Radiotherapy Patient Positioning With Beam-Specific Isocentre Offsets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiotherapy devices face challenges in accurately aligning the isocentre position for different treatment beams, leading to sub-optimal treatment accuracy due to mechanical flexing and changes in beam characteristics, which current quality assurance methods are labor-intensive and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine and apply an offset between the reference isocentre and the actual isocentre of different treatment beams, allowing for precise alignment and adjustment of patient positioning without recalibrating the entire system, even when beam parameters change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different treatment beams are used to treat the patient, then treatment versatility and effectiveness are improved, but isocentre alignment accuracy deteriorates due to mechanical flexing and beam characteristic changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of isocentre locations for all treatment beams before treatment planning. These pre-determined isocentre positions are stored and used during treatment, eliminating the need for real-time recalibration when switching between different beam types and energies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system accounts for parameter changes in beam characteristics (energy, filtration, angle) by determining specific isocentre locations for each beam configuration. The treatment planning system selects appropriate isocentres based on the chosen beam parameters, maintaining alignment accuracy across diverse treatment options.
2Measurement precision
If quality assurance methods are used to verify isocentre alignment, then treatment accuracy is improved, but time consumption and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Isocentre locations are determined and stored in advance for all treatment beams during system setup. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming quality assurance recalibration when switching between different beam configurations during treatment delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital model of isocentre positions for different beam configurations based on initial measurements. This copied information is then used repeatedly during treatment planning and delivery without requiring physical recalibration, significantly reducing time consumption.
3Measurement precision
If the treatment apparatus is recalibrated for each beam configuration, then isocentre alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single treatment apparatus performs multiple functions by delivering different beam types (photons, electrons) at various energies and angles. The system determines isocentres for all these configurations during initial setup, allowing the same device to handle diverse treatment requirements without separate calibration procedures for each mode.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method of positioning a patient for radio-therapy treatment using a radiotherapy device. The method comprises determining an identity of a treatment beam that is to be used to treat the patient, determining an offset between a reference location and an isocentre location for the identified treatment beam that is to be used to treat the patient, and changing a spatial relationship between the patient and at least a part of the radiotherapy device, according to the determined offset.