Systems and methods for simulation-based radiation estimation and protection for medical procedures
Inventors
Fält, Edvard Per Gösta • Lönn, Lars Birger
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9323896-B2
Publication Date
2016-04-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods for determining radiation exposure during an x-ray guided medical procedure are disclosed. In some embodiments, the system includes an x-ray equipment model that simulates the emission of radiation from x-ray equipment during the x-ray guided medical procedure, a human exposure model that simulates one or more human anatomies during the x-ray guided medical procedure, a radiation metric processor that calculates at least one radiation exposure metric, and a feedback system for outputting information based on the at least one radiation exposure metric. The radiation metric processor calculates radiation exposure metrics based on input parameters that correspond to operating settings as well as the location and structure of one or more human anatomies.
Core Innovation
A system for determining an amount of radiation exposure to one or more humans during a simulated x-ray guided medical procedure without exposing a human to ionizing radiation uses an x-ray equipment model that simulates emission of radiation without emitting ionizing radiation. The x-ray equipment model includes first set of input parameters corresponding to operating settings controlled during the x-ray guided medical procedure, and the input parameters vary during the simulated procedure. A human exposure model simulates one or more human anatomies, using a second set of input parameters corresponding to the location and structure of the anatomies during the simulated procedure.
A radiation metric processor calculates at least one radiation exposure metric to one or more humans located in a room of the simulated x-ray guided medical procedure during the x-ray guided medical procedure. The calculation occurs based on the first set and second set of input parameters and a model that associates a change in the first set and second set of input parameters with a change in the radiation exposure metric, so the radiation exposure metric reflects variations occurring during the procedure. A feedback system outputs information based on the at least one radiation exposure metric during the x-ray guided medical procedure.
The feedback system includes an x-ray imaging simulator that displays x-ray images of the human based on the x-ray equipment model and the human exposure model, including a sequence of x-ray images that responds to the variations of the input parameters. The system also includes an endovascular simulator that tracks the motion of a medical instrument and translates the detected motion into movements of virtual instruments inside the human exposure model. The resulting output is the radiation exposure metric information together with the sequence of simulated x-ray images and the virtual instrument representation driven by instrument motion.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are directed to a simulated x-ray guided medical procedure system and method with dynamic equipment and anatomy parameters, during-procedure radiation exposure metric calculation, simulated x-ray image output, and motion translation for virtual instruments. The main inventive features include a radiation-emission simulation model without ionizing radiation, a human exposure model, dynamic input-parameter variation tied to radiation metric changes, feedback based on the radiation exposure metric, storage of modified radiation metrics in a timeline, and an endovascular simulator that translates instrument motion.
Radiation exposure determination during simulated x-ray guided medical procedure without emitting ionizing radiation
A system for determining an amount of radiation exposure to one or more humans during a simulated x-ray guided medical procedure without exposing a human to ionizing radiation, comprising an x-ray equipment model that simulates emission of radiation without emitting ionizing radiation and a human exposure model that simulates one or more human anatomies.
Dynamically varying equipment and anatomy parameters linked to radiation metric changes
Input parameters corresponding to operating settings and input parameters corresponding to location and structure of human anatomies are configured to vary during the simulated x-ray guided medical procedure, and the radiation metric processor calculates radiation exposure metrics during the x-ray guided medical procedure based on a model that associates changes in the input parameters with changes in the radiation exposure metric.
Real-time feedback including displayed x-ray image sequence responsive to input parameter variations
A feedback system outputs information based on the at least one radiation exposure metric during the x-ray guided medical procedure, wherein the feedback system further comprises an x-ray imaging simulator for displaying x-ray images of the human based on the x-ray equipment model and the human exposure model, and the x-ray imaging simulator displays a sequence of x-ray images in response to variations of the input parameters.
Endovascular motion tracking translated into movements of virtual instruments
An endovascular simulator tracks the motion of a medical instrument and translates the detected motion into movements of virtual instruments inside the human exposure model.
Radiation metrics modified during the procedure and stored
A system for simulating an x-ray guided medical procedure on a human and determining an amount of radiation exposure, comprising an x-ray equipment model with input parameters configured to vary, a human exposure model for simulating structure, a radiation metric processor that calculates radiation exposure metrics based on the x-ray equipment model and the human exposure model, wherein during the x-ray guided medical procedure the radiation metric processor modifies the radiation exposure metrics in response to variations of the input parameters, and a data collection storage that stores the modified radiation metrics.
Timeline-based storage of modified radiation metrics
The data collection storage stores the modified radiation metrics in a timeline.
During-procedure computation of anatomy size, beam geometry, and scaled radiation metrics
A method for determining an amount of radiation exposure during an x-ray guided medical procedure comprising calculating a size and shape of one or more human anatomies based on a human exposure model, calculating a geometry of x-ray beams based on an x-ray equipment model and input parameters configured to vary during the procedure, and calculating radiation exposure metrics during the procedure by providing a first radiation metric value, calculating a scale factor based on the change in the input parameter value, and scaling the first radiation metric value with the scale factor to provide a second radiation metric value.
Simulated x-ray image sequence generation responsive to input parameter variations
The method further comprises generating a sequence of simulated x-ray images of the human based on the x-ray equipment model and the human exposure model in response to variations of the input parameters.
Instrument motion detection translated into virtual instrument movements and outputting results
The method includes detecting motion of a medical instrument and translating the detected motion into movements of a virtual instrument inside the human exposure model, and outputting the second radiation metric value, the sequence of simulated x-ray images, and the virtual instrument.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is a simulated x-ray guided medical procedure system and method that computes radiation exposure metrics during the procedure using dynamically varying x-ray equipment model input parameters and a human exposure model, provides real-time feedback with a displayed sequence of simulated x-ray images responsive to input variations, and translates detected instrument motion into virtual instrument movements via an endovascular simulator. The claim set further includes modification of radiation metrics during the procedure with storage, including timeline organization, and a method form that scales radiation metric values based on input-parameter changes.
Stated Advantages
Simulated x-ray guided medical procedure determines an amount of radiation exposure to one or more humans without exposing a human to ionizing radiation.
Documented Applications
Simulating an x-ray guided medical procedure on a human while determining an amount of radiation exposure to one or more humans.
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