Phantom-Based Laser Calibration for Radiotherapy Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for calibrating laser beams in radiotherapy systems lack accuracy and efficiency, which is crucial for ensuring precise alignment of tumor targets during radiation treatment.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a phantom with surface indicators to determine the difference between the phantom's coordinate system and the medical system's coordinate system, adjusting the phantom and alignment device to align laser beams with the phantom's indicators, ensuring accurate calibration of the laser beams at the radiation isocenter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional methods are used to calibrate laser beams, then the calibration process can be completed, but the accuracy and efficiency of calibration is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a phantom as an intermediary calibration tool that bridges the laser alignment system and the treatment target. The phantom contains precisely manufactured coordinate indicators and surface markers that serve as reference intermediaries, enabling accurate transfer of spatial coordinates from the laser isocenter to the treatment planning system, thereby simultaneously improving both calibration accuracy and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom creates a physical copy of the treatment target's coordinate system with high-precision surface indicators and internal markers. By capturing images of these copied coordinates and comparing them with the treatment plan, the system achieves accurate calibration without requiring direct measurement at the patient's anatomy, thus improving both precision and efficiency
2Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment methods are used for laser alignment, then the alignment process can be performed, but the precision of laser beam alignment with tumor targets is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements an automated feedback loop where images of the phantom's coordinate indicators are captured by the imaging system, processed to calculate actual coordinates, compared with the treatment plan's expected coordinates, and used to generate adjustment instructions for the laser alignment device. This closed-loop feedback mechanism eliminates manual trial-and-error adjustment, achieving high precision alignment while reducing calibration time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment of laser alignment with an automated image-based measurement and calculation system. The imaging system captures phantom coordinates, software processes the images to determine actual positions, and the system automatically calculates corrections, substituting manual mechanical alignment operations with automated optical and computational processes, thereby improving precision and reducing time loss
Data Source
AI summary
A method for calibrating an alignment device includes obtaining one or more projection images of a phantom having one or more surface indicators, the one or more surface indicators indicating a first coordinate system relating to the phantom, an origin of the first coordinate system overlapping with a calibration point of the phantom. The method further includes determining a difference between the first coordinate system and a second coordinate system based on the one or more projection images, the second coordinate system being relating to a medical system. The method further includes adjusting the phantom to an updated state according to the difference between the first coordinate system and the second coordinate system such that the first coordinate system overlaps with the second coordinate system. The method also includes adjusting an alignment device according to the one or more surface indicators in the updated state.