Using a rotating 2D X-ray imager as an imaging device to perform target tracking during radiation treatment delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10751014-B2
Application number	US-201815862497-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2018
Priority date	Jan 6, 2017
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

Abstract

A method includes receiving, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient. The method further includes receiving a second image including the target of the patient. The method further includes tracking, by a processing device, a position of the target using the first image and the second image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient;
receiving a second image including the target of the patient; and
tracking, by a processing device, a position of the target using the first image and the second image, wherein performing the tracking comprises: maintaining an orthogonal alignment between a treatment beam of a linear accelerator (LINAC) and a source and detector pair of the volumetric imager during a radiation treatment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first image is a three-dimensional (3D) intrafraction image, and wherein the 3D intrafraction image is one of: a kilovoltage cone beam computed tomography (kV-CBCT) image, a megavoltage cone beam computed tomography (MV-CBCT) image, or a megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) image.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second image is received from one of: the volumetric imager or a static x-ray imager.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
retracting the volumetric imager to a retracted position while the treatment beam is active;
maintaining the orthogonal alignment between the LINAC and the volumetric imager while the volumetric imager is in the retracted position; and
extending the volumetric imager to an extended position while the treatment beam is inactive.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: maintaining the orthogonal alignment between the LINAC and the volumetric imager while the volumetric imager is in an extended position and the treatment beam is active.

6. A method, comprising:
receiving, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient;
receiving a second image including the target of the patient;
tracking, by a processing device, a position of the target using the first image and the second image, and
delivering a radiation treatment according to a radiation treatment plan, wherein the radiation treatment plan identifies a set of positions for a linear accelerator (LINAC) during the radiation treatment delivery, and wherein the set of positions for the LINAC is a filtered set of positions comprising positions that are equal to or greater than an imaging flexibility threshold.

7. A method, comprising:
receiving, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient;
receiving a second image including the target of the patient; and tracking, by a processing device, a position of the target using the first image and the second image, wherein the first image is a megavoltage (MV) portal image.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising: maintaining a direct alignment between a treatment beam of a linear accelerator (LINAC) and a detector of the volumetric imager, such that the treatment beam is to hit an approximately center position of the detector.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the volumetric imager comprises a source and the detector and wherein the method further comprises modifying a position of the source of the volumetric imager to avoid contact between the LINAC and the source, and the treatment beam and the source.

10. A radiation treatment delivery system comprising:
a volumetric imager to acquire a first image of a target within a patient;
a linear accelerator (LINAC) to deliver a radiation treatment; and
a processing device, operatively coupled with the volumetric imager and the LINAC, to:
receive, from the volumetric imager, the first image;
receive a second image including the target; and
track a position of the target using the first image and the second image, wherein to
track the position of the target, the processing device is to:
maintain an orthogonal alignment between a treatment beam of the LINAC and a source and detector pair of the volumetric imager during a radiation treatment.

11. The system of claim 10 , the processing device further to:
retract the volumetric imager to a retracted position while the treatment beam is active;
maintain the orthogonal alignment between the LINAC and the volumetric imager while the volumetric imager is in the retracted position; and
extend the volumetric imager to an extended position while the treatment beam is inactive.

12. The system of claim 10 , the processing device further to: maintain the orthogonal alignment between the LINAC and the volumetric imager while the volumetric imager is in an extended position and the treatment beam is active.

13. A radiation treatment delivery system comprising:
a volumetric imager to acquire a first image of a target within a patient;
a linear accelerator (LINAC) to deliver a radiation treatment; and
a processing device, operatively coupled with the volumetric imager and the LINAC, to:
receive, from the volumetric imager, the first image;
receive a second image including the target; and
track a position of the target using the first image and the second image; and

a static x-ray imager, wherein the second image is received from the static x-ray imager.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first image is a three-dimensional (3D) intrafraction image, and wherein the 3D intrafraction image is one of: a kilovoltage cone beam computed tomography (kV-CBCT) image, a megavoltage cone beam computed tomography (MV-CBCT) image, or a megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) image.

15. A radiation treatment delivery system comprising:
a volumetric imager to acquire a first image of a target within a patient, wherein the first image is a megavoltage (MV) portal image;
a linear accelerator (LINAC) to deliver a radiation treatment; and
a processing device, operatively coupled with the volumetric imager and the LINAC, to:
receive, from the volumetric imager, the first image;
receive a second image including the target; and
track a position of the target using the first image and the second image.

16. The system of claim 15 , the processing device further to: maintain a direct alignment between a treatment beam of the LINAC and a detector of the volumetric imager, such that the treatment beam is to hit an approximately center position of the detector.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the volumetric imager comprises a source and the detector and wherein the processing device is further to modify a position of the source of the volumetric imager to avoid contact between the LINAC and the source, and the treatment beam and the source.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:
receive, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient;
receive a second image including the target of the patient;

track, by the processing device, a position of the target using the first image and the second image; and
deliver a radiation treatment according to a radiation treatment plan, wherein the radiation treatment plan identifies a set of positions for a linear accelerator (LINAC) during the radiation treatment delivery, and wherein the set of positions for the LINAC is a filtered set of positions comprising positions that are equal to or greater than an imaging flexibility threshold.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:
receive, from a volumetric imager, a first image including a target of a patient;
receive a second image including the target of the patient; and

track, by the processing device, a position of the target using the firs

Assignees

• Accuray Inc

Inventors

• Naylor Michael P
• Core Matthew
• Jordan Petr
• Maurer Jr Calvin R

Classifications

• A61B6/102 Primary

  Protection against mechanical damage, e.g. anti-collision devices · CPC title

• A61N5/1067

  in real time, i.e. during treatment · CPC title

• A61B6/4266

  characterised by using a plurality of detector units (A61B6/4014 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B6/4464

  the source unit or the detector unit being mounted to ceiling · CPC title

• A61B6/5264

  due to motion · CPC title