Test Object For The Validation of Tracking In The Presence of Motion

A target motion simulator system for use in verifying target tracking with a radiation therapy device, the system comprising:

• a radiation detection target coupled to a first motion actuator simulating both a first respiratory motion and a first cardiac motion of a first tissue;
• a fiducial coupled to a second motion actuator simulating a second respiratory motion of a second tissue offset from the first tissue;
• and
• an electrocardiogram (EKG) output signal generator synchronized with the first cardiac motion, wherein an EKG output signal from the EKG signal generator, in combination with a sensed fiducial position signal, facilitates tracking of the target by the radiation therapy device.

A target motion simulator system for simulating motion of a target having both respiratory and cardiac motion for use in verifying target tracking with a radiation therapy device comprising:

• an internal chest simulator coupled to a first respiratory motion actuator simulating internal chest respiratory motion;
• a radiation detection target coupled to the internal chest simulator with a first cardiac motion actuator simulating a first cardiac motion, wherein the target movement includes both internal chest respiratory motion and first cardiac motion;
• an external skin simulator coupled to a second respiratory motion actuator simulating external skin respiratory motion;
• an external fiducial coupled to the external skin simulator;
• and
• an electrocardiogram (EKG) output signal generator synchronized with the first cardiac motion, wherein an EKG output signal from the EKG signal generator may be used by the radiation therapy device in tracking the target.

A method of using a target motion simulator system having both respiratory and cardiac motion for use in verifying target tracking with a radiation therapy device, the method comprising:

• moving a radiation detection target with both a first respiratory motion and a first cardiac motion;
• moving a fiducial with a second respiratory motion;
• simulating an electrocardiogram (EKG) output signal synchronized with the first cardiac motion;
• tracking the radiation detection target with the radiation therapy device using input from the EKG output signal and the external fiducial movement;
• and
• firing a radiation dose from the radiation therapy device at the target.

A method of using a target motion simulator system having both respiratory and cardiac motion for use in verifying target tracking with a radiation therapy device, the method comprising:

• moving an internal chest simulator simulating an internal chest respiratory motion;
• moving a radiation detection target coupled to the internal chest simulator simulating a first cardiac motion;
• moving an external fiducial coupled to an external skin simulator simulating external skin respiratory motion;
• simulating an electrocardiogram (EKG) output signal synchronized with the first cardiac motion;
• tracking the radiation detection target and external fiducial with the radiation therapy device using input from the EKG output signal and the external fiducial movement;
• and
• firing a radiation from the radiation therapy device at the target.

A simulator system for simulating motion of a target for use in verifying target tracking with a radiation therapy device comprising:

• a movable primary actuator stage;
• a radiation detection target coupled to the primary actuator stage with a first movable secondary actuator stage, a combination of movement from the primary actuator stage and first secondary actuator stage simulating both a first respiratory motion and a first cardiac motion;
• a fiducial coupled to the primary actuator stage with a second movable secondary actuator stage, a combination of movement from the primary actuator stage and second secondary actuator stage simulating a second respiratory motion;
• and
• an electrocardiogram (EKG) output signal synchronized with the first cardiac motion, wherein the EKG output signal may be used by the radiation therapy device in tracking the target.