Method and system for predictive physiological gating

• US 9,232,928 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mostafavi, Hassan
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US11/116,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20050201510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,912 Days
• Field of Search: 600529-543, 600/481, 600/483, 600/484, 600/595
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/371 with simultaneous use of two cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/70 Means for positioning the patient in relation to the detecting, measuring or recording means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7289 Retrospective gating, i.e. associating measured signals or images with a physiological event after the actual measurement or image acquisition, e.g. by simultaneously recording an additional physiological signal during the measurement or image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7292 Prospective gating, i.e. predicting the occurrence of a physiological event for use as a synchronisation signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/487 involving fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5288 involving retrospective matching to a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1059 using cameras imaging the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1037 taking into account the movement of the target, e.g. 4D-image based planning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1064 for adjusting radiation treatment in response to monitoring

Abstract

A method and system for physiological gating is disclosed. A method and system for detecting and predictably estimating regular cycles of physiological activity or movements is disclosed. Another disclosed aspect of the invention is directed to predictive actuation of gating system components. Yet another disclosed aspect of the invention is directed to physiological gating of radiation treatment based upon the phase of the physiological activity. Gating can be performed, either prospectively or retrospectively, to any type of procedure, including radiation therapy or imaging, or other types of medical devices and procedures such as PET, MRI, SPECT, and CT scans.

Claims

1. A method for use in a radiation procedure, comprising:

obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion, wherein the analysis is performed using a processor; and

generating a signal to control a treatment machine in a radiation procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein a portion of the respiratory motion and a portion of the reference respiratory motion are parts of a same breathing cycle; and

wherein the processor comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the analysis comprises performing a pattern matching analysis.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of data is a model of a respiratory wave form.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the second set of data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second set of data is generated using respiratory motion data of the patient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is a “

ON”

signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is a “

OFF”

signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference respiratory motion is immediately before the respiratory motion.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the respiratory motion comprises a first wave form, and the reference respiratory motion comprises a second wave form, and wherein the analysis is performed to compare the first and second wave forms.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis is performed to compare a pattern of the respiratory motion with a pattern of the reference respiratory motion.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is generated using the processor.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine comprises a radiation machine, and the signal comprises a control signal for controlling the radiation machine.

13. A method for use in a radiation procedure, comprising:

obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion, wherein the analysis is performed using a processor; and

generating a signal for physiological gating of a medical procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein the performing comprises determining a degree of deviation between the respiratory motion and the reference respiratory motion; and

wherein the processor comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the signal comprises a treatment machine control signal.

15. An apparatus comprising a computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium having a set of stored instructions, an execution of which causes a process to be performed by a processor, the process comprising:

obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion; and

generating a signal to control a treatment machine in a radiation procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein a portion of the respiratory motion and a portion of the reference respiratory motion are parts of a same breathing cycle; and

wherein the processor comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the act of performing the analysis comprises performing a pattern matching analysis.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second set of data is a model of a respiratory wave form.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the signal is a “

ON”

signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the signal is a “

OFF”

signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the reference respiratory motion is immediately before the respiratory motion.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a portion of the respiratory motion and a portion of the reference respiratory motion are parts of a same breathing cycle.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the respiratory motion comprises a first wave form, and the reference respiratory motion comprises a second wave form, and wherein the analysis is performed to compare the first and second wave forms.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the analysis is performed to compare a pattern of the respiratory motion with a pattern of the reference respiratory motion.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the machine comprises a radiation machine, and the signal comprises a control signal for controlling the radiation machine.

25. A system for use in a radiation procedure, comprising:

means for obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

means for obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

means for performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion; and

means for generating a signal to control a treatment machine in a radiation procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein a portion of the respiratory motion and a portion of the reference respiratory motion are parts of a same breathing cycle.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for performing the analysis is configured to perform a pattern matching analysis.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the second set of data is a model of a respiratory wave form.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the signal is a “

ON”

signal.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the signal is a “

OFF”

signal.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the reference respiratory motion is immediately before the respiratory motion.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the respiratory motion comprises a first wave form, and the reference respiratory motion comprises a second wave form, and wherein the means for performing the analysis is configured to compare the first and second wave forms.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein means for performing the analysis is configured to compare a pattern of the respiratory motion with a pattern of the reference respiratory motion.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the machine comprises a radiation machine, and the signal comprises a control signal for controlling the radiation machine.

34. A method for use in a radiation procedure, comprising:

obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion, wherein the analysis is performed using a processor; and

generating a signal for physiological gating of a medical procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein the act of performing the analysis comprises using an autocorrelation function; and

wherein the processor comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

35. A method for use in a radiation procedure, comprising:

obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion, wherein the analysis is performed using a processor; and

generating a signal for physiological gating of a medical procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein the act of performing the analysis comprises using an absolute function; and

wherein the processor comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

36. An apparatus comprising a computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium having a set of stored instructions, an execution of which causes a process to be performed by a processor, the process comprising:

obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion; and

generating a signal for physiological gating of a medical procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein the act of performing the analysis comprises determining a degree of deviation between the respiratory motion and the reference respiratory motion; and

wherein the processor comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the signal comprises a treatment machine control signal.

38. An apparatus comprising a computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium having a set of stored instructions, an execution of which causes a process to be performed by a processor, the process comprising:

obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion; and

generating a signal for physiological gating of a medical procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein the act of performing the analysis comprises using an autocorrelation function; and

wherein the processor comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

39. An apparatus comprising a computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium having a set of stored instructions, an execution of which causes a process to be performed by a processor, the process comprising:

obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion; and

generating a signal for physiological gating of a medical procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein the act of performing the analysis comprises using an absolute function; and

wherein the processor comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

40. A system for use in a radiation procedure, comprising:

means for obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

means for obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

means for performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion; and

means for generating a signal for physiological gating of a medical procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein the means for performing the analysis is configured to determine a degree of deviation between the respiratory motion and the reference respiratory motion; and

wherein the means for performing comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the signal comprises a treatment machine control signal.

42. A system for use in a radiation procedure, comprising:

means for obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

means for obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

means for performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion; and

means for generating a signal for physiological gating of a medical procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein the means for performing the analysis is configured to use an autocorrelation function;

wherein the means for performing comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

43. A system for use in a radiation procedure, comprising:

means for obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

means for obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

means for performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion; and

means for generating a signal for physiological gating of a medical procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein the means for performing the analysis is configured to use an absolute function; and

wherein the means for performing comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

44. A method for use in a radiation procedure, comprising:

obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion, wherein the analysis is performed using a processor; and

generating a signal for physiological gating of a medical procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein the first set of data comprises a first plurality of data, the second set of data comprises a second plurality of data, and the act of performing the analysis comprises performing an autocorrelation function using the first plurality of data and the second plurality of data;

wherein the processor comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

45. An apparatus comprising a computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium having a set of stored instructions, an execution of which causes a process to be performed by a processor, the process comprising:

obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion; and

generating a signal for physiological gating of a medical procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein the first set of data comprises a first plurality of data, the second set of data comprises a second plurality of data, and the act of performing the analysis comprises performing an autocorrelation function using the first plurality of data and the second plurality of data;

wherein the processor comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.

46. A system for use in a radiation procedure, comprising:

means for obtaining a first set of data representative of a respiratory motion of a patient;

means for obtaining a second set of data representative of a reference respiratory motion;

means for performing an analysis using the first and the second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion; and

means for generating a signal for physiological gating of a medical procedure based at least on a result of the step of performing;

wherein the first set of data comprises a first plurality of data, the second set of data comprises a second plurality of data, and the means for performing the analysis is configured to perform an autocorrelation function using the first plurality of data and the second plurality of data; and

wherein the means for performing comprises a respiratory motion comparison module configured to perform the analysis using the first and second sets of data to compare the respiratory motion with the reference respiratory motion.