Granted Patent B2

US 7,639,853 · App. 11/459,066 · Granted Dec 29, 2009

Abstract

Claims (38)

1. A method of predicting a radiation dose delivered to a patient in the delivery of a treatment plan to the patient, the patient having a profile, the method comprising:

generating a first image of at least a portion of the patient;

defining a treatment plan for the patient;

generating a second volumetric image of at least a portion of the patient while the patient is substantially in a treatment position;

updating the patient profile with the second image; and

calculating using a computer the radiation dose to be delivered to the patient based upon the patient profile and the treatment plan.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the profile is determined at least in part by the actual or intended patient position.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the patient profile includes data related to a device that delivers radiation therapy, and wherein the device data is used to predict the radiation dose to be delivered to the patient.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the patient profile includes motion data.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising evaluating past data to determine a combination of known dose delivered and predicted dose to be delivered based on the patient profile.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising collecting data during delivery of the treatment plan and comparing the predictive dose to the actual dose delivered to the patient.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising changing patient position at least partially in response to the predictive dose.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the treatment plan is changed in response to the predictive dose.

9. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the patient position is changed during treatment.

10. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the patient position is changed after treatment for subsequent treatments.

11. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the patient position is changed based on the expected biological effect of the predictive dose delivered.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein predicting dose to be delivered includes the use of deformable registration.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein deformable registration is used to identify contours of patient structures.

14. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein deformable registration is used to determine dose accumulation.

15. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising generating a real-time, running predicted dose.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising using feedback to adjust the treatment plan or patient position based on the real-time, running predicted dose.

17. A method as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising acquiring data relating to clinical dose delivered and patient effect, and applying a biological model that relates the predictive dose to the patient effect.

18. A method of determining a radiation dose to be delivered to a patient, the method comprising:

generating a treatment plan for the patient;

acquiring a volumetric image of at least a portion of the patient while the patient is substantially in the treatment position;

calculating using a computer a plurality of doses that would be delivered to the patient for each of a plurality of patient profiles, each patient profile including the acquired image; and

selecting one of the patient profiles for delivery of the treatment plan.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the patient profile includes position data.

20. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the patient profile includes motion data.

21. A method as set forth in claim 18 further comprising registering the patient using the acquired image and an image from the treatment plan.

22. A method of determining a radiation dose to be delivered to a patient, the method comprising:

delivering radiation to a patient according to a predetermined treatment plan;

acquiring a volumetric image of at least a portion of the patient during delivery of the radiation;

calculating using a computer a radiation dose while the radiation is being delivered, the radiation dose based on at least in part on the acquired image; and

determining whether to modify delivery of the radiation while the radiation is being delivered.

23. A method as set forth in claim 22 and further comprising modifying the treatment plan in response to the calculated radiation dose.

24. A method as set forth in claim 22 and further comprising adjusting a position of the patient in response to the calculated radiation dose.

25. A method as set forth in claim 22 and further comprising stopping the delivery of the radiation in response to the calculated radiation dose.

Assignments (12)