Tumor Localization via Iterative Image Registration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for locating tumors in radiotherapy are inefficient and inflexible, requiring repeated movement of patient support apparatuses and continuous image collection, leading to high costs, reduced service life of equipment, and inaccurate offset acquisition in three-dimensional spaces.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for tumor localization that perform image registration between projection images and standard images to acquire offsets, with virtual re-sampling operations based on offset thresholds, allowing for accurate tumor positioning without repeated apparatus movement and image collection, enhancing flexibility and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If repeated movement of patient support apparatus and continuous image collection are performed to locate tumor, then measurement precision of tumor position is improved, but loss of time and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs image registration between the projection image and standard image before radiotherapy treatment to pre-acquire the offset information. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated image collection during treatment, as the tumor position offset is determined in advance through the registration process between the projection image (obtained before treatment) and the standard image (from treatment planning).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a standard image that serves as a reference copy of the tumor's expected position from treatment planning. By comparing the actual projection image with this standard copy, the system determines the offset without needing to repeatedly capture new images during treatment. The standard image acts as a template against which the actual tumor position is measured.
2Measurement precision
If repeated movement of patient support apparatus is performed to achieve accurate tumor localization, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of repeatedly moving the patient support apparatus with an image processing approach. Instead of physically adjusting the apparatus multiple times to locate the tumor, the system uses image registration algorithms to calculate the offset between the projection image and standard image, then applies this offset information to position the tumor accurately in a single adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image registration as an intermediary process between image acquisition and tumor positioning. Rather than directly moving the apparatus based on visual inspection or manual measurement, the system uses automated image registration to generate offset data, which then guides the positioning. This intermediary step simplifies the operator's task by providing precise numerical offset values.
3Measurement precision
If repeated image collection is performed to locate tumor, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of substance and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the image registration and offset calculation as a preliminary step before radiotherapy treatment begins. By acquiring the offset information in advance using the projection image and standard image, the system eliminates the need for repeated image collection during treatment. This preliminary action reduces resource consumption by limiting image acquisition to what is strictly necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for locating a tumor. The method includes: performing image registration on a projection image of the tumor and a first standard image to acquire a first offset; generating a second standard image based on the first offset; performing image registration on the projection image and the second standard image to acquire a second offset; and updating the second standard image based on the second offset and executing the operation of image registration on the projection image and the second standard image again in response to the second offset satisfying a virtual re-sampling condition; or outputting an accumulated offset in response to the second offset not satisfying the virtual re-sampling condition, wherein the accumulated offset is a sum of the first offset and the second offset acquired by executing the operation of image registration.