Radiotherapy Dose Guidance With Real-Time Final Dose Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiotherapy systems struggle with precise dose delivery due to unpredictable motion, rotation, and deformation of targeted objects and surrounding areas, leading to unnecessary irradiation of healthy tissue and challenges in real-time dose reconstruction and quality assurance.
Innovation Solution
A method for real-time dose reconstruction and guidance that continuously estimates the final delivered radiation dose by accounting for observed and simulated motion, allowing for informed decision-making and adaptive adjustments during the radiotherapy session.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If algorithms are used for precise dose reconstruction, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to computation time being too slow for real-time use
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores dose distribution data and motion patterns before the radiotherapy session. This preliminary preparation enables the real-time estimation algorithm to quickly retrieve and process pre-computed information, achieving both precision and speed requirements for clinical use.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing complete and exhaustive dose reconstruction calculations in real-time, the system uses a simplified estimation algorithm that processes only the essential parameters needed for clinical decision-making. This partial action approach provides sufficient precision for dose guidance while maintaining real-time performance.
2Reliability
If substantial volumes of healthy tissue are irradiated, then reliability of tumor treatment is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen due to unnecessary irradiation of healthy tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the actual delivered dose and compares it with the planned dose distribution during the radiotherapy session. This real-time feedback enables dynamic adjustment of treatment parameters to ensure adequate tumor coverage while minimizing healthy tissue exposure, resolving the contradiction between treatment reliability and harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the treatment delivery based on real-time dose estimation and observed motion patterns. By continuously adjusting beam parameters and treatment timing, the system maintains reliable tumor treatment while reducing unnecessary irradiation of healthy tissues that would occur with static, pre-planned approaches.
3Ease of operation
If geometric alignment based on bony or soft-tissue anatomy is used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to assumption of patient rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dose distribution as an intermediary metric to bridge the simple geometric alignment approach and the need for precise anatomical positioning. By translating geometric position data into dosimetric information, the system maintains operational simplicity while achieving accurate anatomical alignment through dose-based verification and adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for dose guidance for a radiotherapy system during a radiotherapy session includes the steps of: performing substantially real-time dose reconstruction to obtain a delivered radiation dose generated by a radiotherapy beam of the radiotherapy system in at least one volume; repeatedly estimating a remaining radiation dose based on an observed and/or simulated motion of the at least one volume; repeatedly estimating a final delivered radiation dose as a sum of the delivered radiation dose and the estimated remaining radiation dose; and providing dose guidance for a remaining part of the radiotherapy session based on the estimated final delivered radiation dose. A method of continuous estimation of final delivered radiation dose during a radiotherapy session and a decision support system for a radiotherapy system are also provided.