Local Positioning System for Radiation Therapy Component Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation therapy systems face challenges in accurately tracking and synchronizing the motion of various components, such as gantries, couches, and collimators, to deliver precise doses of radiation to patients, while also monitoring the dose received by the patient in real-time, which is crucial for effective treatment.
Innovation Solution
A local positioning system (LPS) is introduced that integrates with radiation therapy systems, using position verification devices and system monitoring modules to track and synchronize the motion of treatment components, and employs markers like MOSFET devices to monitor the dose received by the patient, enabling real-time adjustments and quality assurance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mechanical sensors hard-wired to control computers are used to track equipment position, then position information can be gathered, but the system complexity and difficulty of installation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical sensors with optical markers and camera-based tracking systems. Instead of using mechanical sensors hard-wired to control computers, the system uses passive or active markers that are tracked optically by cameras, eliminating the need for complex mechanical wiring and sensor installation while maintaining position tracking accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces markers as intermediary objects between the treatment equipment and the tracking system. These markers are attached to equipment components (gantry, couch, collimators) and serve as visual intermediaries that cameras can track, simplifying the overall system architecture compared to direct mechanical sensing
2Reliability
If real-time monitoring of treatment components is implemented, then dose delivery accuracy improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal positioning system that tracks multiple treatment components (gantry, couch, collimators) and patient position simultaneously using the same camera infrastructure and marker technology. This multi-functional approach allows real-time monitoring of all critical elements without requiring separate specialized sensors for each component, thereby improving dose delivery accuracy while controlling system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously captures images of markers, calculates their positions in real-time, and feeds this information back to the treatment control system. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment and verification of component positions during treatment, ensuring dose delivery accuracy without requiring overly complex monitoring infrastructure
3Measurement precision
If markers are used to indicate patient motion for dose evaluation, then dose accuracy can be verified, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs markers with distinct visual characteristics including color differences between active and passive markers. Active markers emit light or reflect specific wavelengths, while passive markers have contrasting colors that make them easily distinguishable from the background and from each other, significantly reducing the difficulty of detection and measurement by the camera system
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of evaluating dose delivered by a radiation therapy system using a marker that indicates motion. The marker is associated with the patient. In one method of operation, the method includes delivering radiation to the patient, monitoring motion of the marker during the delivering radiation, and evaluating a dose delivered to the patient based at least in part on the motion of the marker. In another method of operation, the method includes delivering radiation to the patient, obtaining information relating to the delivery of radiation, estimating dose to the marker based at least in part on the information, acquiring dose received by the marker, and comparing the received dose with the estimated dose.