Monitor Unit Distribution Visualization in Radiation Treatment Planning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radiation treatment planning systems lack real-time evaluation and control mechanisms for treatment plans, leading to delays and inefficient use of processing resources due to the large number of parameters and iterations required to generate high-quality plans.

Innovation Solution

A system that generates and displays graphical representations of monitor unit distributions for radiation therapy treatment plans, allowing real-time evaluation and control of treatment objectives, thereby expediting the planning process and reducing resource consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional radiation treatment planning systems perform simulations and optimizations to generate high-quality treatment plans, then the quality of the treatment plan is improved, but the processing time and computational resources are excessively consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment plan qualityVSAvoidplanning process time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by generating graphical representations of monitor unit distributions and treatment objectives during the optimization process, allowing clinicians to evaluate and control the plan quality in real-time before finalization. This enables early detection of suboptimal plans and avoids wasting time on extensive processing of already inadequate plans.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously displaying visual representations of monitor unit distributions and treatment objectives during the optimization process. This real-time feedback allows clinicians to assess plan quality and guide the optimization process, preventing unnecessary computational iterations and reducing overall planning time while maintaining high treatment plan quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If conventional radiation treatment planning systems perform multiple iterations to optimize treatment plans, then the treatment plan quality is improved, but the computational resources and processing power are excessively consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment plan qualityVSAvoidprocessing power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary visual evaluation of monitor unit distributions during the optimization process, allowing clinicians to identify satisfactory plans before completing all computational iterations. This preliminary assessment prevents unnecessary consumption of processing power on additional iterations when the treatment plan quality is already sufficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time feedback through graphical representations of monitor unit distributions, enabling clinicians to monitor plan quality progression and determine when optimization is sufficient. This feedback mechanism reduces unnecessary computational iterations and processing power consumption while maintaining high treatment plan quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional radiation treatment planning systems use a large number of parameters for optimization, then the treatment plan quality is improved, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment plan qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces graphical representations of monitor unit distributions as an intermediary between the complex optimization parameters and the clinician's evaluation. This visual intermediary simplifies the interpretation of multiple optimization parameters, allowing clinicians to assess treatment plan quality without being overwhelmed by system complexity, while still benefiting from comprehensive multi-parameter optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4523740B1Radiation therapy treatment planning including monitor unit distribution visualization

Publication Date: 2026.02.25 VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC

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Figure 2B~3
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AI summary

A system (100) includes at least one processor (102) configured to execute computer executable instructions to cause the system (100) to: generate or obtain (S502) a first radiation treatment plan for a treatment target (208, 218) in a patient, the first radiation treatment plan prescribing beam characteristics for a plurality of beamlets (214, 216) or spots (204, 206) in the treatment target (208, 218), the beam characteristics including a monitor unit value associated with each of the plurality of beamlets (214, 216) or spots (204, 206) in at least a first field; and display (S506), via a graphical user interface, at least one representation of a first distribution of monitor units for the first radiation treatment plan, the at least one representation of the first distribution of monitor units indicating, for each respective monitor unit value, a number of beamlets (214, 216) or spots (204, 206) in at least the first field having the respective monitor unit value.