Automatic Radiation Plan Generation Using Patient Geometry

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The current process of generating radiation therapy plans is complex and time-consuming, relying heavily on manual input from caregivers, which can lead to variations in plan quality and patient care, depending on the professional's experience and skills.

Innovation Solution

A system that automatically generates an initial radiation treatment plan using a medical imager, a previous patient database, and a similarity search system, which compares patient geometry and parameters to previous cases to create a tailored plan based on geometric similarities and relevant data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual plan generation by caregivers is used, then treatment plans can be customized based on professional experience, but the process becomes time-consuming and shows variations in quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplan qualityVSAvoidplanning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating an initial treatment plan before the caregiver needs to review it. The plan generation system uses the patient's physical parameters and geometric data to create a draft plan that serves as a starting point, eliminating the need for caregivers to create plans from scratch and reducing overall planning time while maintaining quality through systematic approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a standardized template or model for treatment planning that can be applied across multiple patients. By using the patient's geometric data and physical parameters to generate plans following established patterns and best practices, the system reproduces high-quality planning outcomes consistently without requiring each caregiver to individually craft each plan, thereby reducing time loss while preserving quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual plan generation is used, then flexibility in customization is maintained, but consistency and standardization of care deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplan customizationVSAvoidcare consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system adjusts specific parameters of the treatment plan based on the patient's unique physical parameters and geometric data. By systematically modifying plan parameters to match individual patient characteristics while following standardized planning protocols, the system maintains adaptability to each patient's needs while ensuring consistent application of treatment principles across all patients, thereby improving care consistency without sacrificing customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If extensive refinement of initial plans is required, then plan quality can be improved, but treatment duration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplan qualityVSAvoidtreatment duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The plan generation system performs preliminary refinement actions automatically during the initial plan creation process. By pre-optimizing the plan using the patient's geometric and physical data before the caregiver reviews it, the system reduces the amount of subsequent refinement needed, thereby improving plan quality while minimizing the total time required for the treatment planning process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3242270B1System and method for automatic generation of initial radiation treatment plans
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP3242270B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3242270B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3242270B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions executable by a processor. The set of instructions is operable to receive a current patient medical image of a current patient, compare the current patient medical image to a plurality of previous patient medical images, each of the previous patient medical images corresponding to a previous patient, select one of the previous patients based on a geometric similarity between the previous patient medical image of the selected one of the previous patients and the current patient medical image, and determine an initial radiation treatment plan based on a radiation treatment plan of the selected one of the previous patients.