Real-Time Radiation Therapy Using Partial Low-SNR Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation therapy systems require high-quality, high-SNR images to accurately track target regions during treatment sessions, which are not feasible due to the time and dose constraints of existing imaging methods, leading to potential irradiation of non-target regions.
Innovation Solution
The use of low-SNR or partial images, acquired at high frame rates during treatment sessions, in conjunction with a radiation-firing matrix, allows for real-time adjustment of fluence maps to guide radiation delivery, enabling precise targeting without the need for high-SNR image data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-SNR full images are acquired to accurately track target region, then measurement precision is improved, but acquisition time increases and imaging dose increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using only the necessary portion of image data for target tracking. Instead of requiring complete high-SNR images, the system uses partial image data combined with pre-calculated radiation-firing matrices to achieve sufficient target location accuracy for real-time fluence map updates during treatment sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating radiation-firing matrices during treatment planning based on expected target motion. These pre-computed matrices are stored and later applied to real-time partial images during treatment, eliminating the need to process complete high-SNR images during the actual treatment session.
2Measurement precision
If high-SNR full images are acquired to accurately track target region, then measurement precision is improved, but imaging dose increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses partial image data rather than complete high-SNR images for target tracking during treatment. By combining partial images with pre-calculated radiation-firing matrices, the system achieves sufficient target location accuracy while significantly reducing the imaging dose required compared to acquiring full high-SNR images.
3Productivity
If real-time image processing is performed during treatment session, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to low-SNR
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the computationally intensive and precision-critical calculations in advance during treatment planning. Radiation-firing matrices are pre-calculated based on expected target motion and anatomy, then stored for rapid application during treatment. This allows real-time processing during treatment sessions to simply apply these pre-computed matrices to partial images, achieving both speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pre-calculated radiation-firing matrices as a template or copy of the ideal fluence distribution. These matrices are applied to real-time partial images to generate updated fluence maps, effectively copying the precision of pre-planned treatment geometry to real-time conditions without requiring real-time high-SNR imaging.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for guiding the delivery of therapeutic radiation using incomplete or partial images acquired during a treatment session. A partial image does not have enough information to determine the location of a target region due to, for example, poor or low contrast and/or low SNR. The radiation fluence calculation methods described herein do not require knowledge or calculation of the target location, and yet may help to provide real-time image guided radiation therapy using arbitrarily low SNR images.