Customization of a Dose Distribution Setting for a Technical Appliance for Tumour Therapy

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to provide a planner with the opportunity to effect local improvement of an IMRT treatment plan which is available to him. To this end, a method for customizing a dose distribution setting for a technical appliance in tumor therapy is proposed. A first plan ( 10 ) is read from a data memory ( 100 ). The first plan ( 10 ) for dose distribution in a plan volume (Z) is presented on a presentation device ( 110 ), the reason for this being the possibility of setting the technical appliance for tumor therapy to dispense the set dose distribution to a patient. The presentation is made for the purpose of changing the first plan ( 10 ) in at least one degree of fineness ( 10 a ) specific in terms of volume and for producing or ascertaining a causal follow-up plan for the setting on the technical appliance for tumor therapy. It is possible to prescribe a new dose value for a local/small group of voxels (z) in the or as the degree of fineness ( 10 a ) specified in terms of volume at a particular point in the plan view (Z) which does not have this new dose value. The particular point is stipulated by selecting an initial voxel (z 1 ) which is situated in a layer (y i ) of the plan volume. The first plan ( 10 ) is converted into a first navigation plan ( 11 ). This conversion takes account of the first plan ( 10 ) and the change of dose in the small/local voxel group. The first plan ( 10 ) or the first navigation plan ( 11 ) is presented on the same presentation device ( 110 ), depending on a setting on a first operating aid ( 40 ) with two end positions ( 41, 42 ), wherein the first end position corresponds to the first plan and the second end position ( 42 ) corresponds to the first navigation plan.

1 . A method for adjusting a dose distribution setting for a technical device for tumor therapy, the method comprising:
 reading out a first plan ( 10 ) from a data memory ( 100 );   illustrating the first plan ( 10 ) of a dose distribution in a plan volume (Z) on a display device ( 110 ) suitable for a setting of the technical device for tumor therapy to deliver the previously set dose distribution to a patient;   in purpose of changing the first plan ( 10 ) in at least one local area of fineness ( 10   a ) specified in terms of volume, and generating or determining a causal follow-up plan;   specifying a new dose value for a local group of voxels (z) in or as the local area of fineness ( 10   a ) specified in terms of volume at a specific point of the plan volume (Z) not having said new dose value;   wherein the specific point is determined by selecting an initial voxel (z 1 ) located in a layer (yi) of the plan volume;   converting the first plan ( 10 ) into a first navigation plan ( 11 ), the conversion taking into account the first plan ( 10 ) and the change in dose in the local voxel group; and   illustrating the first plan ( 10 ) or the first navigation plan ( 11 ) on the same display device ( 110 ) depending on a setting of a first operating aid ( 40 ) having two end positions ( 41 ,  42 ), wherein the first end position of the operating aid corresponds to the first plan and the second end position ( 42 ) corresponds to the first navigation plan.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of intermediate positions exist between the two end positions of the first operating aid ( 40 ), each of which intermediate positions corresponds to an intermediate plan, wherein each of said intermediate plans corresponds to an interpolation from the first plan ( 10 ) towards the first ( 11 ) and third navigation plans ( 13 ), respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein a setting of the first operating aid ( 40 ) closer to the first end position illustrates an intermediate plan on the display device ( 110 ) which, being interpolated from the first plan ( 10 ), is close to this first plan. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein a setting of the first operating aid ( 40 ) closer to the second end position ( 42 ) illustrates another intermediate plan on the display device ( 110 ) which, being interpolated from the first navigation plan ( 11 ), is close to this first navigation plan. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein a central position of the first operating aid ( 40 ) illustrates an intermediate plan on the display device ( 110 ) being interpolated between the first plan ( 10 ) and the first navigation plan ( 11 ) or the third navigation plan ( 13 ). 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the intermediate plans of a dose distribution in a plan volume (Z) corresponds to a respective setting of the technical device. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the interpolated intermediate plans are not stored in the database ( 100 ). 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the local group of voxels (z) comprises less than 500 voxels and the plan volume comprises more than 2000 voxels. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the local group of voxels takes up less than 5% of the plan volume (Z). 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plan ( 10 ) is converted into a second navigation plan ( 12 ) according to the first conversion and by specifying mathematical weights in the conversion so that the first and second navigation plans ( 11 ,  12 ) differ from each other, wherein the mathematical weights increase with increasing distance from the initial voxel (z 1 ) and the second navigation plan ( 12 ) comprises locally defined changes as compared to the first navigation plan ( 11 ). 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein a second operating aid ( 30 ) assigns the first or second navigation plan ( 11 ,  12 ) to the second end position ( 42 ) of the first operating aid ( 40 ). 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the second operating device ( 30 ) has a plurality of intermediate positions, each of which corresponds to an intermediate plan, wherein each of the intermediate plans corresponds to an interpolation between the first navigation plan ( 11 ) and the second navigation plan ( 12 ), and wherein a selected intermediate position ( 33 ) determines the third navigation plan ( 13 ) which is assigned to the second end position ( 42 ) of the first operating aid. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the mathematical weights are configured such that they are set or specified over various directions starting from the initial voxel (z 1 ) depending on the respective tissue in this direction. 
     
     
         15 . An arrangement for adjusting a dose distribution setting for a technical device for tumor therapy, comprising:
 reading out a first plan ( 10 ) of a dose distribution from a database ( 100 ) and illustrating the first plan ( 10 ) in a plan volume (Z) on a display device ( 110 ) for a setting of the technical device (TG) for tumor therapy and for delivering the set dose distribution to a patient;   specifying a new dose value for a local group of voxels (z) as an area of fineness ( 10   a ) specified in terms of volume at a specific point of the plan volume (Z) not having said new dose value, wherein the specific point is determined by specifying an initial voxel (z 1 ) located in a layer (yi) of the plan volume (Z);   providing a navigation plan ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ) generated by conversion from the first plan ( 10 ) and taking into account the new dose value in the local voxel group (z);   illustrating an intermediate plan on the same display device ( 110 ) depending on a changeable setting of a first operating aid ( 40 ) having two end positions ( 41 ,  42 ) and a plurality of intermediate positions ( 43 ), wherein the first end position corresponds to the first plan ( 10 ) and each of the intermediate positions corresponds to another intermediate plan, which corresponds to a respective interpolation from the first plan ( 10 ) towards the navigation plan ( 11 ,  12 ,  13 ); and   for the purpose of changing the first plan ( 10 ) in the at least one area of fineness ( 10   a ) specified in terms of volume, and generating or determining a causal follow-up plan ( 20 ,  21 ) as one of the interpolated intermediate plans to be set (later) on the technical device.   
     
     
         16 . A method for adjusting a dose distribution setting for a technical device for tumor therapy, comprising:
 reading out a first plan ( 10 ) from a data memory ( 100 );   illustrating the first plan ( 10 ) of a dose distribution in a plan volume (Z) on a display device ( 110 ) for a possible setting of the technical device for tumor therapy for delivering the set dose distribution to a patient;   for the purpose of changing the first plan ( 10 ) in at least one area of fineness ( 10   a ) specified in terms of volume, and generating or determining a causal follow-up plan for setting the technical device for tumor therapy;   specifying a new dose value for a local group of voxels (z) in or as the area of fineness ( 10   a ) specified in terms of volume at a specific point of the plan volume (Z) not having said new dose value;   wherein the specific point is determined by selecting an initial voxel (z 1 ) located in a layer (yi) of the plan volume;   providing a third navigation plan ( 13 ) generated by conversion from the first plan ( 10 ), taking into account the change in dose in the local voxel group (z) and another influence; and   illustrating the first plan ( 10 ) or the third navigation plan ( 13 ) on the same display device ( 110 ) depending on a setting of a first operating aid ( 40 ) having two end positions ( 41 ,  42 ), wherein the first end position corresponds to the first plan ( 10 ) and the second end position ( 42 ) corresponds to the third navigation plan ( 13 ).   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein a plurality of intermediate positions exist between the two end positions of the first operating aid ( 40 ), each of which intermediate positions corresponds to an intermediate plan, wherein each of said intermediate plans corresponds to an interpolation from the first plan ( 10 ) towards the first ( 11 ) and third navigation plans ( 13 ), respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein a setting of the first operating aid ( 40 ) closer to the first end position illustrates an intermediate plan on the display device ( 110 ) which, being interpolated from the first plan ( 10 ), is close to this first plan. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein a setting of the first operating aid ( 40 ) closer to the second end position ( 42 ) illustrates another intermediate plan on the display device ( 110 ) which, being interpolated from the first navigation plan ( 11 ), is close to this first navigation plan. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein a central position of the first operating aid ( 40 ) illustrates an intermediate plan on the display device ( 110 ) being interpolated between the first plan ( 10 ) and the first navigation plan ( 11 ) or the third navigation plan ( 13 ). 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein each of the intermediate plans of a dose distribution in a plan volume (Z) corresponds to a respective setting of the technical device. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the interpolated intermediate plans are not stored in the database ( 100 ). 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the local group takes up less than 5% of the plan volume (Z). 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein a second operating aid ( 30 ) assigns the first or second navigation plan ( 11 ,  12 ) to the second end position ( 42 ) of the first operating aid ( 40 ). 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the second operating device ( 30 ) has a plurality of intermediate positions, each of which corresponds to an intermediate plan, wherein each of the intermediate plans corresponds to an interpolation between the first navigation plan ( 11 ) and the second navigation plan ( 12 ), and wherein a selected intermediate position ( 33 ) determines the third navigation plan ( 13 ) which is assigned to the second end position ( 42 ) of the first operating aid. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first plan ( 10 ) is converted into a second navigation plan ( 12 ) according to the first conversion and by specifying mathematical weights in the conversion so that the first and second navigation plans ( 11 ,  12 ) differ from each other, wherein the mathematical weights increase with increasing distance from the initial voxel (z 1 ) and the second navigation plan ( 12 ) comprises locally defined changes as compared to the first navigation plan ( 11 ). 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the mathematical weights are configured such that they are set or specified over various directions starting from the initial voxel (z 1 ) depending on the respective tissue in this direction.