Abstract:
Methods and systems are provided for developing radiation therapy treatment plans. A treatment template with radiation fields can be chosen for a patient based on a tumor location. Static radiation field positions can be adjusted for the patient, while arc radiation fields may remain the same. Static radiation field positions can be adjusted using dose gradient, historical patient data, and other techniques.
Abstract:
In a radiation treatment plan that includes a plurality of treatment fields of multiple treatment modalities, such as IMRT modality and dynamic treatment path modality (e.g., VMAT and conformal arc therapy), an optimized spatial point sequence may be determined that optimizes the total treatment time, which includes both the beam-on time (i.e., during the delivery of radiation dose) and the beam-off time (i.e., during transitions between consecutive treatment fields). The result is a time-ordered field trajectory that intermixes and interleaves different treatment fields, in one embodiment, a dynamic treatment path may be cut into a plurality of sections, and one or more IMRT fields may be inserted between the plurality of sections.
Abstract:
Disclosed are systems for and methods of registering (i.e., aligning) a deformable image with a reference image subject to a plurality of regions within the deformable and reference images. Different members of the plurality of regions may be used in different phases of a deformation algorithm and the identity of these regions may change between different iterations of the deformation algorithm. In some embodiments, most of an image is used for calculation of the internal force of the demons algorithm while a smaller subset of the image is used for calculating the opposing external force.
Abstract:
After accessing (201) optimization information for a particular patient and for a particular radiation treatment platform, a control circuit generates (202) an optimized radiation treatment plan by processing the optimization information using direct-aperture-optimization that includes fluence-based sub-optimization. By one approach, the control circuit includes the fluence-based sub-optimization in at least some, but not necessarily all, iterations of the direct-aperture-optimization. By one approach, the control circuit is configured to include only a few iterations of the fluence-based sub-optimization when including the fluence-based sub-optimization in at least some, but not necessarily all, iterations of the direct-aperture- optimization.
Abstract:
The present invention proposes a method for automatically creating a dose prediction model based on existing clinical knowledge that is accumulated from multiple sources without collaborators establishing communication links between each other. According to embodiments of the claimed subject matter, clinics can collaborate in creating a dose prediction model by submitting their treatment plans into a remote computer system (such as a cloud-based system) which aggregates information from various collaborators and produces a model that captures clinical information from all submitted treatment plans. According to further embodiments, the method may contain a step where all patient data submitted by a clinic is made anonymous or the relevant parameters are extracted and condensed prior to submitting them over the communications link in order to comply with local regulations.
Abstract:
A control circuit optimizes a radiation-treatment plan (as regards treating at least one target volume for a given patient) by automatically determining a spatially-variant normal tissue constraint as a function, at least in part, of dose distribution for normal tissue that is proximal to the target volume. If desired, the control circuit can repeatedly determine spatially-variant normal tissue constraints while optimizing the radiation-treatment plan. This automatic determination can comprise evaluating dose distributions at specific different distances from the target volume. So configured, the control circuit can effect such evaluation by penalizing, during the optimization of the radiation-treatment plan, dose distribution levels that exceed a predetermined distribution property (such as an aggregation value for the dose values including, but not limited to, an average value of dose values for each of the given specific different distances) at a given one of the specific different distances.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are methods and systems to optimize a radiation therapy treatment plan using dose distribution values predicted via a trained artificial intelligence model. A server trains the AI model using a training dataset comprising data associated with a plurality of previously implemented radiation therapy treatments on a plurality of previous patients and dose distributions associated with one or more organs of each previous patient. The server then executes (420) the trained AI model to predict dose distribution for a patient. The server then displays a heat map illustrating the predicted values, transmits the predicted values to a plan optimizer to generate an optimized treatment plan for the patient, and/or transmits (430) an alert when a treatment plan generated by a plan optimizer deviates from rules and thresholds indicated within the patient's plan objectives.
Abstract:
Streamlined and partially automated methods of setting normal tissue objectives in radiation treatment planning are provided. These methods may be applied to multiple-target cases as well as single-target cases. The methods can impose one or more target-specific dose falloff constraints around each target, taking into account geometric characteristics of each target such as target volume and shape. In some embodiments, methods can also take into account a planner's preferences for target dose homogeneity. In some embodiments, methods can generate additional dose falloff constraints in locations between two targets where dose bridging is likely to occur.
Abstract:
An optimized radiation treatment plan may be developed in which the total monitor unit (MU) count is taken into account, A planner may specify a maximum treatment time. An optimization algorithm may convert the specified maximum treatment time to a maximum total MU count, which is then used as a constraint in the optimization process. A cost function for the optimization algorithm may include a term that penalizes any violation of the upper constraint for the MU count.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are methods and systems to optimize a radiation therapy treatment plan using dose distribution values predicted via a trained artificial intelligence model. A server trains the Al model using a training dataset comprising data associated with a plurality of previously implemented radiation therapy treatments on a plurality of previous patients and dose distributions associated with one or more organs of each previous patient. The server then executes (210) the trained Al model to predict dose distribution for a patient. The server then displays (220) a heat map illustrating the predicted values, transmits the predicted values to a plan optimizer to generate an optimized treatment plan for the patient, and/or transmits an alert when a treatment plan generated by a plan optimizer deviates from rules and thresholds indicated within the patient's plan objectives.