Radiation treatment plan optimization employing a morphed fluence map

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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.