Radiation Therapy Record Archiving via Data Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation therapy record management systems are cumbersome due to large, complex datasets that require significant storage and processing resources, making it difficult to transfer and review comprehensive radiation therapy plans, which can lead to incomplete records and potential overexposure of patients.
Innovation Solution
A method for archiving and viewing radiation therapy records by parsing and miniaturizing radiation therapy objects into compact datasets, allowing them to be stored on portable media and displayed on standard computers, including personal devices, using a miniaturized viewer that navigates a hierarchical network of links to aggregate and render the necessary data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If comprehensive radiation therapy datasets are stored in standardized formats, then complete treatment records are preserved, but storage space and processing resources are significantly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive radiation therapy dataset into multiple components including reference images, contour data, RT plan objects, and dose matrices. Each component is stored separately in standardized DICOM formats, allowing selective access and reduced memory footprint while maintaining complete treatment records. The segmentation enables the system to load only necessary components into memory during review sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a hierarchical nested structure where the main dataset container encapsulates multiple sub-datasets, each containing specific radiation therapy components. Within each sub-dataset, further nested structures organize related objects (e.g., multiple beam plans nested within an RT plan object). This nesting allows progressive loading and selective access to treatment record components.
2Loss of information
If sophisticated treatment planning software is used to review complete datasets, then comprehensive treatment information can be accessed, but hardware requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal dataset structure that can be reviewed by multiple types of systems - from full-featured treatment planning software to simpler review tools. The standardized nested format with clear object hierarchies and metadata enables any compliant system to interpret and display treatment information without requiring specialized hardware, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent generates simplified copy representations of the comprehensive treatment dataset that can be stored and transmitted without the full processing capabilities of the original planning system. These copies maintain all essential treatment information in a reduced format that can be viewed on standard hardware, effectively decoupling information completeness from hardware requirements.
3Reliability
If detailed radiation therapy records are transferred between facilities, then patient safety is improved through complete dose tracking, but data transmission time and potential corruption risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary organization and validation of radiation therapy data into a standardized nested structure before transfer. All data integrity checks, object relationships, and metadata associations are established in advance during the archiving process. This preliminary action ensures that during transmission, the pre-validated structure can be efficiently transferred without requiring complex real-time verification, reducing transmission time while maintaining patient safety through complete dose tracking.
4Measurement precision
If complete plan datasets are archived, then accurate cumulative dose calculation is enabled, but data management complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent organizes radiation therapy data in a multi-dimensional hierarchical structure with levels including study containers, patient records, treatment courses, and individual plan objects. Each dimension provides a different organizational perspective, allowing the system to manage complexity by navigating through hierarchical levels rather than handling all data at once. This dimensional organization enables accurate cumulative dose calculation by systematically aggregating data across hierarchical levels while keeping management complexity distributed.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for archiving complete radiation records for transmission and review. In various embodiments, the radiation therapy archiving system miniaturizes some of the essential features of radiation therapy planning systems including radiation therapy data reading and writing capabilities, functionality for representing contoured objects and other radiation therapy specific features, and functionality for viewing radiation therapy plans. Compact radiation therapy datasets generated by the radiation therapy archiving system may accurately represent previous radiation doses administered to a patient. To help patients transition from one radiation therapy clinic to a remote clinic, radiation therapy datasets may be downloaded to a personal computer and transferred a remote treatment planning system to be used during the design phase of ongoing radiation therapy treatments.