Irradiation Position Verification Imaging for Tumor Motion Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques face challenges in accurately presenting region information on tumors or tissues on two-dimensional irradiated position confirmation screens due to changes in subject position between different time points, such as between treatment planning and execution, which can lead to inaccurate tumor tracking and increased exposure to normal tissues.
Innovation Solution
An irradiated position confirmation support device that acquires multiple medical images at different times, analyzes regions, calculates change information, and generates superimposed images to accurately depict tumor positions, overcoming visibility issues during moving body tracking irradiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a margin region is added to the treatment target region to account for tumor movement, then the reliability of irradiation coverage is improved, but the exposure to normal tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic tracking by continuously monitoring tumor position during irradiation and adjusting the irradiation beam in real-time to follow the moving tumor, replacing static margin-based coverage with dynamic adaptation to tumor motion
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses real-time imaging feedback to monitor tumor position and dynamically adjusts irradiation parameters based on the detected tumor location, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains accurate targeting without fixed margins
2Adaptability or versatility
If X-ray fluoroscopy is used to track tumor position, then the ability to follow tumor movement is improved, but the tumor may be hidden by other tissues and visibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image processing system that acts as an intermediary between the raw X-ray fluoroscopy images and the tumor position determination, using image analysis algorithms to extract tumor position information even when the tumor is not directly visible in the raw images
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces direct visual observation of the tumor in X-ray images with automated image processing and analysis methods that can detect tumor position through computational analysis of image data, substituting mechanical/visual detection with electronic processing
3Measurement precision
If multiple medical images are acquired and processed to track tumor position, then the accuracy of tumor position determination is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional image processing system that performs multiple tasks including image registration, tumor segmentation, position calculation, and verification across different image types and time points, consolidating these functions into an integrated system rather than separate dedicated systems for each function
Data Source
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AI summary
This irradiation position verification assisting device includes an acquisition unit that acquires a first medical image of the inside of a subject's body, a second medical image of the inside of the subject's body captured after the first medical image has been captured, and a third medical image of the inside of the subject's body captured after the second medical image has been captured; a region analysis unit that analyzes a region contained in the first medical image; an association analysis unit that calculates first change information indicating a change related to the same tissue by aligning the first medical image with the second medical image, and transforms the region analysis result based on the first change information to output the transformed region analysis result; and a generation unit that superimposes the transformed region analysis result on the third medical image to generate a superimposed image.