MLC Arc Delivery Optimization for Faster Radiotherapy Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiotherapy treatment plans are constrained by conservative default values for multi-leaf collimator (MLC) movement, leading to inefficient delivery times and potential organ motion during treatment.
Innovation Solution
A method to optimize MLC delivery values by identifying the time-limiting component and adjusting other components' delivery values to match the optimized MLC delivery time, allowing for faster treatment delivery while ensuring operational safety and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conservative default values are used for MLC movement, then operational safety is ensured, but treatment delivery time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts MLC delivery values based on real-time evaluation of operational parameters such as leaf position, velocity, acceleration, and inter-leaf distance. Instead of using fixed conservative default values, the optimization module continuously adapts the delivery parameters to maximize speed while maintaining safety margins, thereby reducing treatment delivery time without compromising operational safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the delivery parameters (velocity, acceleration, positioning) of the MLC leaves by evaluating multiple candidate values and selecting optimized parameters that satisfy safety constraints. The system modifies these parameters adaptively based on the specific treatment scenario, allowing faster delivery when conditions permit while maintaining safety requirements.
2Productivity
If MLC leaf movement speed is increased, then treatment efficiency is improved, but risk of operational errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the optimization module continuously monitors MLC operational parameters and adjusts delivery values based on evaluated performance. The system uses feedback from previous movements and current system state to refine velocity and acceleration profiles, ensuring that speed increases do not compromise operational accuracy while maintaining treatment efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The MLC delivery system dynamically adjusts its operational characteristics based on real-time conditions. The optimization module continuously evaluates the appropriate delivery values for leaf velocity and acceleration, allowing the system to operate at higher speeds when conditions are favorable while automatically reducing speed when precision is critical, thus balancing efficiency and accuracy.
3Device complexity
If default delivery values are used for all components, then system complexity is reduced, but treatment delivery time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a default value provider that supplies baseline parameters, and an optimization module that selectively adjusts specific MLC delivery values. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity for non-critical components while applying complex optimization only where needed (MLC leaf movement), thereby reducing overall treatment delivery time without excessively increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies optimization locally to specific MLC delivery parameters rather than uniformly to all system components. The optimization module selectively adjusts leaf velocity, acceleration, and positioning parameters based on local treatment requirements and operational constraints, leaving other system components operating with default values. This localized approach improves treatment delivery time while minimizing the increase in system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method of calculating delivery values for delivering an arc-segment between two control points of a treatment plan, the treatment plan specifying MLC leaf position at each control point. The method comprises: calculating the arc-segment delivery time for each of a plurality of components using default delivery values, wherein one of the components is MLC leaf movement; selecting the component dictating the longest arc-segment delivery time as the time-limiting component; and if the time-limiting component is MLC leaf movement: providing optimised MLC delivery values; if a predetermined condition is met, setting the time-limiting component delivery values to the optimised delivery values; and outputting the time-limiting component delivery values.