Abstract: A method for radiation therapy treatment plan optimization, comprising generating a first radiation therapy treatment plan for a patient using a selected treatment type from a database and optimizing the first radiation therapy treatment plan. A selection of metrics from the first radiation therapy treatment plan are identified and compared to metrics from aggregated prior patient records selected from the database. At least one parameter is identified that affects the ability of the first radiation therapy treatment plan to meet an identified metric. The at least one parameter for the identified metric is compared to at least one parameter for a competing metric and at least one alternative treatment step for the treatment plan is determined that will change the identified at least one parameter to improve the identified metric.

Abstract: These various embodiments access target information regarding a radiation-therapy treatment volume for a given patient as well as non-target information regarding at least one structure other than the radiation-therapy treatment volume that also comprises a part of the given patient. These embodiments then provide for accessing uncertainties information regarding spatial uncertainties as pertain to at least one of the target information and the non-target information and using that uncertainties information to characterize at least one radiation-therapy treatment plan optimization consideration with respect to a preference of usage to thereby provide preference considerations. These preference considerations are then used to influence a follow-on radiation-therapy treatment plan optimization process when developing a treatment plan for the radiation-therapy treatment volume.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and apparati for graphically displaying deformations, said deformations defined by comparing a first image of an object (1) with a second image of the same or a different object (1). A method embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of scanning an object (1) twice to produce first and second images; tabulating deformations and converting said tabulated deformations into a scalar property over a preselected range; quantizing the range into a set of discrete quantization intervals; assigning a unique color out of a discrete or quasi-continuous set of colors to each quantization interval to produce a color overlay; and simultaneously displaying the color overlay and a representation of at least one of the first and second images, whereby said deformations are readily viewable in color.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and a mechanism for manipulating images generated by radiotherapy machines used in radiation diagnostic and treatment applications. In one embodiment, a method is provided for intelligent automatic propagation of real-time alterations across graphical structures of an image by mapping the relativity between the structures; determining the correlation between the structures and a manually edited structure; referencing a deformation map that maps a correspondence for each point in the original structure with a point in the edited structure and applying a similar relative change throughout the remaining structures in the image.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and a mechanism for manipulating images generated by radiotherapy machines used in radiation diagnostic and treatment applications. In one embodiment, a method is provided for intelligent automatic propagation of manual or automatic contouring across linked (e.g., registered) images and image data sets by acquiring one or more images of one or more image data sets; determining the correlation between the images with respect to identified structures; and generating a deformation map that establishes a correspondence for each point in the source image with a point in the target image. Subsequently, the intelligent propagation mechanism applies this deformation map individually to each structure of the source image and propagates the deformed structure to the target image.

Abstract: A method for use in a treatment planning process includes determining a modulability factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the modulability factor. A system for use in a treatment planning process includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured for determining a modulability factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the modulability factor. A method for use in a treatment planning process includes determining a visibility factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the visibility factor. A system for use in a treatment planning process includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured for determining a visibility factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the visibility factor.

Abstract: A method for use in a treatment planning process includes determining a modulability factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the modulability factor. A system for use in a treatment planning process includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured for determining a modulability factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the modulability factor. A method for use in a treatment planning process includes determining a visibility factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the visibility factor. A system for use in a treatment planning process includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured for determining a visibility factor, and determining a treatment parameter using the visibility factor.