US 12,186,586 B2
Method and apparatus for performing irradiation time optimization for intensity modulated proton therapy during treatment planning while maintaining acceptable irradiation plan quality
Isabel Huth, Kuerten (DE); Christel Smith, Santa Barbara, CA (US); Timo Koponen, Espoo (FI); Perttu Niemela, Espoo (FI); Markus Bach, Overath (DE); and Reynald Vanderstraeten, Brussels (BE)
Assigned to Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US); Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbH & CO KG, Troisdorf (DE); and Siemens Healthineers International AG, Steinhausen (CH)
Filed by Varian Medical System Particle Therapy GmbH & Co. KG, Troisdorf (DE); Varian Medical Systems International AG, Steinhausen (CH); and Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/408,204.
Application 17/408,204 is a continuation of application No. 16/989,618, filed on Aug. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,154,726.
Application 16/989,618 is a continuation of application No. 16/147,110, filed on Sep. 28, 2018, granted, now 10,786,687, issued on Sep. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0379405 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. A61N 5/10 (2006.01); G16H 20/40 (2018.01)
CPC A61N 5/1031 (2013.01) [A61N 2005/1087 (2013.01); G16H 20/40 (2018.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer implemented method of determining a resultant treatment plan for a proton radiation therapy system, the computer implemented method comprising:
accessing dose volume constraints and a plurality of different beam-specific machine parameters associated with the proton radiation therapy system, wherein each of the plurality of different beam-specific machine parameters is operable to be varied over a different range, and wherein the plurality of different beam-specific machine parameters are associated with beam characteristics of the proton radiation therapy system;
adjusting the plurality of different beam-specific machine parameters to generate a plurality of candidate treatment plans;
simulating the plurality of candidate treatment plans to generate a plurality of treatment plan results, wherein each treatment plan result includes a respective treatment time and a respective plan quality, and wherein the simulating includes conducting one or more simulations using values selected across a respective range for each of the plurality of different beam-specific machine parameters; and
selecting, from the plurality of candidate treatment plans, the resultant treatment plan with a shortest treatment time and an acceptable plan quality with respect to the dose volume constraints.