Radiation Therapy Trajectory Collision Prediction Using 3D Patient Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation therapy systems lack efficient computer-assisted collision prediction capabilities, leading to potential patient injury and equipment damage due to collisions during treatment, which hinders the use of advanced treatment techniques requiring complex geometries that human planners cannot visualize effectively.
Innovation Solution
A networked environment with a computing device and three-dimensional imaging device generates and aligns 3-D models of patients, treatment machines, and support systems to predict collisions by analyzing machine and patient trajectories, interpolating control points to identify potential overlaps and validate treatment plans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human planners use intuition and conservative treatment geometry selection, then collision risk is reduced, but advanced treatment techniques requiring complex geometries cannot be utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human visual inspection and intuition with an automated computer-based collision detection system that uses 3-D imaging and trajectory analysis algorithms to predict and prevent collisions, enabling complex treatment geometries that exceed human visualization capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary computer-assisted collision prediction system between the treatment planning process and actual treatment delivery, providing automated verification that allows planners to use complex geometries while maintaining safety through algorithmic collision detection
2Reliability
If treatment geometry is inspected by therapist before treatment initiation, then collision risk is identified, but treatment planning requires several days and is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary collision detection analysis during the treatment planning stage using automated 3-D modeling and trajectory interpolation, identifying potential collisions before treatment delivery begins, thereby preventing time-consuming interruptions during actual treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual therapist inspection with automated computer-based collision prediction that rapidly analyzes treatment geometries using algorithms, reducing the time required from several days to a fraction of that time while maintaining or improving detection accuracy
3Reliability
If planners use conservative treatment geometry selection, then collision avoidance is achieved, but the process is costly for the provider
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces conservative manual planning with automated collision detection algorithms that efficiently evaluate complex treatment geometries, reducing provider costs by eliminating the need for overly conservative planning while maintaining safety through rapid computer-based analysis
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for assessing machine trajectories for collision avoidance. A three-dimensional model of a patient based at least in part on data received from a three-dimensional imaging device is generated. The three-dimensional model of the patient is aligned with a coordinate system of a three-dimensional model of a radiation treatment machine. It is then determined whether a collision between the patient and the radiation treatment machine will occur at each one of a series of control points of the radiation treatment plan.