CT Simulation Optimization for Radiation Therapy Contouring Tasks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016253443-A1
Application number	US-201615054215-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2016
Priority date	Feb 26, 2015
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for optimizing a CT simulation protocol for different size patients for contouring and segmentation of organs and tumors. The method scanning different size phantoms, cadavers, or patients with a CT scanning x-ray tube to create a set of images and to create data sets for each different size phantoms, cadavers, or patients and then calculating an image quality index (IQI) as a benchmark for contouring accuracy. Finding an optimal IQI that characterizes patients of different sizes and using the optimal IQI to determine the accuracy of the contouring and segmentation of A CT simulation protocol for a patient.

First claim

I claim:

1 . A method for optimizing a CT simulation protocol for different size patients for contouring and segmentation of organs and tumors comprising:
a. scanning different size phantoms, cadavers, or patients with a CT scanner to create a set of CT images, wherein CT scanning parameters are varied to create data sets for each different sized phantoms, cadavers, or patients and wherein radiation output of the CT scanner is recorded; b. calculating image quality indices (IQI) based on the data sets, c. selecting an optimum IQI from the IQI indices based on quality of CT images in the CT image set and on minimizing radiation output that produces the CT images; and d. creating a CT simulation protocol for a particular patient including CT scanning parameters, wherein the CT scanning parameters for the CT simulation protocol for the particular patient result in the optimal IQI.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the CT simulation protocol on additional patients over time produces additional CT images and data sets that are used to further define the optimal IQI.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IQI is calculated based on the data sets and wherein the IQI is calculated in accordance with the following formula:

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Assignees

• Univ Washington

Inventors

• Li Hua
• Mutic Sasa
• Anastasio Mark

Classifications

• G16H50/50

  for simulation or modelling of medical disorders · CPC title

• G06T2207/10081

  Computed x-ray tomography [CT] · CPC title

• G06T7/0002 Primary

  Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection · CPC title

• G16H70/60

  relating to pathologies · CPC title

• G06F17/5009 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic