Abstract: A method of trajectory optimization for radiotherapy treatment includes providing a patient model having one or more regions of interest (ROIs), defining a delivery coordinate space (DCS), for each ROI, solving an adjoint transport to obtain an adjoint solution field from the ROI, for each vertex in the DCS, evaluating an adjoint photon fluence by performing ray tracing of the adjoint solution field, evaluating a dose of the ROI using the adjoint photon fluence, for each vertex in the DCS, evaluating a respective beam's eye view (BEV) score of each pixel of a BEV plane using the doses of the one or more ROIs, determining one or more BEV regions in the BEV plane based on the BEV scores, determining a BEV region connectivity manifold based on the BEV regions, and determining one or more optimal treatment trajectories based on the BEV region connectivity manifold.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 27, 2019
Date of Patent:
August 2, 2022
Assignees:
VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL AG
Inventors:
Santtu Ollila, Todd Arlin Wareing, John Morton McGhee, Douglas Allen Barnett, Jr., Alexander Enrique Maslowski
Abstract: These teachings serve to facilitate radiating a treatment target in a patient during a radiation treatment session with a radiation treatment platform having a moving source of radiation and using an optimized radiation treatment plan. These teachings in particular provide for configuring the radiation treatment platform in a half-fan trajectory arrangement. These teachings then provide for beginning the radiation treatment session with the source of radiation in a first location and an isocenter for the treatment target in a first position. Then, during the radiation treatment session, these teachings provide for moving the source of radiation from that first location in synchronization with moving the isocenter from the aforementioned first position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 24, 2020
Date of Patent:
July 26, 2022
Assignee:
Varian Medical Systems International AG
Inventors:
Esa Kuusela, Mikko Hakala, Shahab Basiri, Elena Czeizler
Abstract: A computer-implemented method of performing a treatment fraction of radiation therapy comprises: determining a current position of a target volume of patient anatomy; based on the current position of the target volume, computing an accumulated dose for non-target tissue proximate the target volume; determining that the accumulated dose is less than a current value for a dose budget of the non-target tissue; and in response to the accumulated dose being less than the current value for the dose budget, applying a treatment beam to the target volume while the target volume is in the current position.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 30, 2020
Publication date:
June 30, 2022
Applicant:
Varian Medical Systems International AG
Inventors:
Nasim GIVEHCHI, Claas WESSELS, Toon ROGGEN, Pascal PAYSAN, Marius Heinrich Walter KOEHL, Stefan Georg SCHEIB
Abstract: A virtual beam's-eye view of a planning target volume is generated based on volumetric image data acquired immediately prior to radiation therapy by a radiation therapy system. The virtual beam's-eye view can then be displayed to confirm that, with the patient disposed in the current position, the planned beam-delivered treatment extends beyond the surface of the skin. In some embodiments, the virtual beam's-eye view can be displayed in conjunction with a beam's-eye view that is generated based on volumetric image data acquired during treatment planning, to create a blended beam's-eye view. In some embodiments, a field outline of a treatment beam can be superimposed on the blended beam's-eye view, thereby illustrating whether the planned beam-delivered treatment extends beyond the surface of the skin of the patient. The blended beam's-eye view can facilitate a manual confirmation process that verifies the planned beam-delivered treatment extends beyond the surface of the skin.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 23, 2022
Publication date:
June 9, 2022
Applicant:
Varian Medical Systems International AG
Inventors:
Stefan THIEME-MARTI, Andres GRAF, Christof SIDLER
Abstract: A radiation therapy system includes an X-ray imaging system that is configured with a combined and simplified filter and collimator positioning mechanism. In addition, an X-ray imager of the RT system is only positioned at a few discrete locations within a plane that is a fixed distance from the imaging X-ray source when generating X-ray images. As a result, for each of these discrete imaging positions, the simplified filter and collimator positioning mechanism positions a specific collimator-filter combination in a specific location between the X-ray source and the imager.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 7, 2022
Publication date:
May 26, 2022
Applicant:
Varian Medical Systems International AG
Abstract: A radiation therapy system is configured with fast readout of X-ray images with significantly reduced image lag. A reset phase is included in the process of acquiring an X-ray image to reduce image lag in a subsequently acquired X-ray image. During the reset phase, residual charge is concurrently transferred from multiple arrays of pixel detector elements in an X-ray detector panel. As a result, image lag present in a subsequent X-ray image is minimized or otherwise reduced.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 1, 2022
Publication date:
May 19, 2022
Applicant:
Varian Medical Systems International AG
Abstract: A technology enables interactive control of simultaneously displayed multiple images with high dynamic ranges, which software automation processes are programmed to reduce the complexity in managing and viewing the post window/level adjustment of the multiple images. An image control engine provides several synchronous functional capabilities, which comprises an input module, a blending factor synchronization module, a window/level synchronization module, a display module, and an image storage. For window/level adjustment of the images in blended views, the blending factor synchronization module automatically links the activation of a window/level control of one image with a transparency blending factor that affects both images.
Abstract: A cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) method uses a continuous beam and an area detector to carry out fast acquisition of projection data. The acquired projection data are then reconstructed to generate tomographic images. In acquisition of the projection data, a radiation source continuously irradiates a subject with a cone beam of radiation from a plurality of angles and an area detector continuously reads out data. A CBCT system including a source operable to produce a cone beam of radiation and an area detector movable in synchrony with the source to rapidly acquire projection data for CBCT construction is also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 31, 2020
Date of Patent:
April 12, 2022
Assignee:
Varian Medical Systems International AG
Inventors:
Mathias Lehmann, Reto Ansorge, Manuel Waser, Daniel Morf
Abstract: In a radiation treatment plan that includes a plurality of treatment fields of multiple treatment modalities, such as IMRT modality and dynamic treatment path modality (e.g., VMAT and conformal arc therapy), an optimized spatial point sequence may be determined that optimizes the total treatment time, which includes both the beam-on time (i.e., during the delivery of radiation dose) and the beam-off time (i.e., during transitions between consecutive treatment fields). The result is a time-ordered field trajectory that intermixes and interleaves different treatment fields. In one embodiment, a dynamic treatment path may be cut into a plurality of sections, and one or more IMRT fields may be inserted between the plurality of sections.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 18, 2019
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2022
Assignee:
Varian Medical Systems International AG
Inventors:
Santtu Ollila, Mikko Vainio, Jarkko Peltola, Janne Nord, Esa Kuusela, Juha Kauppinen, Viljo Petäjä, Marko Rusanen
Abstract: Cost functions and cost function gradients for use in radiation treatment planning can be computed based on an approximation of an “isodose” surface. Where a clinical goal is expressed by reference to a threshold isodose surface, a corresponding cost function component can be defined directly by reference to that isodose surface, and a corresponding contribution to the cost function gradient can be approximated by identifying voxels that are intersected by the threshold isodose surface and approximating the gradient of the dose distribution within each such voxel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 29, 2019
Date of Patent:
March 22, 2022
Assignee:
Varian Medical Systems International AG
Inventors:
Esa Kuusela, Hannu Laaksonen, Lauri Halko
Abstract: Systems and methods for the automatic generation and optimization of radiation therapy treatment plans, and systems and methods for the automatic generation and optimization of an adapted plan in an adaptive radiation therapy workflow.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 9, 2019
Date of Patent:
March 22, 2022
Assignee:
VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL AG
Inventors:
Jarkko Peltola, Pauli Suhonen, Christopher Boylan, Stephen Thompson, Esa Kuusela
Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for quality assurance for verification of radiation dose delivery in arc-based radiation therapy devices using a 3D gamma evaluation method.
Abstract: Example methods and systems for deep transfer learning for radiotherapy treatment planning are provided. One example method may comprise: obtaining (310) a base deep learning engine that is pre-trained to perform a base radiotherapy treatment planning task; and based on the base deep learning engine, generating a target deep learning engine to perform a target radiotherapy treatment planning task. The target deep learning engine may be generated by configuring (330) a variable base layer among multiple base layers of the base deep learning engine, and generating (340) one of multiple target layers of the target deep learning engine by modifying the variable base layer. Alternatively or additionally, the target deep learning engine may be generated by configuring (350) an invariable base layer among the multiple base layers, and generating (360) one of multiple target layers of the target deep learning engine based on feature data generated using the invariable base layer.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 30, 2019
Publication date:
February 17, 2022
Applicant:
VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL AG
Inventors:
Hannu Mikael LAAKSONEN, Sami Petri PERTTU, Tomi RUOKOLA, Jan SCHREIER, Janne NORD
Abstract: One or more medical images of a patient are processed by a first neural network model to determine a region-of-interest (ROI) or a cut-off plane. Information from the first neural network model is used to crop the medical images, which serves as input to a second neural network model. The second neural network model processes the cropped medical images to determine contours of anatomical structures in the medical images of the patient. Each of the first and second neural network models are deep neural network models. By use of cropped images in the training and inference phases of the second neural network model, contours are produced with sharp edges or flat surfaces.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 29, 2019
Date of Patent:
February 1, 2022
Assignee:
VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL AG
Inventors:
Hannu Laaksonen, Janne Nord, Jan Schreier
Abstract: Systems and methods for determining beam asymmetry in a radiation treatment system using electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) without implementation of elaborate and complex EPID calibration procedures. The beam asymmetry is determined based on radiation scattered from different points in the radiation beam and measured with the same region of interest ROI of the EPID.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 13, 2020
Date of Patent:
December 28, 2021
Assignee:
VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL AG
Inventors:
Reto Ansorge, Mathias Lehmann, Stefan J. Thieme-Marti
Abstract: A reinforcement learning agent facilitates optimization of a radiation-delivery treatment plan. The reinforcement learning agent is configured to generate a radiation-delivery treatment plan that can exceed the quality of a plan or plans employed to train the reinforcement learning agent. The reinforcement learning agent is trained to evaluate a radiation-delivery treatment plan that is output by an optimization software application, modify one or more dose-volume objective parameters of the evaluated radiation-delivery treatment plan, and then input the modified radiation-delivery treatment plan to the optimization software application for further optimization. The reinforcement learning agent adaptively adjusts the one or more dose-volume objective parameters based on an action policy learned during a reinforcement learning training process.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 9, 2020
Publication date:
December 9, 2021
Applicant:
Varian Medical Systems International AG
Inventors:
Shahab BASIRI, Esa KUUSELA, Elena CZEIZLER, Mikko Oskari HAKALA
Abstract: A control circuit forms a radiation therapy treatment plan by automatically generating a base dose that references dosing information from multiple sources and then using that base dose to optimize a radiation therapy treatment plan. That radiation therapy treatment plan is then used to administer radiation therapy to a patient. That automatically generated base dose can represent any or all of earlier radiation therapy treatments for the patient, a same fraction as a dose presently being optimized per the radiation therapy treatment plan, and future planned fractions for the patient.
Abstract: A control circuit operably couples to a memory having a plurality of different radiation treatment applications stored therein, a data store having patient data stored therein, and at least a first user interface comprising a first display and a first user input interface. The control circuit can be configured to present simultaneously, via the first display and for a given patient, at least two workspaces that each correspond to a different one of the radiation treatment applications wherein the workspaces are using patient data from the data store for the given patient. The control circuit can also be configured to present, via the user input interface, a bookmark capture opportunity, such that a user of the apparatus can selectively create a bookmark that captures a present state for both of the at least two workspaces and hence for the radiation treatment applications that correspond to the at least two workspaces.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 29, 2019
Date of Patent:
December 7, 2021
Assignees:
Varian Medical Systems International AG, Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Wayne Keranen, Beat Markwalder, Marco Meier, Michael Waschbuesch
Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for dosimetric verification of radiation therapy treatments by selective evaluation of measurement points. Systems, methods, and computer program-products for providing dosimetric verification of radiation therapy treatments by evaluating measurement points using different evaluation criteria.