SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING RADIATION TREATMENT

• US 20110249088A1
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Clift, Julie, Hannibal, Ross B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,730,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/43
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/066 Superposing sensor position on an image of the patient, e.g. obtained by ultrasound or x-ray imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/04 Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like operating tables A61G13/00; operating chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0487 Motor-assisted positioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1059 using cameras imaging the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods

Abstract

A method of monitoring radiation treatment employs a video camera directed to at least a portion of a patient and/or patient support and at least a portion of a radiation machine. The direction of movement of the radiation machine and/or clearance between at least a portion of the radiation machine and the patient are determined by a control system. Graphics indicating the direction of movement of the machine and/or the clearance between the machine and the patient are overlaid on the video images. The video images overlaid with graphics displayed on a display.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring radiation treatment, comprising:

providing video images of at least a portion of a patient and/or patient support and at least a portion of a radiation machine;

determining a direction of movement of the radiation machine and/or clearance between at least a portion of the radiation machine and the patient;

overlaying a graphic on the video images to indicate the direction and/or the clearance; and

displaying the video images overlaid with the graphic on a display.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises determining a direction of current movement of the radiation machine relative to the patient, and the overlaying step comprises overlaying a graphic indicating the direction of current movement of the radiation machine determined.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises determining a direction of upcoming movement of the radiation machine relative to the patient, and the overlaying step comprises overlaying a graphic indicating the direction of upcoming movement of the radiation machine determined.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the overlaying step comprises overlaying a directional arrow indicating the direction of movement of the radiation machine determined.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the overlaying step comprises overlaying a colored graphic.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the overlaying step comprises overlaying a transparent graphic.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises determining clearance between at least a portion of the radiation machine and the patient, and the overlaying step comprises overlaying a graphic of collision alert if the clearance determined is within a predetermined range.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the overlaying step comprises overlaying a transparent graphic of at least a portion of a 3-D representation of the radiation machine on the video images.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises determining clearance between at least a portion of the radiation machine and the patient, and the overlaying step comprises overlaying a graphic of collision detected if the clearance determined is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the overlaying step comprises overlaying a transparent graphic of at least a portion of a 3-D representation of the radiation machine on the video images.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of suspending movement of the radiation machine.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said radiation machine includes a rotatable gantry, an imager, and a couch, the determining step comprises determining a direction or directions of movement of the gantry, imager, and/or couch, and the overlaying step comprising overlaying a transparent directional arrow or arrows indicating the direction or directions of movement of the gantry, imager, and/or couch.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step comprises displaying treatment information on the display which displays the video images overlaid with the graphic, the treatment information including information about the patient, treatment plan for the patient, and parameters of the radiation machine.

14. A radiation system, comprising:

a radiation machine;

a control system operable to control the radiation machine;

a video camera directed to at least a portion of the radiation machine and a subject to be treated by the radiation machine;

a computer coupled to the video camera adapted to overlay a graphic on video images from the video camera; and

a display for displaying the video images overlaid with the graphic.

15. The radiation system of claim 14 wherein said display is further adapted to display treatment information including information about a patient, a treatment plan for the patient, and parameters of the radiation machine.

16. The radiation system of claim 14 wherein said radiation machine and video camera are placed in a treatment room, and said display is placed outside of the treatment room.

17. The radiation system of claim 16 further comprising one or more additional video cameras in the treatment room directed to at least a portion of the machine and the patient, and one or more additional closed-circuit TV monitors outside of the treatment room for displaying video images from the one or more additional video cameras.

18. The radiation system of claim 17 wherein said one or more additional close-circuit TV monitors are placed in a close proximity to the display which displays the video images overlaid with the graphic.

19. The radiation system of claim 14 wherein said radiation machine comprises a couch and a gantry containing a radiation source, said couch and gantry being movable relative to each other.

20. The radiation system of claim 19 wherein the radiation machine further comprises an imaging system, and the radiation system further comprises an additional display for displaying images acquired by the imaging system, said additional display being placed in a close proximity to the display which displays the video images overlaid with the graphics.