System and method for providing a radiation therapy treatment plan and a radiation therapy machine
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Publication Number
US-10814143-B2
Publication Date
2020-10-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
A database stores pre-calculated solutions each of which defines a radiation therapy treatment plan for a treatment volume associated with at least one target and at least one organ-at-risk. The pre-calculated solutions are divided into at least two groups each of which includes at least one pre-calculated solution. The pre-calculated solutions in a given group represent radiation therapy treatment plans which share a common beam configuration. A radiation therapy treatment plan (sc) is established based on the pre-calculated solutions as follows. A first user interface receives operator commands specifying criteria for selecting radiation therapy treatment plans from the database, the criteria defining a set of parameters for the treatment volume. In particular, the operator commands jointly specify criteria for selecting radiation therapy treatment plans from more than one of the at least two groups. When establishing a solution, a preference function is applied on at least two pre-calculated solutions to establish one and only one solution as a radiation therapy treatment plan (sc) meeting the criteria.
Core Innovation
A radiation therapy planning system provides a radiation therapy treatment plan (s_c) using a database storing pre-calculated solutions. Each pre-calculated solution defines a radiation therapy treatment plan for a treatment volume associated with at least one target and at least one organ-at-risk, and the pre-calculated solutions are divided into at least two groups that share a common beam configuration.
The system includes a first user interface configured to receive operator commands specifying criteria for selecting radiation therapy treatment plans from more than one of the at least two groups in the database. A data processor establishes any solutions which meet the criteria, and a second user interface presents radiation therapy treatment plans established by the data processor as radiation therapy treatment plans (s_c) meeting the criteria. For each group having pre-calculated solutions meeting the criteria, the data processor applies a preference function on the pre-calculated solutions meeting the criteria to establish one solution per group to be presented via the second user interface.
If no in-group pre-calculated solution meets the criteria, the data processor interpolates between pre-calculated solutions within a group to form a composite radiation therapy treatment plan meeting the criteria. The approach also supports a potential interpolation selection option, where an operator can request a user-selectable interpolation that yields a composite plan with an improved margin, and the plan is then provided to a radiation therapy machine to deliver therapy by controlling the radiation source accordingly.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims: one system claim and one method claim. Across these independent claims, the inventive features center on grouped pre-calculated treatment plan solutions with common beam configuration, operator-entered selection criteria, a preference function selecting one solution per group for presentation, and interpolation to form composite plans when needed.
Grouped pre-calculated radiation therapy treatment plan solutions with common beam configuration
Pre-calculated solutions are stored in a database and divided into at least two groups, where the pre-calculated solutions in a given group represent radiation therapy treatment plans which share a common beam configuration.
Operator-entered criteria via first user interface
A first user interface receives operator commands specifying criteria for selecting radiation therapy treatment plans from more than one of the at least two groups in the database.
Preference function selecting one solution per group for presentation
For each of the at least two groups having pre-calculated solutions meeting the criteria, a data processor applies a preference function on the pre-calculated solutions meeting the criteria to establish one solution per group to be presented via a second user interface.
Composite plan via interpolation when no solutions meet criteria
When no pre-calculated solution in at least two groups satisfies specified criteria, a method interpolates between pre-calculated solutions to produce a composite radiation treatment plan meeting the criteria.
Interpolation option yielding composite plan with improved margin
A system provides a potential interpolation selection option such that a user can select a potential interpolation between pre-calculated solutions, and the data processor interpolates those solutions to create a composite radiation therapy treatment plan that meets criteria with a better margin than any single plan in the selected group.
Radiation therapy machine controlled according to received plan
A radiation therapy machine emits radiation toward a treatment volume and performs therapy by receiving a treatment plan and controlling the radiation source according to that received plan.
Overall claim coverage centers on grouping pre-calculated treatment plan solutions by common beam configuration, selecting among groups using operator-specified criteria and a preference function to present one solution per group, and using interpolation to form composite plans, optionally with improved margin, when direct pre-calculated solutions do not satisfy the criteria.
Stated Advantages
Establishing and presenting a radiation therapy treatment plan meeting the criteria using pre-calculated solutions grouped by common beam configuration.
Optionally producing a composite radiation therapy treatment plan with a better margin than any single plan in the selected group.
Documented Applications
Providing a radiation therapy treatment plan (s_c) for a treatment volume associated with at least one target and at least one organ-at-risk, and delivering therapy by controlling a radiation therapy machine according to the treatment plan.
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