Radiation Therapy Planning Using Hematologic Risk Scores

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radiation therapy planning methods often fail to adequately consider organs associated with the functioning of the immune system, such as the thymus and active bone marrow, leading to excessive exposure and increased risk of hematologic toxicities.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for planning radiation therapy that takes into account the risk of hematologic toxicity by processing patient and image data to obtain a risk score for organs at risk associated with the immune system, allowing for personalized radiation therapy planning to reduce toxicity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional radiation therapy planning is used to deliver high doses to tumors, then tumor control is improved, but hematologic toxicities increase due to exposure of immune system organs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetumor controlVSAvoidhematologic toxicities

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the radiation therapy planning process into distinct phases: (1) acquiring functional image data to identify active bone marrow and thymus, (2) calculating personalized risk scores for hematologic toxicity, (3) using these scores to guide dose constraints, and (4) optimizing the treatment plan. This segmentation allows systematic integration of immune organ protection without compromising tumor control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary identification of immune system organs (thymus and active bone marrow) through functional imaging before treatment planning begins. Risk scores are calculated in advance based on patient-specific anatomical and physiological data, allowing clinicians to set appropriate dose constraints before optimization, thereby preventing hematologic toxicities while maintaining tumor control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If strict dose limits are imposed on immune system organs, then hematologic toxicity risk is reduced, but treatment plan complexity and computing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehematologic toxicity riskVSAvoidtreatment plan complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the complex multi-objective optimization problem into a more manageable form by introducing personalized risk scores as quantitative parameters. These scores, derived from functional imaging and patient data, convert qualitative concerns about immune organ protection into specific numerical dose constraints, simplifying the optimization process while maintaining scientific rigor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces functional image data and risk score calculations as intermediary steps between tumor target definition and final dose optimization. These intermediaries provide quantitative guidance for setting dose constraints on immune organs, reducing the need for complex manual optimization while systematically incorporating immune organ protection into the treatment plan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If functional image data and risk score calculations are integrated into treatment planning, then personalized immune organ protection is achieved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonalized treatment customizationVSAvoidplanning processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a multi-functional planning framework that simultaneously: (1) visualizes immune system organs through functional imaging, (2) calculates personalized risk scores, (3) guides dose constraint selection, and (4) optimizes the treatment plan. This universal approach integrates multiple functions into a unified workflow, reducing redundant processing steps and improving overall efficiency despite the added personalization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12201849B2Planning radiation therapy using a personalized hematologic risk score

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 ELEKTA AB

AI summary

Thereto a method and a system for planning radiation therapy are provided, as well as an arrangement for radiation therapy planning and a computer program product for carrying out the method. For planning the radiation therapy, the following steps are performed. Patient data of a subject to be treated is received as well as image data of the subject to be treated. The image data comprises anatomical image data of one or more organs at risk associated with the functioning of the immune system. Next, the patient 122 data and the image data are processed to obtain a risk score for the one or more organs at risk associated with the functioning of the immune system. The risk score is indicative of the risk of hematologic toxicity in the subject to be treated in response to the radiation therapy. Then the radiation therapy treatment is planned using the obtained risk score.