Radiation Therapy Clearance Monitoring with Predictive Video Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiation therapy has become increasingly complex, and there is a need for a system to provide real-time and predictive clearance information between patients and radiation machines to prevent collisions, especially in cases where patients are large and the radiation machine rotates closely around them.
Innovation Solution
A live view system that uses a video camera mounted in the treatment room to capture images of the patient and radiation machine, overlaying graphics on the video feed to indicate the movement and proximity of equipment, allowing radiotherapists to monitor clearances from outside the treatment room, using directional arrows and virtual models to predict and display current and upcoming clearances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the linear accelerator rotates around the patient at close clearance to treat large patients, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but the risk of collision between the patient and radiation machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future clearance values and alerting the operator before actual collisions or unsafe conditions occur. The predictive clearance monitoring calculates projected clearance values based on current equipment positions and planned movements, allowing preventive intervention before harmful events develop.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring actual equipment positions, comparing them against the treatment plan, calculating real-time clearance values, and providing ongoing alerts to the operator. This closed-loop feedback enables dynamic adjustment of equipment positioning to maintain safe clearances throughout treatment delivery.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If remote automation is used to control radiation therapy, then operator safety is improved, but the ability to monitor clearances in real-time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary computational layer that bridges the remote operator and the physical treatment environment. This intermediary automatically calculates clearance values, predicts future conditions, and presents processed information to the operator, compensating for the operator's physical separation from the treatment room while maintaining enhanced situational awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces direct mechanical visual monitoring by the operator with an automated computational monitoring system. Instead of relying on the operator's physical presence and visual assessment, electronic sensors, position encoders, and computational algorithms continuously measure and calculate clearance values, substituting mechanical observation with electronic measurement and processing.
3Measurement precision
If complex radiation therapy treatments are delivered, then treatment precision is improved, but the complexity of monitoring equipment movement and clearances increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by using a unified computational framework that handles multiple equipment components (gantry, couch, collimator), calculates various types of clearances (equipment-to-patient, equipment-to-equipment), performs both real-time monitoring and predictive analysis, and generates comprehensive alerts all through a single integrated system, reducing overall complexity despite the diverse monitoring requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of monitoring radiation treatment employs a video camera directed to at least a portion of a patient and/or patient support and at least a portion of a radiation machine. The direction of movement of the radiation machine and/or clearance between at least a portion of the radiation machine and the patient are determined by a control system. Graphics indicating the direction of movement of the machine and/or the clearance between the machine and the patient are overlaid on the video images. The video images overlaid with graphics displayed on a display.