Timing-based methods, systems, and computer readable mediums for a gated linear accelerator
Inventors
Knox, Christopher • Freedman, Joshua • Brown, Kevin John • Roberts, David
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12589260-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
Timing-based methods, systems, and computer readable mediums for a gated linear accelerator include synchronising a local clock of the linear accelerator with a clock of a patient monitoring system, determining latencies within one or more MR-gated radiotherapy processes and implementing latency based interlocks.
Core Innovation
The invention concerns timing-based safety controls for gated linear accelerator radiotherapy. A control system synchronizes its control clock with a patient monitoring system's monitoring clock, compares the acquisition time of patient monitoring data with the control clock time, and determines data latency. If the latency lies outside a predetermined range, the system implements an interlock to prevent one or more actions.
The timing controls address risks of targeting and dosimetric errors associated with monitoring-data latency. Disclosed controls include preventing irradiation and preventing display of a reconstructed MR image when the timing condition is outside the predetermined range.
Claims Coverage
The claims contain three independent claims: a method, a control system, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Together, they cover three inventive features concerning clock synchronization, latency assessment, interlock implementation, and computer-readable instructions for timing-based control.
Method for latency-based interlock control
The method synchronizes the control clock with the monitoring clock, receives patient monitoring data and its acquisition time, compares that time with the control clock time to determine latency, and implements an interlock when the latency lies outside a predetermined range.
Control system for latency-based interlock control
The control system is arranged to synchronize the control clock with the monitoring clock, determine patient monitoring data latency by comparing acquisition and control times, and implement an interlock when the latency lies outside a predetermined range.
Computer-readable medium containing timing-control instructions
The non-transitory computer-readable medium contains instructions that cause a processor to synchronize the clocks, determine patient monitoring data latency from the acquisition and control times, and implement an interlock when the latency lies outside a predetermined range.
The independent claims cover the same timing-based safety approach in method, control-system, and computer-readable-medium forms. The claims specify interlock effects that can include preventing irradiation or display of a reconstructed MR image, and relate the predetermined range to respiratory-cycle positions.
Stated Advantages
The timing controls reduce targeting and dosimetric errors.
The predetermined range can correspond to positions in the patient's respiratory cycle to reduce or prevent dosimetric error during radiation delivery.
Documented Applications
Timing-based safety control in gated linear accelerator radiotherapy, including patient monitoring with MR data and interlocks that can prevent irradiation or display of a reconstructed MR image.
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