IP Library Granted Patent US 9,878,177
Granted Patent B2
US 9,878,177 · App. 14/607,654 · Granted Jan 30, 2018

Three dimensional localization and tracking for adaptive radiation therapy

Inventors: Xiao Han (St. Louis, MO); Yan Zhou (St. Louis, MO)
Assignee: Elekta AB (Publ)
A61N5/1037A61N5/1049G06T7/246A61N5/1039A61N2005/1055G06T2207/10081G06T2207/10088G06T2207/30096
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,878,177
App. No.
14/607,654
Granted
Jan 30, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for segmenting medical image. Embodiments of the present disclosure may locate and track a moving, three-dimensional (3D) target in a patient undergoing image-guided radiation therapy. For example, an adaptive filter model for a region of interest in the patient may be received, wherein the adaptive filter model is based on the target to be tracked. An image acquisition device may obtain a two-dimensional (2D) slice of a region of interest in the patient. A processor may then apply the adaptive filter model to the 2D slice, wherein the adaptive filter model includes an offset value. The processor may also determine a location of the target in the 2D slice based on the adaptive filter model. The processor may also estimate a potential location of the target based on the offset value. The processor may then repeat one or more of the above steps to track the moving target during image-guided radiation therapy of the patient.

Claims (35)

1. A method to locate and track a moving, three-dimensional (3D) target in a patient undergoing image-guided radiation therapy, the method comprising:

(a) receiving an adaptive filter model for a region of interest in the patient, wherein the adaptive filter model is based on the target to be tracked;

(b) obtaining, by an image acquisition device, a two-dimensional (2D) slice of a region of interest in the patient;

(c) applying, by a processor, the adaptive filter model to the 2D slice, wherein the adaptive filter model includes an offset value;

(d) determining, by the processor, a location of the target in the 2D slice based on the adaptive filter model;

(e) estimating, by the processor, a potential location of the target based on the offset value; and

repeating, by the processor, (b) through (e) to track the moving target during image-guided radiation therapy of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the 2D slice is based on a predetermined acquisition protocol provided by a user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the 2D slice is based on the determined location of the target.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the acquisition protocol includes an adjustable parameter.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the adjustable parameter comprises at least one of a target location parameter, a slice orientation parameter, a slice thickness parameter, and a direction of target motion in the patient.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a predicted 3D location of the target in the patient.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the adaptive filter model comprises applying the adaptive filter model to a plurality of locations on the 2D slice.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining a 2D slice further comprises obtaining, by the image acquisition device, a plurality of 2D slices, wherein each 2D slice is either parallel to the target motion or orthogonal to the target motion.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 2D slice is either in a frequency domain or in a spatial domain.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the adaptive filter model and the 2D slice are both in the frequency domain.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the adaptive filter model and the 2D slice are both in the spatial domain.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating, by the processor, a response map, wherein the response map includes a confidence score for each location of the 2D slice.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the confidence score indicates how well the adaptive filter model matches a particular location of the 2D slice.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein a higher confidence score indicates a higher degree of matching between the adaptive filter model and the location on the 2D slice.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the confidence score provides a prediction of where the target is located within the 2D slice.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the processor generates one or more response maps for the 2D slice, wherein each response map corresponds to a different adaptive filter model.

17. A system for locating and tracking a moving three-dimensional (3D) target to be irradiated using an image-guided radiation therapy device according to a radiation therapy treatment plan, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of medical images, a plurality of adaptive filter models, an acquisition protocol, and computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the method, comprising:

(a) retrieving from memory a two-dimensional (2D) slice according to the acquisition protocol;

(b) converting, by the processor, the 2D slice to a particular processing domain;

(c) applying, by the processor, the adaptive filter model to the 2D slice, wherein the adaptive filter model includes an offset value;

(d) generating, by the processor, a response map for each adaptive filter model, wherein the response map includes a confidence score for each location of the 2D slice;

(e) identifying, by the processor, a match between the adaptive filter model and one or more locations on the 2D slice based on a high confidence score;

(f) determining, by the processor, a location of the target in the 2D slice based on the high confidence score;

(g) estimating, by the processor, a potential location of the target based on the offset value; and retrieving from memory a subsequent 2D MRI slice and repeating (b) through (g) in order to track the moving target during image-guided radiation therapy to the patient.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein a plurality of response maps are created, each response map corresponding to different adaptive filter model.

19. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the confidence score indicates how well the adaptive filter model matches a particular location of the 2D slice.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Jun 18, 2018
From: IMPAC MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: ELEKTA, INC.
Reel/Frame 046378/0414 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2017
From: IMPAC MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: ELEKTA, INC.
Reel/Frame 043032/0562 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2017
From: IMPAC MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: ELEKTA INC.
Reel/Frame 042600/0356 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2015
From: HAN, XIAO; ZHOU, YAN
To: IMPAC MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 034887/0209 →
Continuity (1)
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