Abstract: During a radiation treatment plan optimization loop, a control circuit can conduct a dosimetric optimization iteration to yield a dosimetric-based plan result and then conduct a non-dosimetric optimization iteration to yield a non-dosimetric-based plan result. The control circuit can then assess the dosimetric-based plan result and the non-dosimetric-based plan result to yield a convergence assessment result. The latter can then be taken into account when determining whether to conclude continued radiation treatment plan optimization loops.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for optimizing a treatment plan using all degrees of freedom including those related to beam geometry parameters, the optimization including a step for limiting the search space for the beam geometry parameters using a trained machine learning model, and systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining beam geometry parameters for treatment planning that do not require knowledge of the beam delivery device isocenter.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems to evaluate cost values for different radiotherapy treatment plans using external AI models. A method comprises receiving a radiation therapy plan objective for a patient; executing a plan optimizer to generate one or more treatment attributes for a treatment plan complying with the radiation therapy plan objectives, the plan optimizer iteratively calculating the one or more attributes, where with each iteration, the plan optimizer revises the one or more attributes of the treatment plan in accordance with a cost value; executing an AI model to calculate a second cost value for the treatment plan, wherein the AI model is trained to calculate the second cost value in accordance with a likelihood of occurrence of a health-problem for the patient after being treated via the treatment plan having the one or more attributes; and outputting the treatment plan for the patient.

Abstract: A radiation treatment plan three-dimensional dose prediction machine learning model is trained using a training corpus that includes a plurality of radiation treatment plans that are not specific to a particular patient and wherein the training corpus includes some, but not all, possible patient volumes of interest. Information regarding the patient (including information regarding at least one volume of interest for the patient that was not represented in the training corpus) is input to the radiation treatment plan three-dimensional dose prediction machine model. The latter generates predicted three-dimensional dose distributions that include a predicted three-dimensional dose distribution for the at least one volume of interest that was not represented in the training corpus.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for identifying radiation therapy treatment data for patients. A processor accesses a neural network trained based on a first set of data generated from characteristic values of a first set of patients that received treatment at one or more first radiotherapy machines. The processor executes the neural network using a second set of data comprising characteristic values of a second set of patients receiving treatment at one or more second radiotherapy machines. The processor executes a calibration model using an output of the neural network based on the second set of data to output a calibration value. The processor executes the neural network using a set of characteristics of a first patient to output a first confidence score associated with a first treatment attribute. The processor then adjusts the first confidence score according to the calibration value to predict the first treatment attribute.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for iteratively training artificial intelligence models using reinforcement learning techniques including a method comprising executing, using at least one patient attribute, a number of arcs, and at least one clinical goal attribute associated with a volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment of a patient, an artificial intelligence model configured to predict a number of control points and a number of dose calculation sectors for the VMAT treatment, the artificial intelligence model having been iteratively trained using a reinforcement learning method, where with each iteration, the artificial intelligence model transmits one or more test control point and one or more test dose calculation sector to a plan optimizer model configured to predict a treatment plan, and trains a policy in accordance with calculated rewards.

Abstract: A control circuit calculates at least a first and a second fluence map corresponding to a given patient and then provides at least a third fluence map by morphing between the first and the second fluence map. Radiation treatment plan optimization can proceed as a function, at least in part, of those fluence maps. These teachings will accommodate initially subdividing a treatment arc corresponding to the radiation treatment plan into a plurality of dose calculation sectors. In such a case, the foregoing calculations can include calculating the first fluence map for a first one of the dose calculation sectors and calculating the second fluence map for a second one of the dose calculation sectors. By one approach, the first dose calculation sector does not overlap with the second dose calculation sector. By one approach, the first and second dose calculation sectors are adjacent to one another.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for recommending radiotherapy treatment attributes. A machine learning model predicts the preference of a medical professional and provides relevant suggestions (or recommendations) of radiotherapy treatment attributes for various categories of radiotherapy treatment. Specifically, the machine learning model predicts field geometry attributes from various field geometry attribute options for various field geometry attribute categories. The machine learning model is conditioned on patient data such as medical images and patient information. The machine learning model is trained in response to cumulative reward information associated with a medical professional accepting the provided/displayed recommendations.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided which relate to the planning and delivery of radiation treatments by modalities which involve moving a radiation source along a trajectory relative to a subject while delivering radiation to the subject. An artificial intelligence (AI) agent trained using reinforcement learning (and/or some other suitable form of machine learning) is used to control the radiation delivery parameters in effort to achieve desired delivery of radiation therapy. In some embodiments, the AI agent selects suitable control steps (e.g. radiation delivery parameters for particular time steps), while accounting for patient motions, difference(s) in patient anatomical geometry and/or the like.

Abstract: A memory has a fluence map that corresponds to a particular patient stored therein. This memory also has at least one deep learning model stored therein trained to deduce a leaf sequence for a multi-leaf collimator from a fluence map. A control circuit operably coupled to that memory iteratively optimizes a radiation treatment plan to administer therapeutic radiation to that patient by, at least in part, generating a leaf sequence as a function of the at least one deep learning model and the fluence map that corresponds to the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for identifying radiation therapy treatment data for patients. A processor accesses a neural network trained based on a first set of data generated from characteristic values of a first set of patients that received treatment at one or more first radiotherapy machines. The processor executes the neural network using a second set of data comprising characteristic values of a second set of patients receiving treatment at one or more second radiotherapy machines. The processor executes a calibration model using an output of the neural network based on the second set of data to output a calibration value. The processor executes the neural network using a set of characteristics of a first patient to output a first confidence score associated with a first treatment attribute. The processor then adjusts the first confidence score according to the calibration value to predict the first treatment attribute.

Abstract: Image information regarding a particular patient is provided, which image information includes, at least in part, a tumor to be irradiated. These teachings can also include providing non-image clinical information that corresponds to the particular patient. A control circuit accesses the foregoing image information and non-image clinical information and automatically generates a clinical target volume that is larger than the tumor as a function of both the image information and the non-image clinical information. The control circuit can then generate a corresponding radiation treatment plan based upon that clinical target volume, which plan can be utilized to irradiate the clinical target volume.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided which relate to the planning and delivery of radiation treatments by modalities which involve moving a radiation source along a trajectory relative to a subject while delivering radiation to the subject. An artificial intelligence (AI) agent trained using reinforcement learning (and/or some other suitable form of machine learning) is used to control the radiation delivery parameters in effort to achieve desired delivery of radiation therapy. In some embodiments, the AI agent selects suitable control steps (e.g. radiation delivery parameters for particular time steps), while accounting for patient motions, difference(s) in patient anatomical geometry and/or the like.

Abstract: A control circuit accesses patient image content as well as field geometry information regarding a particular radiation treatment platform. The control circuit then generates a predicted three-dimensional dose map for the radiation treatment plan as a function of both the patient image content and the field geometry information.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for identifying radiation therapy treatment data for patients. A processor accesses a neural network trained based on a first set of data generated from characteristic values of a first set of patients that received treatment at one or more first radiotherapy machines. The processor executes the neural network using a second set of data comprising characteristic values of a second set of patients receiving treatment at one or more second radiotherapy machines. The processor executes a calibration model using an output of the neural network based on the second set of data to output a calibration value. The processor executes the neural network using a set of characteristics of a first patient to output a first confidence score associated with a first treatment attribute. The processor then adjusts the first confidence score according to the calibration value to predict the first treatment attribute.

Abstract: A control circuit accesses a plurality of information items that each correspond to a resultant dose volume histogram shape for a corresponding different radiation treatment plan. The control circuit then trains a machine learning model to predict a desired dose volume histogram shape using that plurality of information items as a training corpus.

Abstract: A control circuit accesses a radiation treatment plan for a given patient. The control circuit then generates dose volume histogram information as a function of the radiation treatment plan and automatically assesses the dose volume histogram information to identify any anomalous results. Generating that information can comprise, at least in part and for example, generating at least one dose volume histogram curve. The latter may comprise generating at least one dose volume histogram curve for each of a plurality of different patient structures (such as one or more treatment volumes and/or one or more organs-at-risk).

Abstract: A control circuit accesses patient image content as well as field geometry information regarding a particular radiation treatment platform. The control circuit then generates a predicted three-dimensional dose map for the radiation treatment plan as a function of both the patient image content and the field geometry information.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for iteratively training artificial intelligence models using reinforcement learning techniques. With each iteration, a training agent applies a random radiation therapy treatment attribute corresponding to the radiation therapy treatment attribute associated with previously performed radiation therapy treatments when an epsilon value indicative of a likelihood of exploration and exploitation training of the artificial intelligence model satisfies a threshold. When the epsilon value does not satisfy the threshold, the agent generates, using an existing policy, a first predicted radiation therapy treatment attribute, and generates, using a predefined model, a second predicted radiation therapy treatment attribute. The agent applies one of the first predicted radiation therapy treatment attribute or the second predicted radiation therapy treatment attribute that is associated with a higher reward.

Abstract: A memory has stored therein a fluence map that corresponds to a particular patient and a deep learning model. The deep learning model is trained to deduce a leaf sequence for a multi-leaf collimator from a fluence map. The deep learning model comprises a neural network model that was trained, at least in part, via a reinforcement learning method. A control circuit accesses the memory and is configured to iteratively optimize a radiation treatment plan to administer the therapeutic radiation to the patient by, at least in part, generating a leaf sequence as a function of the deep learning model and the fluence map by employing a plurality of agents to each separately use the deep learning model to each generate a leaf sequence for only a single leaf pair of the multi-leaf collimator.