaging system is segmented into multiple independent yet coordinated components: a distributed array of x-ray sources positioned at different angular locations around the patient, and a corresponding detector array. Each source-detector pair functions as an independent imaging unit that contributes projections to the reconstructed image, allowing the system to achieve comprehensive anatomical coverage through distributed sampling while maintaining modular complexity management
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
Enables precise and adaptive radiation therapy by providing CT-quality imaging during treatment, enabling real-time compensation for anatomical changes and improving treatment accuracy and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an array of x-ray sources positioned around the target volume. In operation, the radiation delivery system and the CT imaging system are rotated about a treatment isocenter... Simultaneously, the CT imaging system generates one or more CT scans... Each CT scan includes the sub-second acquisition of a plurality of CT views
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation treatment system includes a radiation delivery system including a rotatable gantry that is coupled to a static portion of the radiation treatment system and a radiation source that directs treatment radiation to a target volume and is mounted on the rotatable gantry for rotation about the target volume. The radiation treatment system further includes a computed tomography (CT) imaging system that generates portions of a CT scan of a region of patient anatomy that includes the target volume, wherein the CT imaging system includes an arcuate array of x-ray detectors, and an array of x-ray sources positioned around the target volume, wherein each x-ray source in the array of x-ray sources is oriented to direct imaging x-rays towards a different portion of the arcuate array of x-ray detectors.