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US-12626398-B2 - Method for monitoring a subject position

US12626398B2US 12626398 B2US12626398 B2US 12626398B2US-12626398-B2

Abstract

The disclosed method for monitoring a subject position comprises determining a deviation of a position of a predetermined portion of a subject from a predetermined position of the predetermined portion of the subject, and, based on the deviation, determining correction data, the correction data specifying one or more corrections to be performed on the subject position as part of a position correction procedure and specifying one or more rotational corrections as being excluded from the position correction procedure. The method further comprises setting reference data as a reference for subsequent monitoring of changes of the subject position, wherein the reference data comprises the correction data and initial image data acquired prior to performing the position correction procedure and/or corrected initial image data that has been corrected based on the correction data.

Inventors

  • Lukas KOMPATSCHER
  • Christina SCHILL

Assignees

  • BRAINLAB AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20221221
Priority Date
20220107

Claims (19)

  1. 1 . A computer-implemented method for monitoring a subject position, the method comprising: determining a deviation of a position of a predetermined portion of a subject from a predetermined position of the predetermined portion of the subject; based on the deviation, determining correction data, the correction data specifying one or more corrections to be performed on the subject position as part of a position correction procedure and specifying one or more rotational corrections as being excluded from the position correction procedure; and setting reference data as a reference for subsequent monitoring of changes of the subject position, wherein the reference data comprises the correction data and initial image data acquired prior to performing the position correction procedure and/or corrected initial image data that has been corrected based on the correction data; and rendering, on a user interface, a view related to the position correction procedure based on the correction data or subsequent monitoring of changes of the subject position based on the reference data, wherein the position correction procedure includes sending control signals to a subject support unit that operates drives to change the position of the subject based on the control Signals.
  2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining correction data comprises determining, for each rotational deviation of the predetermined portion of the subject, whether the rotational deviation should be corrected by means of the position correction procedure and, in response to determining that the rotational deviation should not be corrected, specifying a corresponding rotational correction as being excluded from the position correction procedure.
  3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein determining whether the rotational deviation should be corrected comprises receiving a user selection via the user interface and/or is performed automatically on the basis of pre-determined criteria by determining whether the rotational deviation exceeds a predetermined threshold.
  4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the deviation comprises: determining the position of the predetermined portion of the subject based on the initial image data of the predetermined portion of the subject, and determining the position of the predetermined portion of the subject based on planning image data of the predetermined portion of the subject acquired prior to acquiring the initial image data.
  5. 5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein each of the planning image data and the initial image data comprise image data of an inner organ of the subject and the predetermined portion includes the inner organ of the subject, and wherein the deviation is determined at least based upon a position of the inner organ.
  6. 6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the planning image data further comprises surface image data of the subject.
  7. 7 . The method of claim 1 comprising, after determining the deviation, triggering an automatic position correction procedure of the subject position, based on the correction data, wherein the position correction procedure excludes the one or more rotational corrections specified as being excluded from the correction procedure in the correction data.
  8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of changes of the subject position is based on monitoring image data, wherein the reference data and the monitoring image data each comprise surface image data of the subject, and wherein monitoring the subject position comprises surface imaging, including detecting deviations of the surface image data of the monitoring image data from the surface image data of the reference data.
  9. 9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the monitoring of changes of the subject position is further based on monitoring image data, wherein the reference data and the monitoring image data each comprise volume image data of the subject, wherein monitoring the subject position comprises volume imaging, including detecting deviations of the volume image data of the monitoring image data from the volume image data of the reference data, wherein the monitoring comprises the surface imaging and the volume imaging, and wherein the surface imaging is configured to obtain image data more frequently than the volume imaging.
  10. 10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of changes of the subject position is based on monitoring image data, wherein the reference data and the monitoring image data each comprise volume image data of the subject, and wherein monitoring the subject position comprises volume imaging, including detecting deviations of the volume image data of the monitoring image data from the volume image data of the reference data.
  11. 11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of subject position comprises, in response to the subject position moving out of a predetermined tolerance, triggering an output of a warning and/or output of a correction suggestion to an operator and/or triggering an automatic position correction procedure, the automatic position correction procedure comprising rotations.
  12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein one or more rotational and/or translational changes of the subject position, determined by a user selection or automatically based on predetermined criteria, are excluded from triggering an output of a warning and/or output of a correction suggestion to an operator and/or triggering an automatic position correction procedure.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference data comprises volume image data that is used as a reference for volume imaging-based monitoring, and wherein surface image data corresponding to the volume image data of the reference data is set as a reference for monitoring by means of surface imaging or a deviation in the surface image data corresponding to the volume image data is set as acceptable or a deviation in the surface image data corresponding to the volume image data is set to zero or a deviation in the surface image data corresponding to the volume image data is set to the deviation of the volume image data, or wherein the reference data comprises surface image data that is used as a reference for surface-based monitoring, and wherein volume image data corresponding to the surface image data of the reference data is set as a reference for monitoring by means of volume imaging or a deviation in the volume image data corresponding to the surface image data is set as acceptable or a deviation in the volume image data corresponding to the surface image data is set to zero or a deviation in the volume image data corresponding to the surface image data is set to the deviation of the surface image data.
  14. 14 . The method of claim 1 , comprising: rendering, on the user interface, a first view, wherein planning image data are overlayed with monitoring image data, and/or a second view, wherein initial image data are overlayed with monitoring image data, and/or a third view, wherein corrected initial image data are overlayed with planning image data and/or a fourth view, wherein corrected initial image data are overlayed with monitoring image data, and/or a fifth view, wherein initial image data are overlayed with monitoring image data corrected using the correction data, and/or rendering a view in which the monitoring image data overlayed with the planning image are corrected by the excluded rotation and/or a view in which the corrected initial image data to be overlayed with the planning image data are corrected by the excluded rotation, and/or rendering, on the user interface, a user interface element indicating that one or more rotational corrections are currently excluded from the position correction procedure and/or indicating information on the one or more rotational corrections that are currently excluded, including the corresponding rotation axis and/or the direction and/or the amount of the deviation.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 14 , comprising rendering, on the user interface, a selection option for switching between at least two of the first view, the second view, the third view, the fourth view, and the fifth view, and/or comprising rendering, on the user interface, a user interface element indicating which of the views is currently rendered.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 1 , comprising: acquiring planning image data, including volume image data and surface image data; and/or acquiring the initial image data, including volume image data and surface image data after acquiring the planning image data; and/or in response to a triggering of an automatic position correction procedure, performing the position correction procedure by automatically moving the subject support unit so as to correct the subject position, the position correction procedure excluding the one or more rotational corrections specified as being excluded from the correction procedure in the correction data; and/or acquiring monitoring image data, including volume image data and surface image data, after acquiring the planning image data, the monitoring image data being acquired continuously and/or at least at predetermined times and/or intervals; and/or creating control data for controlling medical equipment.
  17. 17 . A medical system comprising: a computing system comprising a processor and a memory device, wherein the processor is operable to execute program logic stored in the memory device to perform the steps comprising: determining a deviation of a position of a predetermined portion of a subject from a predetermined position of the predetermined portion of the subject; based on the deviation, determining correction data, the correction data specifying one or more corrections to be performed on the subject position as part of a position correction procedure and specifying one or more rotational corrections as being excluded from the position correction procedure; and setting reference data as a reference for subsequent monitoring of changes of the subject position, wherein the reference data comprises the correction data and initial image data acquired prior to performing the position correction procedure and/or corrected initial image data that has been corrected based on the correction data; and render, on a user interface, a view related to the position correction procedure based on the correction data or subsequent monitoring of changes of the subject position based on the reference data, wherein the position correction procedure includes sending control signals to a subject support unit that operates drives to change the position of the subject based on the control signals; and one or more imaging devices configured to be triggered and/or controlled by means of the computing system to obtain the initial image data and/or monitoring image data.
  18. 18 . The medical system of claim 17 further comprising: a medical device for radiation treatment of a subject controlled by means of the computing system; and/or the subject support unit configured to automatically correct a subject position triggered and/or controlled by means of the computing system.
  19. 19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon program logic stored in a memory device of a computer that when executed by a computer or when loaded onto the computer, causes the computer to carry out a method for monitoring a subject position, the method comprising: determining a deviation of a position of a predetermined portion of a subject from a predetermined position of the predetermined portion of the subject; based on the deviation, determining correction data, the correction data specifying one or more corrections to be performed on the subject position as part of a position correction procedure and specifying one or more rotational corrections as being excluded from the position correction procedure; and setting reference data as a reference for subsequent monitoring of changes of the subject position, wherein the reference data comprises the correction data and initial image data acquired prior to performing the position correction procedure and/or corrected initial image data that has been corrected based on the correction datal and rendering, on a user interface, a view related to the position correction procedure based on the correction data or subsequent monitoring of changes of the subject position based on the reference data, wherein the position correction procedure includes sending control signals to a subject support unit that operates drives to change the position of the subject based on the control signals.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for monitoring a subject position, an augmented reality system, a medical system, a computer program, a storage medium, a signal wave, a data stream, and a computer. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND In medical systems, positioning of subjects, e.g., patient bodies, with respect to pieces of equipment of a medical system, e.g., a radiation beam source or imaging system, is often performed prior to or at the beginning of the operation of some of the pieces of equipment. Subsequently, the position of the subject is often monitored. At present, it is known to position the subject using previously acquired planning image data, for example comprising CT image data, of at least a portion of the subject. For example, the subject may be arranged such that the portion of the subject has a pre-defined position with respect to pieces of equipment of a medical system. The position may be pre-defined, for example, based on the planning image data. After initial positioning, the subject position may be monitored to detect any changes in position. Generally, when adjusting a patient position, shifts can be corrected more easily than rotations by adjusting the actual patient position. However, rotations can only be rectified to a very small degree. For example, rotation of the subject support unit, e.g., patient couch, may have an angular limit and/or a shift from side to side or front/back entailed with the angular correction may become too high and/or tilting of the subject support unit will lead movement of the subject due to gravity or an unsafe state for the subject on the subject support. In some cases, certain rotations or angular deviations, even if they are large, may not be of particular concern. Accordingly, it would be acceptable to not correct the position in terms of these deviations. However, if the subject is not brought and kept in a position that is within a permissible range around the planned position, many medical systems have implemented features that cause the medical system to not work properly or stop working altogether, for example safety-features. Accordingly, angular deviations outside of the possible range of correction currently often require adapting the planning image data obtained at the planning stage. This takes a lot of effort and time. Alternatively overriding or circumventing the above-mentioned features is conceivable, but this may not be possible with all systems and may also carry certain risks. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method that alleviates at least some of the above disadvantages. The present invention can be used, for example, in connection with a system for image-guided radiotherapy such as VERO®, ExacTrac® and ExacTrac Dynamic®, all products of Brainlab AG. Aspects of the present invention, examples and exemplary steps and their embodiments are disclosed in the following. Different exemplary features of the invention can be combined in accordance with the invention wherever technically expedient and feasible. EXEMPLARY SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following, a short description of the specific features of the present invention is given which shall not be understood to limit the invention only to the features or a combination of the features described in this section. The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method for monitoring a subject position. The method comprises determining a deviation of a position of a predetermined portion of a subject from a predetermined position of the predetermined portion of the subject. The method further comprises, based on the deviation, determining correction data, the correction data specifying one or more corrections to be performed on the subject position as part of a position correction procedure and specifying one or more rotational corrections as being excluded from the position correction procedure. The method further comprises setting reference data as a reference for subsequent monitoring of changes of the subject position, wherein the reference data comprises the correction data and initial image data acquired prior to performing the position correction procedure and/or corrected initial image data that has been corrected based on the correction data. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In this section, a description of the general features of the present invention is given for example by referring to possible embodiments of the invention. The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method for monitoring a subject position. The method comprises determining a deviation of a position of a predetermined portion of a subject from a predetermined position of the predetermined portion of the subject. The method further comprises, based on the deviation, determining correction data, the correction data specifying one or more corrections to be performed on the subject position as part of a position co