Virtual 3D Collision Prediction for Rotated Couch Radiation Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collision detection methods in radiation therapy, such as gantry mounted laser systems, are inadequate for situations involving rotated couches, increasing the risk of collisions between moving medical device components and patients during complex dose delivery plans.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a camera and processing unit that generates models of the patient and medical device components, allowing for virtual simulation of movements to predict potential collisions, with optional integration of depth imaging and user input for graphical output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gantry mounted laser systems are used for collision detection, then collision detection capability is provided, but the system fails to work when the couch is rotated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual 3D copy of the patient's anatomy and the treatment room environment. This digital model allows collision detection to be performed in simulation space rather than relying on physical laser systems that fail when the couch rotates. The virtual model can be transformed and viewed from any angle without mechanical constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical gantry-mounted laser system with a computational approach using 3D modeling and virtual simulation. Instead of physical lasers that must be mounted on the gantry and fail when the couch rotates, the system uses software-based collision detection that can handle any couch position and orientation.
2Productivity
If complex dose delivery plans with rotating gantry and couch movement are implemented, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but the chance of collisions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs collision detection in advance by virtually simulating the entire treatment delivery process before actual treatment begins. The system processes the treatment plan through the 3D model to identify potential collision points, allowing clinicians to modify the plan before execution. This preliminary virtual rehearsal prevents collisions during actual treatment while maintaining complex dose delivery capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of detecting a possible collision in a medical procedure that involves a medical system, includes: obtaining an image of a patient that is supported on a patient support; determining a first model using a processing unit based at least in part on the image, at least a part of the first model representing a surface of the patient; determining a second model using the processing unit, the second model representing a first component of the medical system; virtually moving the first model, the second model, or both, using a collision prediction mechanism to simulate a movement of the first component of the medical system to determine whether there is a possible collision between the first component and the patient; and generating an output to indicate the possible collision or an absence of the possible collision.