Interactive 3D Compensator Editor for Radiotherapy Dose Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radiotherapy treatment planning systems lack advanced tools for interactively displaying and optimizing compensator designs in 3D, making it difficult for users to manually adjust compensator pixels and achieve uniform dose distribution while minimizing radiation to surrounding tissues, especially for complex targets.

Innovation Solution

A computerized system with a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to edit and optimize 3D compensator models, displaying dose distribution on patient anatomy, enabling iterative adjustments of contours and beam configurations to achieve optimal radiation delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a matrix-style representation of compensator thickness values is used, then the compensator can be edited pixel by pixel, but the user receives little useful feedback on the compensator design and cannot easily justify changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompensator editing capabilityVSAvoidfeedback information on compensator design

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time visual feedback by displaying the compensator overlaid on patient anatomy images and showing dose distribution maps that update as the user edits compensator pixels. This allows users to immediately see the impact of their changes on dose delivery to target and surrounding tissues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces intermediate visual representations (compensator overlay on anatomy, dose distribution maps) that mediate between the raw compensator pixel values and the clinical objectives. These intermediaries translate technical parameters into clinically meaningful visual information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If manual edits are made to compensator pixels using trial and error, then the user can adjust the compensator, but the process is time-consuming and lacks systematic optimization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual compensator adjustmentVSAvoidtime for compensator optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary automated optimization to generate an initial compensator design based on treatment planning algorithms. This provides a solid starting point that reduces the number of iterative manual adjustments needed, as users only need to refine rather than create from scratch.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Real-time visual feedback through dose distribution maps and compensator overlays allows users to immediately see the impact of their edits, enabling more efficient optimization with fewer trial-and-error iterations compared to traditional methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If the compensator is designed to conform dose to the distal edge of target tissue, then uniform coverage is achieved, but too much dose spills into nearby organs at risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedose conformity to targetVSAvoidradiation dose to organs at risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows different regions of the compensator to have different thickness values optimized for local requirements. Users can adjust specific compensator pixels to control dose distribution in different areas, enabling precise control over dose conformity to the target while protecting nearby organs at risk through localized modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic adjustment of the compensator design during the planning process. Users can iteratively modify compensator thickness values and immediately see the impact on dose distribution, allowing real-time optimization of the balance between target conformity and organ protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If multiple beams are used to cover complex target portions, then adequate target coverage is achieved, but overlapping dose creates unwanted hotspots and reduces uniformity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget coverage adequacyVSAvoiddose uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the target into different regions that can be covered by multiple beams, and provides tools to manage the dose overlap in these regions. Users can adjust compensator parameters for each beam independently and see the combined effect, enabling precise control over dose uniformity while maintaining adequate target coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10850119B2Interactive computer-aided editor for compensators used in radiotherapy treatment planning

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

When constructing compensators for radiation therapy using ion or proton radiation beams, a computer-aided compensator editing method includes overlaying an initial 3D compensator model on an anatomical image of a target mass (e.g., a tumor) in a patient, along with radiation dose distribution information. A user manipulates pixels or voxels in the compensator model on a display, and a processor automatically adjusts the dose distribution according to the user edits. The user iteratively adjusts the compensator model until the dose distribution is optimized, at which time the optimized compensator model is stored to memory and/or output to a machining device that constructs a compensator from the optimized model.