Systems and methods for determining geometric parameters of imaging devices

1. A method of determining a geometric parameter of a machine, comprising:

using the machine to obtain an image of at least a portion of a structure, the structure having a plurality of markers, wherein the markers have predetermined position(s) relative to each other;

determining a position of the structure based on a pattern of the markers in the image; and

determining a geometric parameter of the machine based at least in part on the determined position of the structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the machine comprises a CT imaging machine.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the geometric parameter is selected from the group consisting of a source-to-imager distance, a source-to-axis distance, an axis of rotation, an isocenter, and a piercing point.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises at least four markers.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the position of the structure is determined relative to a reference frame of the machine.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the geometric parameter of the machine is for use in an operation of the machine.

7. A method of determining a geometric parameter of a machine, comprising:

using the machine to obtain an image of at least a portion of a structure, the structure having a plurality of markers, wherein the markers have predetermined position(s) relative to each other;

determining a position of the structure based on a pattern of the markers in the image; and

determining a geometric parameter of the machine based at least in part on the determined position of the structure;

wherein the obtained image contains a subset of the plurality of markers, and the position of the structure is determined based on a pattern of the subset of markers in the image.

8. A method of determining a geometric parameter of a machine, comprising:

using the machine to obtain an image of at least a portion of a structure, the structure having a plurality of markers, wherein the markers have predetermined position(s) relative to each other;

determining a position of the structure based on a pattern of the markers in the image; and

determining a geometric parameter of the machine based at least in part on the determined position of the structure;

wherein the step of determining the position of the structure comprises:

estimating a position of the structure;

calculating projected marker positions that correspond with the estimated position of the structure;

comparing the projected marker positions with the positions of the markers obtained from the image; and

adjusting the estimated position based on a result from the step of comparing.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the adjusting is performed using a Gauss method by computing an inverse Jacobian matrix of marker positions.

10. A method of determining a geometric parameter of a machine, comprising:

using the machine to obtain an image of at least a portion of a structure, the structure having a plurality of markers, wherein the markers have predetermined position(s) relative to each other;

determining a position of the structure based on a pattern of the markers in the image; and

determining a geometric parameter of the machine based at least in part on the determined position of the structure;

wherein the machine is configured to obtain images in a half-fan configuration.

11. A method of determining a geometric parameter of a machine, comprising:

using the machine to obtain an image of at least a portion of a structure, the structure having a plurality of markers, wherein the markers have predetermined position(s) relative to each other;

determining a position of the structure based on a pattern of the markers in the image; and

determining a geometric parameter of the machine based at least in part on the determined position of the structure;

wherein the machine comprises a first source for providing diagnostic energy, and a second source for providing treatment energy.

12. A method of determining a geometric parameter of a machine, comprising:

using the machine to obtain an image of at least a portion of a structure, the structure having a plurality of markers, wherein the markers have predetermined position(s) relative to each other;

determining a position of the structure based on a pattern of the markers in the image; and

determining a geometric parameter of the machine based at least in part on the determined position of the structure;

wherein the machine comprises a plurality of radiation sources.

13. A system for determining a geometric parameter of a machine, comprising:

a processor configured to receive an image of at least a portion of a structure, the structure having a plurality of markers, wherein the markers have predetermined position(s) relative to each other;

wherein the processor is further configured to determine a position of the structure based on a pattern of the markers in the image, and determine a geometric parameter of the machine based at least in part on the determined position of the structure.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the geometric parameter of the machine is for use in an operation of the machine.

15. A computer program product including a non-transitory medium useable by a processor, the medium having a set of instructions, an execution of which causes a process to be performed, wherein the medium comprises a volatile or non-volatile medium, the process comprising:

receiving an image of at least a portion of a structure, the structure having a plurality of markers, wherein the markers have predetermined position(s) relative to each other;

determining a position of the structure based on a pattern of the markers in the image;

determining a geometric parameter of a machine based at least in part on the determined position of the structure; and

storing the determined geometric parameter.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the geometric parameter of the machine is for use in an operation of the machine.

17. A method of determining a geometric parameter of a machine, comprising:

using the machine to obtain images of at least a portion of a structure at a plurality of gantry angles;

determining positions of the structure relative to a reference frame of the machine based on the obtained images at the plurality of gantry angles;

determining a first point on the structure;

determining a second point on the structure; and

determining an axis of rotation in a three-dimensional space based at least in part on the determined first and second points on the structure.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the machine comprises a CT imaging machine.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the machine is configured to obtain images in a half-fan configuration.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the machine comprises a first source for providing diagnostic energy, and a second source for providing treatment energy.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the machine comprises a plurality of radiation sources.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the axis comprises a line connecting the first and the second points.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first point and the second point are relatively fixed in the reference frame of the machine when compared with a majority of the rest of the points on the structure.

24. The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining a rotation center based at least in part on the axis of rotation.

25. The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining a piercing point based at least in part on the determined axis of rotation.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of determining the piercing point comprises:

determining a line that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the line having a point that coincides with a radiation source; and

determining a point of intersection between the determined line and a plane associated with an imager.

27. A system for determining a geometric parameter of a machine, comprising:

a processor configured to obtain images of at least a portion of a structure at a plurality of gantry angles;

wherein the processor is further configured to

determine positions of the structure relative to a reference frame of the machine based on the obtained images at the plurality of gantry angles,

determine a first point on the structure,

determine a second point on the structure, and

determine an axis of rotation in a three-dimensional space based at least in part on the determined first and second points on the structure.

28. A computer program product including a non-transitory medium useable by a processor, the medium having a set of instructions, an execution of which causes a process to be performed, wherein the medium comprises a volatile or non-volatile medium, the process comprising:

receiving images of at least a portion of a structure at a plurality of gantry angles;

determining positions of the structure relative to a reference frame of the machine based on the obtained images at the plurality of gantry angles;

determining a first point on the structure; determining a second point on the structure;

determining an axis of rotation in a three-dimensional space based at least in part on the determined first and second points on the structure; and

storing data regarding the determined axis of rotation.

29. A method of determining a geometric parameter of a machine, comprising:

placing a filter in front of a radiation source;

using the machine to obtain a first image at a first gantry angle and a second image at a second gantry angle;

determining a first point in a first image that represents the intersection between a center line of a radiation beam generated at the first gantry angle and a plane of the first image;

determining a second point in a second image that represents the intersection between a center line of a radiation beam generated at the second gantry angle and a plane of the second image;

determining a first line that includes the first point;

determining a second line that includes the second point; and

determining a geometric parameter of the machine based at least in part on the first line and the second line.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the geometric parameter comprises an isocenter of the machine.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the isocenter is determined by determining an intersection point between the-first and the second lines.

32. The method of claim 29 , wherein the filter comprises an opening.

33. The method of claim 29 , wherein the filter comprises a plurality of markers.

34. The method of claim 29 , wherein the first point is determined by determining a center of an image of a filter opening.

35. The method of claim 29 , wherein the first point is determined by determining a centroid of a plurality of markers as they appear in an image frame.

36. The method of claim 29 , wherein the filter comprises a block that defines an opening.

37. The method of claim 36 , wherein the opening has a shape of a circle.

38. A system for determining a geometric parameter of a machine, comprising:

a filter configured to be secured in front of a radiation source; and

a processor, wherein the processor is configured to obtain a first image at a first gantry angle and a second image at a second gantry angle, wherein the first and the second images are generated using the machine,

determine a first point in a first image that represents the intersection between a center line of a radiation beam at the first gantry angle and a plane of the first image,

determine a second point in a second image that represents the intersection between a center line of a radiation beam at the second gantry angle and a plane of the second image,

determine a first line that includes the first point,

determining a second line that includes the second point, and

determine a geometric parameter of the machine based at least in part on the first line and the second line.

39. The system of claim 38 , wherein the filter comprises a block that defines an opening.

40. The system of claim 39 , wherein the opening has a shape of a circle.

41. A computer product including a non-transitory medium useable by a processor, the medium having a set of instructions, an execution of which causes a process to be performed, wherein the medium comprises a volatile or non-volatile medium, the process comprising:

obtaining a first image at a first gantry angle and a second image at a second gantry angle, wherein the first and the second images are generated using a radiation source and a filter placed in front of the radiation source;

determining a first point in a first image that represents the intersection between a center line of a radiation beam at the first gantry angle and a plane of the first image;

determining a second point in a second image that represents the intersection between a center line of a radiation beam at the second gantry angle and a plane of the second image;

determining a first line that includes the first point;

determining a second line that includes the second point;

determining a geometric parameter of the machine based at least in part on the first line and the second line; and

storing the determined geometric parameter.

42. The computer product of claim 41 , wherein the filter comprises a block that defines an opening.

43. The computer product of claim 42 , wherein the opening has a shape of a circle.

44. A method for use to determine a geometric parameter of a machine, comprising:

verifying an isocenter of a machine using a processor;

wherein the act of verifying the isocenter is performed without a need to place a marker at the isocenter of the machine.

45. The method of claim 44 , wherein the verifying comprises:

determining a position of a calibration device;

determining a point that coincides with an expected position of the isocenter of the machine based on the position of the calibration device; and

determining whether the point coincides with an intersection point between a first radiation beam generated at a first gantry angle and a second radiation beam generated at a second gantry angle.

46. The method of claim 45 , wherein the determining whether the point coincides with the intersection point comprises:

generating a first image at the first gantry angle and a second image at the second gantry angle;

determining a first point in the first image that represents a projection of a center point of a radiation source at the first gantry angle;

determining a second point in the second image that represents a projection of the center point of the radiation source at the second gantry angle;

projecting the point onto the first and second images;

comparing the projected point with the first point; and

comparing the projected point with the second point.

47. The method of claim 44 , wherein the isocenter comprises an expected isocenter.

48. A system for use in a process to determine a geometric parameter of an imaging device, comprising:

a structure having a three-dimensional configuration; and

a plurality of markers secured to the structure;

wherein the plurality of markers are positioned relative to each other such that their positions collectively form an irregular pattern, and wherein the plurality of markers collectively occupies a three-dimensional space.

49. The system of claim 48 , wherein the plurality of markers have a same size.