Transportable CT Scanner Coordinate Transformation for Radiotherapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for positioning soft tissue body parts during radiotherapy rely on assumptions about the spatial relationship between soft tissue and bony structures, which can lead to positional offsets due to changes in soft tissue shape or size, potentially causing the tissue to be missed by treatment beams.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using a transportable CT-scanner to acquire and process CT-image data, combined with transformation data to determine the precise position of soft tissue within the treatment device's coordinate system, allowing for accurate positioning of the treatment beam relative to the patient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If treatment planning is based on CT images taken at another place with a different CT scanner, then the treatment planning process can be completed, but positional offsets occur due to differences in scanner positioning and soft tissue deformation
Solution Approach 1:
A transportable CT scanner serves as an intermediary device that can be positioned at both the treatment planning location and the treatment delivery location. This mediator acquires images at both sites, enabling direct comparison and transformation between coordinate systems to eliminate positioning offsets while maintaining system feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms spatial parameters by establishing coordinate transformations between the transportable CT scanner's coordinate system and the treatment device's coordinate system. This parameter transformation allows accurate position mapping despite changes in scanner location and orientation
2Loss of time
If CT images are taken at a different location before treatment, then treatment planning can be performed, but time passes between imaging and treatment causing potential anatomical changes
Solution Approach 1:
The transportable CT scanner performs preliminary imaging actions at the treatment location before actual treatment delivery. This preliminary action captures the current anatomical state at the treatment site, ensuring that the imaging and treatment occur in the same spatial and temporal context, thereby eliminating time-related anatomical changes
Solution Approach 2:
The system accounts for dynamic anatomical changes by using the transportable CT scanner to acquire updated images immediately before treatment. This dynamic approach ensures that the imaging captures the current state of soft tissues, which may have changed due to respiration, circulation, or other physiological processes
3Measurement precision
If a fixed CT scanner is used at the treatment location, then accurate positioning can be achieved, but the device cannot be moved between treatment sessions
Solution Approach 1:
The transportable CT scanner provides multi-functionality by serving both as a planning imaging device and as a treatment guidance device. This universal device can be deployed at different locations including simulation rooms and treatment rooms, eliminating the need for separate fixed scanners while maintaining imaging accuracy through precise coordinate transformation
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
This approach provides improved soft tissue contrast, radiation dose planning, field-of-view, reduced image acquisition time, and consideration of time-dependent anatomical changes, ensuring accurate targeting of the treatment beam.
Implementation Method 1
The CT-device is configured to be positioned relative to the patient's body and/or relative to the treatment device
Implementation Method 2
Ionizing radiation is in particular used for this purpose. In particular, the treatment beam comprises or consists of ionizing radiation
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a data processing system and method for determining the position of a soft tissue body part within a patient's body. The data processing method includes acquiring CT-image data including information about the position of the body part within a coordinate system assigned to a transportable CT-device, wherein the patient's body is positioned relative to the treatment device, and wherein the CT-device is configured to be positioned relative to the patient's body and/or relative to the treatment device, acquiring first transformation data including information about a first transformation between the coordinate system assigned to the CT-device and a coordinate system assigned to the treatment device, and determining, based on the CT-image data and the first transformation data, position data including information about the position of the body part within the coordinate system assigned to the treatment device.