Tracking Method Selection via Simulation for Image-Guided Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiation treatment systems lack tools for simulating and testing tracking methods during treatment planning, leading to sub-optimal treatment plans and unnecessary radiation exposure to healthy tissue due to the inability to accurately determine the most suitable tracking method for moving anatomical targets.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that simulate and test multiple tracking methods using imaging modalities to identify the optimal tracking method for image-guided treatments, reducing the need for multiple treatment plans and minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissue by determining the most effective tracking method through simulation and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high accuracy tracking technique is used, then treatment precision is improved, but the chance of successful tracking decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the tracking technique based on real-time conditions and patient-specific factors. Multiple tracking techniques are evaluated and the optimal one is selected during treatment planning, allowing the system to balance between accuracy and reliability rather than using a fixed high-accuracy method that may fail in certain conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of tracking by evaluating multiple different tracking techniques (e.g., different imaging modalities, different tracking targets, different registration methods) and selecting the optimal combination for each patient's specific anatomy and treatment requirements, thereby optimizing both accuracy and success rate.
2Reliability
If a low accuracy tracking technique is used, then the chance of successful tracking is improved, but healthy tissue is unnecessarily treated
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects the appropriate tracking accuracy level based on the specific treatment scenario, patient anatomy, and target characteristics. Rather than using a fixed low-accuracy method, the system adapts the tracking precision to match the clinical requirements, ensuring sufficient accuracy to minimize healthy tissue exposure while maintaining reliable tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system evaluates and selects from multiple tracking techniques with different accuracy characteristics, choosing the optimal technique that provides sufficient accuracy for the specific treatment case. This prevents the use of unnecessarily low-accuracy methods that would expose healthy tissue to radiation while still ensuring reliable tracking.
3Device complexity
If treatment plans are created without simulation and testing tools, then the treatment planning process is simpler, but multiple treatment plans may be needed wasting time and resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs simulation and testing of tracking techniques during the treatment planning phase, before actual treatment delivery. This preliminary evaluation identifies the optimal tracking method and verifies its effectiveness, preventing the need to create multiple treatment plans later and reducing overall planning time despite the added simulation step.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies and simulations of the treatment process using imaging data and tracking algorithms. By testing the tracking technique on simulated data that replicates the actual treatment scenario, the system can verify tracking performance without requiring multiple actual treatment plans, thus reducing time and resource waste.
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment delivery system or a simulation system simulates treatment of a patient, including testing the ability of one or more tracking methods to track a target position during the simulation. The system then presents simulation results to a user, the simulation results indicating whether any of the one or more tracking methods will successfully track the target position during treatment delivery.