Printing of objects for medical use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10088833-B2
Application number	US-201414502624-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2014
Priority date	Sep 30, 2013
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

An artifact for radiation therapy is produced by accessing image data comprising images including a target volume inside a patient. A design for the artifact is generated based on the image data. The design is customized to a radiation therapy treatment plan for the patient. A printing plan is generated based on the design. A three-dimensional printer is controlled using the printing plan to build an object that corresponds to the design.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method of producing an artifact for radiation therapy, the method comprising:
accessing image data stored in memory of the computer, the image data comprising images including an image of a target volume inside the patient;
generating a design for the artifact based on the image data, the design of the artifact specific to a radiation therapy treatment plan for the patient, the radiation therapy treatment plan comprising information that identifies a radiation dose to be delivered to the target volume and an angle between the target volume and an incident radiation beam;
translating, with software executing on the computer, the image data into a printing plan based on the design, wherein the printing plan comprises files that can be used with a three-dimensional printer;
controlling the three-dimensional printer using the files to build an object that corresponds to the design;
using the object during the radiation therapy; and
as the radiation therapy is being performed:
acquiring additional image data with a diagnostic radiation imager of the radiation therapy device;
generating a design for a second object based on the additional image data; and
three-dimensional printing the second object for use during the radiation therapy.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is the artifact, wherein said controlling comprises controlling the three-dimensional printer using the printing plan to fabricate the artifact.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the artifact is fabricated as a single piece.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the artifact is fabricated as multiple pieces that comprise respective parts of the artifact and that fit together to produce the artifact.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is a part of the artifact that is attached to a prefabricated part to produce the artifact.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is a mold that is complementary to the shape of the artifact, wherein further said controlling comprises controlling the three-dimensional printer using the printing plan to fabricate the mold, wherein the artifact is subsequently produced using the mold.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the artifact is selected from the group consisting of: a fixation device; a bolus; a block; a wedge; and a shield.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the design is also specific to the patient.

9. A computing system comprising:
a central processing unit (CPU); and
memory coupled to the CPU and having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to execute operations comprising:
accessing image data stored in a memory of the computing system, the image data comprising images of a patient's internal organs including an image of a target volume inside the patient;
executing software that translates the image data into a design for an artifact to be used during radiation therapy of the patient and that is customized to the patient and to a radiation therapy treatment plan for the patient and that translates the image data into a printing plan based on the design, wherein the printing plan comprises files that can be used with a three-dimensional printer;

outputting the files to the three-dimensional printer that executes the files to build an object that corresponds to the design;
using the object during the radiation therapy; and
while the radiation therapy is being performed with a radiation therapy device: acquiring additional image data with a diagnostic radiation imager of the radiation therapy device, generating a design for a new object based on the additional image data, and three-dimensional printing the new object for use during the radiation therapy.

10. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the object is the artifact.

11. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the artifact is fabricated as a single piece.

12. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the artifact is fabricated as multiple pieces that comprise respective parts of the artifact and that fit together to produce the artifact.

13. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the object is a part of the artifact that is attached to a prefabricated part to produce the artifact.

14. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the object is a mold that is complementary to the shape of the artifact, wherein the artifact is subsequently produced using the mold.

15. The computing system of claim 9 , wherein the artifact is selected from the group consisting of: a fixation device; a bolus; a block; a wedge; and a shield.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computing system to perform a method comprising:
transforming an image of a target volume inside the patient into a design for an artifact to be used during radiation therapy of the patient and that is customized to the patient and to a radiation therapy treatment plan for the patient;
generating additional computer-executable instructions based on the design and comprising files that can be used with a three-dimensional printer;
controlling the three-dimensional printer with the computer-executable instructions in the files, the three-dimensional printer additively manufacturing an object that corresponds to the design, wherein the object is used during the radiation therapy; and
while the radiation therapy is being performed with a radiation therapy device: acquiring additional image data with a diagnostic radiation imager of the radiation therapy device, generating a design for a new object based on the additional image data, and three-dimensional printing the new object for use during the radiation therapy.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of: the artifact, fabricated as a single piece; and the artifact, fabricated as multiple pieces that comprise respective parts of the artifact and that fit together to produce the artifact.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the object is a part of the artifact that is attached to a prefabricated part to produce the artifact.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the object is a mold that is complementary to the shape of the artifact, wherein the artifact is subsequently produced using the mold.

Assignees

• Varian Med Sys Inc
• Varian Medical Systems Int Ag

Inventors

• Maclaverty Ronan

Classifications

• G06F30/00

  Computer-aided design [CAD] · CPC title

• A61N2005/1096

  Elements inserted into the radiation path placed on the patient, e.g. bags, bolus, compensators · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• G06F2113/22

  Moulding · CPC title

• G06F2113/10

  Additive manufacturing, e.g. three-dimensional [3D] printing · CPC title