Workflow Management System for Radiotherapy Patient Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radiotherapy treatment processes face challenges in accurately identifying patients and ensuring correct treatment plans due to time constraints and the complex, 'invisible' nature of the treatment, leading to potential errors and a need for additional safety measures to reassure patients and streamline workflow.

Innovation Solution

A workflow management system integrating patient radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags and optical markers with an optical reader to ensure accurate patient identification and verification of treatment plans, reducing the risk of errors and enhancing safety without increasing staff workload, using a system that includes a display for confirmation and tolerance settings for patient movement during treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If RFID tags and optical markers are integrated into the treatment process, then patient identification accuracy and treatment safety are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient identification accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides patient identification and verification into separate functional components: RFID tags for patient identification, optical markers for positioning, and an optical reader for detection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to improve overall reliability without overwhelming complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The optical reader serves multiple functions: detecting optical markers for patient positioning, verifying treatment plan parameters, and monitoring treatment delivery. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated devices, improving reliability while controlling system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If manual safety checks are performed by clinical staff, then treatment safety is improved, but treatment time increases and patient throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment safetyVSAvoidpatient throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-verification of patient identity and treatment plan parameters through RFID scanning and optical marker detection. The workflow management system automatically compares detected parameters with the treatment plan, eliminating the need for manual double-checks by clinical staff while maintaining treatment safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides immediate automated feedback by comparing detected patient and equipment parameters with the treatment plan. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures treatment safety without requiring time-consuming manual verification, thereby maintaining high patient throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If set-up time is reduced to increase patient throughput, then productivity is improved, but the risk of identification errors may increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient throughputVSAvoididentification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Patient RFID tags are attached and scanned before treatment setup begins. Treatment plan parameters are pre-loaded into the workflow management system and automatically compared with detected parameters. This preliminary verification ensures identification accuracy is maintained even when set-up time is reduced to increase patient throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides an independent automatic verification of patient identity and treatment plans, reducing the risk of errors, increasing patient throughput, and reassuring both staff and patients with minimal user interaction, while allowing for continuous monitoring and safety interlocks during treatment.

Implementation Method 1

a patient radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag and a radiofrequency (RF) detection device, which provides a unique identifier matchable to a patient's treatment plan

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiofrequency identification (RFID): Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

an optical reader to detect each of the plurality of optical markers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS8944318B2Workflow management system

Publication Date: 2015.02.03 ELEKTA AB

AI summary

A workflow management system for radiotherapy treatment of a patient using radiotherapy equipment comprising: a patient radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag and a radiofrequency (RF) detection device, which provides a patient unique identifier matchable to a patient's treatment plan; a plurality of optical markers, wherein in at least one patient optical marker is positioned on the patient and at least one reference optical marker is positioned at a reference point on the radiotherapy equipment; an optical reader to detect each of the plurality of optical markers; wherein the system matches the patient's unique identifier to the patient treatment plan.