Radiation Treatment Planning via Image Registration and Dose Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation therapy systems face challenges in generating online robust radiation treatment re-planning quickly enough to account for anatomical changes in tumors or surrounding tissues during treatment, requiring efficient methods to update treatment plans without causing patient discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that register treatment images with planning images to determine reference voxels and calculate dose values, allowing for the generation of updated radiation treatment plans based on these values, thereby adjusting treatment parameters to ensure accurate targeting of tumors and protection of organs at risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional radiation therapy treatment planning is performed manually with re-contouring of target regions and organs, then treatment plan accuracy is improved, but the time required for re-planning increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital copy of the treatment plan from the planning image and transfers dose values to corresponding voxels in the treatment image through registration, eliminating the need for manual re-contouring while preserving treatment accuracy. The mapping relationship between planning image voxels and treatment image voxels enables automatic copying of dose distribution data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary registration between the planning image and treatment image before treatment delivery, establishing the mapping relationship in advance. This preliminary action enables rapid dose value transfer without requiring time-consuming manual re-contouring during the treatment process.
2Reliability
If treatment plans are updated frequently to account for anatomical changes, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but patient discomfort increases due to repeated re-planning
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically copies dose values from the planning image to the treatment image using voxel mapping, enabling rapid treatment plan updates without manual intervention. This reduces the frequency and duration of re-planning sessions, thereby minimizing patient discomfort while maintaining treatment effectiveness through accurate anatomical change accounting.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual re-contouring and re-optimization are performed to adapt to anatomical changes, then treatment robustness is improved, but the complexity of the re-planning process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system simplifies the complex re-planning process by automatically copying dose values through image registration and voxel mapping. This eliminates the need for manual re-contouring and re-optimization steps, reducing process complexity while maintaining treatment robustness through automatic adaptation to anatomical changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the manual mechanical process of re-contouring and re-optimization with an automated computational approach using image registration and dose value transfer. This substitution eliminates the complexity of manual operations while preserving the adaptability needed to handle anatomical changes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is related to systems and methods for generating a radiation treatment plan for a treatment volume of a subject. The method includes retrieving a planning image of the treatment volume. The planning image may include a plurality of first voxels. The method also includes retrieving a treatment image that represents at least part of the treatment volume. The treatment image may include a plurality of second voxels. For at least one of the plurality of second voxels, the method further includes determining at least one reference voxel among the plurality of first voxels in the planning image and determining a dose value corresponding to the at least one second voxel. The method still further includes generating a radiation treatment plan based at least part on the dose value corresponding to the at least one second voxel.