Radiation Treatment Plan Optimization With Custom Utility Functions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radiation treatment plans lack flexibility in defining high-level utility functions, leading to inconsistent optimization behaviors and inadequate discrimination between target volumes and adjacent tissues.

Innovation Solution

A control circuit outsources optimization calculations to an external resource, allowing for the free definition of high-level utility functions, enabling more flexible and customizable treatment plans.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If high-level utility functions are defined with fixed functional forms, then the optimization process can be executed, but the flexibility to accommodate diverse treatment preferences and discriminate between target volumes and adjacent tissues is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in defining high-level utility functionsVSAvoidcomplexity of optimization system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables parameter changes by allowing users to define high-level utility functions with different functional forms (e.g., linear, logarithmic, exponential) and adjust optimization parameters such as weighting factors and constraints. This flexibility accommodates diverse treatment preferences while maintaining a unified optimization framework, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If radiation energy is applied to treat target volume, then therapeutic effect is achieved, but collateral damage to adjacent tissues and organs cannot be avoided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidcollateral damage to adjacent tissues

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by enabling differential optimization of treatment parameters for different spatial regions. Through customizable utility functions and constraints, the system can apply higher doses to target volumes while reducing doses to adjacent tissues, achieving localized therapeutic effect while minimizing collateral damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The optimization process incorporates feedback mechanisms where treatment plans are evaluated against predefined utility functions and constraints. The system iteratively adjusts parameters based on predicted outcomes and actual treatment results, improving the balance between therapeutic effect and collateral damage avoidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If optimization process automatically adjusts treatment parameters, then treatment plan is improved, but the ability to incorporate custom clinical preferences and functional forms is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of treatment plan optimizationVSAvoidcustomization of utility functions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves universality by creating a multi-functional optimization platform that simultaneously supports automated optimization algorithms and custom user-defined utility functions. The system can execute standardized optimization processes while accommodating clinician-specific preferences through flexible function definitions, resolving the contradiction between productivity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12453867B2Radiation treatment plan optimization method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS INTERNATIONAL AG

AI summary

A control circuit, while optimizing a radiation treatment plan for a particular patient, outsources an optimization calculation to an external resource and then receives from that external resource a resultant optimization calculation. By one approach, that optimization calculation comprises an optimization high-level utility function calculation. The external resource may comprise, for example, a third-party resource.