APPARATUS AND COMPUTING DEVICE FOR PERFORMING BRACHYTHERAPY AND METHODS OF IMAGING USING THE SAME

• US 20090198094A1
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robarts Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Robarts Research Institute
• Inventors: Gardi, Lori, Downey, Donal, Edirisinghe, Chandima, Ding, Mingyue, Fenster, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 8,444,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1011 Apparatus for permanent insertion of sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1027 Interstitial radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/103 Treatment planning systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods

Abstract

An apparatus for determining a distribution of a selected therapy in a target volume is provided. A three-dimensional ultrasound transducer captures volume data from the target volume. A computing device is in communication with the three-dimensional ultrasound transducer for receiving the volume data and determining the distribution of the selected therapy in the target volume along a set of planned needle trajectories using the volume data. At least one of the needle trajectories is oblique to at least one other of the planned needle trajectories.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing brachytherapy, comprising:

a robotic assembly having a needle guide for insertion of a brachytherapy needle into a patient, said robotic assembly being controllable to control the position and orientation of said needle guide in relation to said patient, said needle guide permitting manual longitudinal movement of said brachytherapy needle by an operator; and

a computing device in communication with said robotic assembly, said computing device storing a dose distribution for a target volume and controlling said robotic assembly for positioning said needle guide in accordance with said dose distribution.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said robotic assembly can be controlled to provide variably adjustable positioning and orientation of said needle guide.

3. An apparatus for determining a distribution of a selected therapy in a target volume, comprising:

a three-dimensional ultrasound transducer for capturing volume data from said target volume; and

a computing device in communication with said three-dimensional ultrasound transducer for receiving said volume data and determining said distribution of said selected therapy in said target volume along a set of planned needle trajectories using said volume data, at least one of said needle trajectories being oblique to at least one other of said planned needle trajectories.

4. A computing device for determining a distribution of a selected therapy in a target volume, comprising:

a communications interface receiving volume data from a three-dimensional ultrasound transducer captured from a target volume;

a memory storing a dose distribution program; and

a processor executing said dose distribution program for processing said volume data and determining said distribution of said selected therapy in said target volume along a set of planned needle trajectories using said volume data, at least one of said needle trajectories being oblique to at least one other of said planned needle trajectories.

5. An apparatus for segmenting seeds in a brachytherapy procedure, comprising:

a needle trajectory registrar for registering the trajectory of a brachytherapy needle in a target volume;

an ultrasound imaging device for imaging the trajectory of said brachytherapy needle in said target volume; and

a seed segmenter for segmenting brachytherapy seeds implanted along the trajectory of brachytherapy needle.

6. A method of segmenting seeds in a brachytherapy procedure, comprising:

imaging a target volume using three-dimensional ultrasound to locate a needle;

determining a trajectory for said needle using the location of said needle; and

analyzing the target volume only along said trajectory to segment seeds implanted by said needle.