Method and apparatus for performing irradiation time optimization for intensity modulated proton therapy during treatment planning while maintaining acceptable irradiation plan quality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10786687-B2
Application number	US-201816147110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2018
Priority date	Sep 28, 2018
Publication date	Sep 29, 2020
Grant date	Sep 29, 2020

Abstract

A computer implemented method of determining a resultant treatment plan for a proton radiation therapy system based on given dose volume constraints, wherein the resultant treatment plan is optimized for treatment time comprises accessing the dose volume constraints and range information, wherein the range information indicates acceptable deviations from the dose volume constraints. Based on the proton radiation therapy system, the method further comprises accessing machine configuration information comprising a plurality of machine parameters that define a maximum resolution achievable in irradiating a patient. Further, the method comprises iteratively adjusting the plurality of machine parameters to values which decrease the maximum resolution and simulating a plurality of candidate treatment plans to generate a plurality of treatment plan results, wherein each treatment plan result comprises: a respective treatment time and a respective plan quality. Finally, the method comprises selecting a resultant treatment plan with the shortest treatment time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer implemented method of determining a resultant treatment plan for a proton radiation therapy system based on given dose volume constraints, wherein said resultant treatment plan is optimized for treatment time, said method comprising:
accessing said dose volume constraints and range information, wherein said range information indicates acceptable deviations from said dose volume constraints;
based on said proton radiation therapy system, accessing machine configuration information comprising a plurality of machine parameters operable to be varied to achieve a maximum resolution by said proton radiation therapy system in irradiating a patient, wherein said plurality of machine parameters are associated with beam characteristics of a beam machine of the proton radiation therapy system, and wherein said machine configuration information comprises a different range for each of the plurality of machine parameters;
iteratively adjusting said plurality of machine parameters to generate a plurality of candidate treatment plans, wherein said iteratively adjusting comprises adjusting said plurality of machine parameters to values which decrease said maximum resolution;
simulating said plurality of candidate treatment plans with respect to said proton radiation therapy system to generate a plurality of treatment plan results, wherein each treatment plan result comprises: a respective treatment time and a respective plan quality, wherein said simulating comprises conducting one or more simulations using values selected across a respective range for each of the plurality of machine parameters; and
selecting said resultant treatment plan from said plurality of candidate treatment plans, wherein said resultant treatment plan yields a treatment plan result comprising: a shortest treatment time of said plurality of treatment plan results and an acceptable plan quality with respect to said dose volume constraints and said range information.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said plurality of machine parameters comprise: minimal monitor unit (MU) per spot; and number of available energies.

3. A method as described in claim 2 wherein said plurality of machine parameters further comprise a spot lateral spread.

4. A method as described in claim 3 wherein said plurality of machine parameters further comprise a spot positioning.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said acceptable plan quality is defined as a plan quality that deviates from said dose volume constraints within said range information.

6. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising:
loading said resultant treatment plan into said proton radiation therapy system; and
using said proton radiation therapy system, as configured by said resultant treatment plan, to irradiate a patient.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said range information comprises:
planning target volume (PTV) coverage between a lower bound percentage and an upper bound percentage; and
dose maximum below a bound percentage.

8. A computer system comprising a processor coupled to a bus and memory coupled to said bus wherein said memory is programmed with instructions that when executed cause said computer system to implement a method of determining a resultant treatment plan for a proton radiation therapy system based on given dose volume constraints, wherein said resultant treatment plan is optimized for treatment time, wherein said method comprises:
accessing said dose volume constraints and range information, wherein said range information indicates acceptable deviations from said dose volume constraints;
based on said proton radiation therapy system, accessing machine configuration information comprising a plurality of machine parameters operable to be varied to achieve a maximum resolution by said proton radiation therapy system in irradiating a patient, wherein said plurality of machine parameters are associated with constraints related to a beam machine of the proton radiation therapy system, and wherein said machine configuration information comprises a different range for each of the plurality of machine parameters;
iteratively adjusting said plurality of machine parameters to generate a plurality of candidate treatment plans, wherein said iteratively adjusting comprises adjusting said plurality of machine parameters to values which decrease said maximum resolution;
simulating said plurality of candidate treatment plans with respect to said proton radiation therapy system to generate a plurality of treatment plan results, wherein each treatment plan result comprises: a respective treatment time; and a respective plan quality, wherein said simulating comprises conducting one or more simulations using values selected across a respective range for each of the plurality of machine parameters; and
selecting said resultant treatment plan from said plurality of candidate treatment plans, wherein said resultant treatment plan yields a treatment plan result comprising: a shortest treatment time of said plurality of treatment plan results; and an acceptable plan quality with respect to said dose volume constraints and said range information.

9. A system as described in claim 8 wherein said plurality of machine parameters comprise: minimal monitor unit (MU) per spot; and number of available energies and steps between the available energies.

10. A system as described in claim 9 wherein said plurality of machine parameters further comprise a minimal spot size.

11. A system as described in claim 10 wherein said plurality of machine parameters further comprise a minimal spot spacing.

12. A system as described in claim 8 wherein said acceptable plan quality is defined as a plan quality that deviates from said dose volume constraints within said range information.

13. A system as described in claim 8 further comprising said proton radiation therapy system and wherein said method further comprises:
loading said resultant treatment plan into said proton radiation therapy system; and
causing said proton radiation therapy system, as configured by said resultant treatment plan, to irradiate a patient.

14. A system as described in claim 8 wherein said range information comprises:
planning target volume (PTV) coverage between a lower bound percentage and an upper bound percentage; and
dose maximum below a bound percentage.

15. A computer implemented method of determining a treatment plan for proton radiation therapy that is optimized for treatment time, said method comprising:
accessing information defining patient anatomy, dosimetric criteria and delivery system properties, wherein said dosimetric criteria comprises dose volume constraints and range information, wherein said range information indicates acceptable deviations from said dose volume constraints;
based on a proton radiation therapy system, accessing delivery system properties comprising a plurality of machine parameters that configure said proton radiation therapy system to achieve a resultant resolution, wherein said plurality of machine parameters are associated with beam characteristics related of a beam delivered by the proton radiation therapy system, and wherein said delivery system properties comprises a different range for each of the plurality of machine parameters;
iteratively adjusting said plurality of machine parameters to generate a plurality of candidate treatment plans, wherein said iteratively adjusting comprises adjusting said plurality of machine parameters to values which decrease a maximum resolution achievable by said proton radiation therapy system;

Assignees

• Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy Gmbh
• Varian Medical Systems Int Ag
• Varian Med Sys Inc

Inventors

• HUTH Isabel
• Smith Christel
• Koponen Timo
• Niemela Perttu
• Bach Markus
• Vanderstraten Reynald

Classifications

• G16H20/40

  relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture · CPC title

• A61N5/1031 Primary

  using a specific method of dose optimization · CPC title

• A61N2005/1087

  Ions; Protons · CPC title

• A61N5/103 Primary

  Treatment planning systems · CPC title