Treatment planning simulation and verification system

• US 8,385,502 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Myles, Jeremy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kao, Glen
• Application Number:
  US12/882,146
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 378/65
• US Class Current: 378/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1054 using a portal imaging system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1062 using virtual X-ray images, e.g. digitally reconstructed radiographs [DRR]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1027 Interstitial radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

A treatment planning, simulation, and verification system is described. According to one embodiment, a treatment plan and a fluoroscopy data image of a treatment volume are received and the treatment plan is automatically adjusted based on the movement of the fluoroscopy data image. According another embodiment, a system includes a treatment planning component to generate a treatment plan and a simulation component to simulate the execution of the treatment plan.

Claims

1. A single treatment simulator system comprising:

a treatment planning component to receive a treatment plan;

a simulation component to simulate an execution of the treatment plan on a patient;

a third component to adjust the treatment plan based on the simulated execution of the treatment plan; and

a fourth component to save an adjustment to the treatment plan;

wherein the single treatment simulator system comprises the treatment planning component, the simulation component, the third component, and the fourth component,

wherein the treatment plan includes a digitally reconstructed radiograph image,

wherein the simulation component generates digital fluoroscopy images of a target volume to confirm the digitally reconstructed radiograph image, and wherein adjusting comprises;

adjusting automatically at the single treatment simulator system the treatment plan based on movement in a video display of a digital fluoroscopy image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein adjusting includes adjusting treatment field information to allow for movement in a field.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein adjusting includes adjusting gating information in the treatment plan.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the movement in the video display of the digital fluoroscopic image comprises movement of a patient'"'"'s internal anatomy in a digital video signal from a real time digital x-ray imager.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the digital fluoroscopic image comprises a digital video signal from a real time digital x-ray imager.

6. A single treatment simulator system comprising:

a treatment planning component to receive a treatment plan;

a simulation component to simulate an execution of the treatment plan on a patient;

a third component to adjust the treatment plan based on the simulated execution of the treatment plan; and

a fourth component to save an adjustment to the treatment plan;

wherein the single treatment simulator system comprises the treatment planning component, the simulation component, the third component, and the fourth component, and wherein adjusting comprises;

displaying at the single treatment simulator system a digital image of a patient, wherein the digital image is generated on the single treatment simulator system;

providing at the single treatment simulator system, an input associated with the digital image;

automatically adjusting at the single treatment simulator system, the treatment plan based on the input associated with the digital image; and

recalculating at the single treatment simulator system a treatment plan based on the input associated with the digital image.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein displaying the digital image includes overlaying a simulator digital image and a digitally reconstructed radiograph image.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

automatically displaying fields of data based on the digital image.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the providing includes providing a radiation field input.

10. A method of performing brachytherapy comprising:

placing a patient on a patient support;

producing an image of the patient using a flat panel imager while the patient is on the patient support;

adjusting a treatment plan for placement of a radiation source in the patient based at least in part on the image while the patient is on the patient support; and

then

treating the patient according to the treatment plan while the patient is on the patient support, wherein adjusting comprises;

adjusting automatically at a single treatment system the treatment plan based on movement in a video display of a digital fluoroscopy image.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting includes adjusting treatment field information to allow for movement of the patient in a field.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting includes adjusting gating information in the treatment plan.