MRI Tumor Tracking via Reference Marker Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oncological procedures face challenges in accurately aligning interventional tools with tumors due to uncertainties in tumor size, shape, and position, leading to potential under-treatment of cancerous tissue and exposure of healthy tissue, particularly exacerbated by tumor motion during respiratory cycles.
Innovation Solution
An MRI-based system that generates images of the tumor and non-invasively localizes reference markers to create a relationship between these markers and the tumor, allowing for precise tracking and positioning of the tumor, thereby reducing the need for invasive marker placement and minimizing exposure of healthy tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the beam diameter is made larger to ensure all cancerous tissue is irradiated, then treatment reliability is improved, but healthy tissue exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/gating-based tumor tracking systems with an MRI-based imaging and registration system. The system uses MRI images to identify and track tumor position and creates a registration between pre-treatment MRI and treatment planning images, enabling precise beam positioning without requiring mechanical gating devices or invasive markers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy or model of the tumor's position and motion characteristics by registering MRI images with the treatment planning images. This virtual tumor model allows the system to predict tumor position during treatment without physically tracking it, enabling precise beam placement while avoiding healthy tissue.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If gating is used to reduce treatment margins, then healthy tissue exposure is reduced, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical gating systems with an image-based registration and tracking system. Instead of using physical gates or respiratory monitors to control beam delivery timing, the system uses MRI image registration to predict tumor position and delivers treatment continuously with precise spatial control, eliminating the time delays associated with gating.
3Measurement precision
If internal markers are placed on the target to enable tracking, then tracking precision is improved, but procedure complexity and invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the tumor's position and motion by registering MRI images with treatment planning images. This virtual registration model provides precise tracking information without requiring physical internal markers to be implanted in the patient, thereby maintaining measurement precision while avoiding the complexity and invasiveness of marker implantation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes physical internal markers with an image-based registration system. Instead of placing radiopaque or detectable markers inside or near the tumor, the system uses MRI image data and computational registration algorithms to track tumor position, eliminating the need for invasive marker placement while maintaining or improving tracking precision.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the beam diameter is made smaller to reduce healthy tissue exposure, then harmful factors are reduced, but treatment reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through continuous image acquisition and registration during treatment. The system monitors tumor position changes in real-time using MRI images and adjusts beam positioning accordingly. This feedback loop allows the system to use smaller beam diameters while maintaining treatment reliability, as the beam can be dynamically repositioned to track the tumor's movement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances predictive accuracy of tumor position, reduces treatment margins, decreases radiation doses, shortens treatment duration, and allows for more precise targeting of cancerous tissue while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue.
Implementation Method 1
an MRI apparatus for generating MR images during an MR scan of the subject disposed within an examination region
Data Source
AI summary
A target treatment apparatus for treating a target region (130) within a subject (140) is provided. The apparatus includes an MRI apparatus (100) for generating MR images during an MR scan of the subject disposed within an examination region (110). The apparatus further includes an MRI localizer (150) for receiving the image data from the MRI apparatus wherein the target (130) is localized and a reference marker localizer (160, 160′) for non-invasively receiving reference data from a plurality of reference points disposed in proximity to the target wherein the reference points are localized. A tracking processor (300) is also included in the apparatus for receiving localized data from the MRI localizer wherein a relationship between the reference markers and the target region is generated.