Method for selecting beam orientations in intensity modulated radiation therapy
First Claim
1. A method for selecting an orientation of a treatment beam in intensity modulated radiation therapy, said method comprising:
- a) obtaining a model of a patient geometry comprising a planning target volume and at least one structure at risk;
b) assigning a tolerance parameter to said at least one structure at risk;
c) subdividing said treatment beam into beamlets;
d) selecting a treatment parameter;
e) selecting a set of angles for said treatment beam;
f) deriving a score for each angle of said set of angles by weighting each of said beamlets to maximize said treatment parameter in said planning target volume while not exceeding said tolerance parameter in said at least one structure at risk;
g) constructing a scoring function comprising said score as a function of angle;
h) selecting at least one treatment angle based on said scoring function.
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Abstract
A method for selecting an orientation of a treatment beam for intensity modulated radiation therapy based on analysis performed on a model of a patient geometry prior to the actual treatment. The model of patient geometry includes a planning target volume (PTV) containing the object to be treated by radiation, e.g., a tumor, and the structure or structures at risk, such as internal organs, bone and/or tissue. The method calls for assigning a tolerance parameter to the structure or structures at risk, subdividing the treatment beam into beamlets, selecting a treatment parameter and selecting a set of orientations for the treatment beam and deriving a score for each of the orientations in the set by weighting each of the beamlets so as to maximize the treatment parameter in the PTV while not exceeding the tolerance parameter in the structure or structures at risk at each orientation. The derived scores are used to construct a scoring function to aid in the selection of one or more treatment beam orientations to be used during the actual intensity modulated radiation therapy.
155 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for selecting an orientation of a treatment beam in intensity modulated radiation therapy, said method comprising:
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a) obtaining a model of a patient geometry comprising a planning target volume and at least one structure at risk;
b) assigning a tolerance parameter to said at least one structure at risk;
c) subdividing said treatment beam into beamlets;
d) selecting a treatment parameter;
e) selecting a set of angles for said treatment beam;
f) deriving a score for each angle of said set of angles by weighting each of said beamlets to maximize said treatment parameter in said planning target volume while not exceeding said tolerance parameter in said at least one structure at risk;
g) constructing a scoring function comprising said score as a function of angle;
h) selecting at least one treatment angle based on said scoring function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A storage medium tangibly embodying a method for selecting an orientation of a treatment beam in intensity modulated radiation therapy, said method comprising:
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a) obtaining a model of a patient geometry comprising a planning target volume and at least one structure at risk;
b) assigning a tolerance parameter to said at least one structure at risk;
c) subdividing said treatment beam into beamlets;
d) selecting a treatment parameter;
e) selecting a set of angles for said treatment beam;
f) deriving a score for each angle of said set of angles by weighting each of said beamlets to maximize said treatment parameter in said planning target volume while not exceeding said tolerance parameter in said at least one structure at risk;
g) constructing a scoring function comprising said score as a function of angle; and
h) displaying said scoring function to an operator.
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Specification