Radiotherapy System 3D Body Surface Data Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiotherapy systems face inaccuracies and inefficiencies in aligning tumors due to manual marking and disappearance of marks, leading to repetitive and error-prone processes during treatment planning and delivery.
Innovation Solution
A radiotherapy system integrating medical image collecting devices, body surface data collecting devices, and processing circuitry to generate integrated data that aligns tumor positions accurately using three-dimensional coordinate systems, eliminating the need for manual marking and improving positional accuracy through real-time surface data comparison.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual marking is used to align tumor position with isocenter, then alignment can be performed, but the process is troublesome and inaccurate, and marks may disappear requiring redrawing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical marking system with an optical scanning system that captures three-dimensional body surface data. The laser beam automatically scans the patient's body surface to create digital models, eliminating the need for manual mark drawing and alignment procedures. This substitution of mechanical/manual operations with automated optical measurement resolves the contradiction by providing both high precision and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a three-dimensional digital copy of the patient's body surface using laser scanning technology. This digital model serves as a permanent reference that can be stored and reused across multiple treatment sessions, replacing the temporary physical marks that would disappear. The digital copy maintains alignment information without requiring redrawing, thus improving both precision and operational ease.
2Reliability
If manual alignment is performed using laser sighting instrument, then tumor positioning can be achieved, but the process is inaccurate and requires repeated adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual laser sighting alignment process with automated three-dimensional body surface scanning and image processing. The system automatically compares the scanned body surface data with pre-treatment CT images to calculate precise alignment parameters, eliminating manual adjustment iterations. This automation improves reliability by removing human error and reduces time by performing alignment in a single automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the three-dimensional body surface data is continuously compared with the reference CT images, and alignment parameters are automatically adjusted based on the detected deviations. This closed-loop feedback system ensures accurate tumor positioning without requiring repeated manual adjustments, thereby improving reliability while reducing the time lost to iterative corrections.
3Stability of the object's composition
If marks are drawn on patient body surface, then alignment reference is provided, but marks disappear after bathing requiring redrawing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a permanent three-dimensional digital copy of the patient's body surface that serves as the alignment reference. Unlike physical marks that can be washed away, this digital model is stored in memory and remains unchanged across treatment sessions. The system repeatedly uses this stable digital reference to guide alignment, eliminating the need for redrawing marks and thus improving both reference stability and treatment productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the physical marking system with an automated optical scanning and digital modeling system. The three-dimensional body surface data captured by laser scanning provides a stable, non-physical reference that cannot be removed or degraded by bathing. This substitution eliminates the recurring task of redrawing marks, thereby maintaining reference stability while improving overall treatment efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, the radiotherapy system includes a medical image collecting device, a body surface data collecting device and processing circuitry. The medical image collecting device collects medical three-dimensional image data of the patient at the time of treatment planning. The body surface data collecting device collects body surface data representing a three-dimensional body surface of the patient at the time of treatment planning. The processing circuitry may generate integrated data in which at least one of the medical three-dimensional image data and the treatment target region data included in the medical three-dimensional image data, and the body surface data are integrated into an identical three-dimensional coordinate system.