Method of identifying an isocenter
Inventors
Cossu, Antonio • Anselmi, Roberto • VESCOVI, Antonio Giovanni
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12654034-B2
Publication Date
2026-06-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
There is herein provided a method of identifying an isocentre of a radiotherapy apparatus. The method includes capturing illumination of respective dummy point images at rotational positions of a component of the radiotherapy apparatus at an image capture device mounted on the radiotherapy apparatus and deriving the isocentre from the captured dummy point images.
Core Innovation
The invention identifies the isocentre of a radiotherapy apparatus by capturing illuminated images of dummy points at respective rotational positions of an apparatus component, using an image capture device mounted on the apparatus. The isocentre is derived from the captured images. The dummy points include active markers, and two spaced points are distinguishable by size or an optical characteristic detectable by optical equipment without therapeutic radiation.
The described approach provides optical calibration without requiring therapeutic radiation and enables calibration during installation earlier than beam-based Winston–Lutz testing. The provided content does not include the patent's background section, so it does not explicitly state a broader problem being solved. It also describes surface-guided radiation therapy imaging equipment for automated phantom positioning in quality assurance.
Claims Coverage
The claims provide three inventive features across three independent claims covering a method, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and a radiotherapy apparatus for isocentre identification.
Optical identification of the isocentre
The method captures illuminated images of respective dummy points at rotational positions of a radiotherapy apparatus component using an image capture device mounted on the apparatus, and derives the isocentre from those images. The dummy points comprise active markers, and two spaced points are distinguishable by size or an optical characteristic detectable without therapeutic radiation.
Computer-readable medium for isocentre identification
A non-transitory computer-readable medium contains instructions that cause a processor to capture illuminated images of active dummy markers at rotational positions of a radiotherapy apparatus component and derive the isocentre from the images. Two spaced dummy points are distinguishable by size or an optical characteristic detectable without therapeutic radiation.
Radiotherapy apparatus with image capture device
The apparatus comprises an image capture device for capturing isocentre identification data and is configured to capture illuminated images of active dummy markers at rotational positions of an apparatus component and derive the isocentre from those images. Two spaced dummy points are distinguishable by size or an optical characteristic detectable without therapeutic radiation.
The three independent claims cover optical isocentre identification from illuminated dummy-point images, with the method also claimed as processor-executed instructions on a computer-readable medium and as a radiotherapy apparatus with a mounted image capture device.
Stated Advantages
Enables calibration during installation earlier than beam-based Winston–Lutz testing.
Identifies the isocentre without requiring therapeutic radiation.
Documented Applications
Optical identification and calibration of a radiotherapy apparatus isocentre.
Surface-guided radiation therapy imaging may automate phantom positioning for quality assurance.
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