Treatment Couch Numerical Calibration for Fewer Manual Measurements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional treatment couch calibration methods require a large number of manual calibration measurements, leading to inefficient and prolonged calibration times, especially for high-dimensional couches with multiple degrees of freedom, which can result in inaccurate radiation delivery and potential harm to healthy tissues.
Innovation Solution
A numerical calibration approach is implemented to select a dataset of calibration poses based on metric data, reducing the number of required measurements by using a computer system to generate and evaluate multiple candidate datasets and couch models, thereby optimizing the calibration process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional manual calibration measurements are used, then calibration thoroughness is improved, but calibration time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of the treatment couch and calibration objects in a digital twin environment. Multiple candidate couch models are generated as virtual representations, allowing calibration measurements to be performed on these digital copies rather than requiring extensive physical measurements. This copying approach maintains calibration thoroughness while dramatically reducing the time required for actual physical calibration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calibration measurements and evaluations in the virtual digital twin environment before applying corrections to the actual treatment couch. By pre-evaluating multiple candidate models and selecting the optimal calibration parameters in advance, the actual calibration time is reduced while maintaining thoroughness. The preliminary action in simulation prepares the calibration data, minimizing the time needed for physical calibration execution.
2Measurement precision
If multiple degrees of freedom are calibrated, then positioning accuracy is improved, but measurement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a digital twin as an intermediary between the physical treatment couch and the calibration measurement system. This virtual representation simplifies the measurement process by providing a computational model where complex multi-degree-of-freedom relationships can be easily represented and manipulated. The digital twin acts as a mediator that translates complex physical calibration requirements into manageable computational tasks, reducing measurement complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement procedures with computational algorithms running in the digital twin environment. Instead of performing intricate physical measurements for each degree of freedom, the system uses numerical optimization and computational geometry to determine calibration parameters. This substitution of mechanical measurement systems with computational methods reduces the complexity of measuring and calibrating multiple degrees of freedom while preserving positioning accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
Example methods (400) and systems (180) for treatment couch calibration are described. In one example, a computer system (180) may obtain (411, 412) multiple candidate datasets and multiple first couch models. Based on the multiple candidate datasets and the multiple first couch models, the computer system (180) may perform (420) numerical calibration to generate (421) multiple second couch models. Based on the multiple first couch models and the multiple second couch models, the computer system (180) may determine (430) metric data associated with the multiple candidate datasets. The computer system (180) may select, from the multiple candidate datasets, a first dataset based on the metric data. The first dataset may be selected for use by a controller associated with a treatment couch (131) to cause the treatment couch (131) to move towards each of the multiple first calibration poses during treatment couch calibration.