Method and apparatus for treatment planning using implanted radioactive seeds
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsDouglass L. Henderson, Sua Yoo, Michael E. Kowalok, Bruce R. Thomadsen
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Abstract
A pre-computed sensitivity function providing ex ante assessment of optimal placement of a single radioactive seed, is used for sequential placement of multiple radioactive seeds. The location of each successive seed may also be constrained by an exclusion function omitting areas in the target receiving a pre-defined dose from the preexisting seeds. This technique makes possible optimization of additional dimensions of treatment planning including using a different number of needles and using mixed seed types.
Claims29
A method of treatment planning for placement of radioactive seeds in a tumor in a region of a body comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining a desired dose pattern within the region of the body;
- (b) pre-calculating a sensitivity function indicating a preferred ranking of seed locations for a range of locations within the region of the body based on dose patterns produced by at least one seed moved throughout the range of different locations in a target region;
- (c) identifying a seed location outside of an exclusion zone, if any, at a location according to the preferred ranking that best contributes to the desired dose pattern;
- (d) placing the seed at that location in a treatment plan;
- (e) determine if the seeds placed in the treatment plan in total provide the desired dose pattern within a predetermined tolerance and if so concluding the treatment planning process with a current treatment plan, and if not proceeding to step (f);
- and
- (f) define an exclusion region about the seeds currently located in the treatment plan based on a radiation level produced by the seeds and return to step (c).
Treatment planning software for a placement of radioactive seeds in a tumor in a region of a body, the treatment planning software on a tangible computer-readable medium executable on an electronic computer to perform the steps of:
- (a) determining a desired dose pattern within the region of the body;
- (b) pre-calculating a sensitivity function indicating a preferred ranking of seed locations for a range of locations within the region of the body based on dose patterns produced by at least one seed moved throughout the range of different locations in a target region;
- (c) identifying a seed location outside of an exclusion zone, if any, at a location according to the preferred ranking that best contributes to the desired dose pattern;
- (d) placing the seed at that location in a treatment plan;
- (e) determine if the seeds placed in the treatment plan in total provide the desired dose pattern within a predetermined tolerance and if so concluding the treatment planning process with a current treatment plan, and if not proceeding to step (f);
- and
- (f) define an exclusion region about the seeds currently located in the treatment plan based on a radiation level produced by the seeds and return to step (c).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.