• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.263-270
• /
• 2008

Purpose: This study aimed to quantitatively measure the movement of tumors in real-time and evaluate the treatment accuracy, during the treatment of a liver tumor patient, who underwent radiosurgery with a Synchrony Respiratory motion tracking system of a robot CyberKnife. Materials and Methods: The study subjects included 24 liver tumor patients who underwent CyberKnife treatment, which included 64 times of treatment with the Synchrony Respiratory motion tracking system ($Synchrony^{TM}$). The treatment involved inserting 4 to 6 acupuncture needles into the vicinity of the liver tumor in all the patients using ultrasonography as a guide. A treatment plan was set up using the CT images for treatment planning uses. The position of the acupuncture needle was identified for every treatment time by Digitally Reconstructed Radiography (DRR) prepared at the time of treatment planning and X-ray images photographed in real-time. Subsequent results were stored through a Motion Tracking System (MTS) using the Mtsmain.log treatment file. In this way, movement of the tumor was measured. Besides, the accuracy of radiosurgery using CyberKnife was evaluated by the correlation errors between the real-time positions of the acupuncture needles and the predicted coordinates. Results: The maximum and the average translational movement of the liver tumor were measured 23.5 mm and $13.9{\pm}5.5\;mm$, respectively from the superior to the inferior direction, 3.9 mm and $1.9{\pm}0.9mm$, respectively from left to right, and 8.3 mm and $4.9{\pm}1.9\;mm$, respectively from the anterior to the posterior direction. The maximum and the average rotational movement of the liver tumor were measured to be $3.3^{\circ}$ and $2.6{\pm}1.3^{\circ}$, respectively for X (Left-Right) axis rotation, $4.8^{\circ}$ and $2.3{\pm}1.0^{\circ}$, respectively for Y (Crania-Caudal) axis rotation, $3.9^{\circ}$ and $2.8{\pm}1.1^{\circ}$, respectively for Z (Anterior-Posterior) axis rotation. In addition, the average correlation error, which represents the treatment's accuracy was $1.1{\pm}0.7\;mm$. Conclusion: In this study real-time movement of a liver tumor during the radiosurgery could be verified quantitatively and the accuracy of the radiosurgery with the Synchrony Respiratory motion tracking system of robot could be evaluated. On this basis, the decision of treatment volume in radiosurgery or conventional radiotherapy and useful information on the movement of liver tumor are supposed to be provided.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.174-179
• /
• 2009

To track moving tumor in real time, CyberKnife system imports a technique of the synchrony respiratory tracking system. The fiducial marker which are detectable in X-ray images were demand in CyberKnife Robotic radiosurgery system. It issued as reference markers to locate and track tumor location during patient alignment and treatment delivery. Fiducial marker implantation is an invasive surgical operation that carries a relatively high risk of pneumothorax. Most recently, it was developed a direct lung tumor registration method that does not require the use of fiducials. The purpose of this study is to measure the accuracy of target applying X-sight lung tracking using the Gafchromic film in dynamic moving thorax phantom. The X-sight Lung Tracking quality assurance motion phantom simulates simple respiratory motion of a lung tumor and provides Gafchromic dosimetry film-based test capability at locations inside the phantom corresponding to a typical lung tumor. The total average error for the X-sight Lung Tracking System with a moving target was $0.85{\pm}0.22$ mm. The results were considered reliable and applicable for lung tumor treatment in CyberKnife radiosurgery system. Clinically, breathing patterns of patients may vary during radiation therapy. Therefore, additional studies with a set real patient data are necessary to evaluate the target accuracy for the X-sight Lung Tracking system.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.676-683
• /
• 2007

A non-invasive respiratory gated radiotherapy system like those based on external anatomic motion gives better comfortableness to patients than invasive system on treatment. However, higher correlation between the external and internal anatomic motion is required to increase the effectiveness of non-invasive respiratory gated radiotherapy. Both of invasive and non-invasive methods need to track the internal anatomy with the higher precision and rapid response. Especially, the non-invasive method has more difficulty to track the target position successively because of using only image processing. So we developed the system to track the motion for a non-invasive respiratory gated system to accurately find the dynamic position of internal structures such as the diaphragm and tumor. The respiratory organ motion tracking apparatus consists of an image capture board, a fluoroscopy system and a processing computer. After the image board grabs the motion of internal anatomy through the fluoroscopy system, the computer acquires the organ motion tracking data by image processing without any additional physical markers. The patients breathe freely without any forced breath control and coaching, when this experiment was performed. The developed pattern-recognition software could extract the target motion signal in real-time from the acquired fluoroscopic images. The range of mean deviations between the real and acquired target positions was measured for some sample structures in an anatomical model phantom. The mean and max deviation between the real and acquired positions were less than 1mm and 2mm respectively with the standardized movement using a moving stage and an anatomical model phantom. Under the real human body, the mean and maximum distance of the peak to trough was measured 23.5mm and 55.1mm respectively for 13 patients' diaphragm motion. The acquired respiration profile showed that human expiration period was longer than the inspiration period. The above results could be applied to respiratory-gated radiotherapy.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.92-99
• /
• 2017

In respiratory-induced proton therapy, the accuracy of tracking system and beam controlling is more important than photon therapy. Therefore, a high accuracy motion tracking system that can track internal marker and external surrogate is needed. In this research, our team has installed internal and external marker tracking system at our institution's proton therapy system, and tested the scanning with gating according to the position of marker. The results demonstrate that the developed in-house external/internal marker based gating system can be clinically used for proton therapy system for moving tumor treatment.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.171-180
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study is to install a system that compensated for the respiration motion using an articulated robotic manipulator couch which enables a wide range of motions that a Stewart platform cannot provide and to evaluate the performance of various prediction algorithms including proposed algorithm. For that purpose, we built a miniature couch tracking system comprising an articulated robotic manipulator, 3D optical tracking system, a phantom that mimicked respiratory motion, and control software. We performed simulations and experiments using respiratory data of 12 patients to investigate the feasibility of the system and various prediction algorithms, namely linear extrapolation (LE) and double exponential smoothing (ES2) with averaging methods. We confirmed that prediction algorithms worked well during simulation and experiment, with the ES2-averaging algorithm showing the best results. The simulation study showed 43% average and 49% maximum improvement ratios with the ES2-averaging algorithm, and the experimental study with the $QUASAR^{TM}$ phantom showed 51% average and 56% maximum improvement ratios with this algorithm. Our results suggest that the articulated robotic manipulator couch system with the ES2-averaging prediction algorithm can be widely used in the field of radiation therapy, providing a highly efficient and utilizable technology that can enhance the therapeutic effect and improve safety through a noninvasive approach.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.157-166
• /
• 2015

Purpose : Cyber-Knife tumor tracking system, based on the correlation relationship between the position of a tumor which moves in response to the real time respiratory cycle signal and respiration was obtained by the LED marker attached to the outside of the patient, the location of the tumor to predict in advance, the movement of the tumor in synchronization with the therapeutic device to track real-time tumor, is a system for treating. The purpose of this study, in the cyber knife tumor tracking radiation therapy, trying to evaluate the accuracy of tumor tracking radiation therapy system due to the change in the form of unpredictable sudden breathing due to cough and sleep. Materials and Methods : Breathing Log files that were used in the study, based on the Respiratory gating radiotherapy and Cyber-knife tracking radiosurgery breathing Log files of patients who received herein, measured using the Log files in the form of a Sinusoidal pattern and Sudden change pattern. it has been reconstituted as possible. Enter the reconstructed respiratory Log file cyber knife dynamic chest Phantom, so that it is possible to implement a motion due to respiration, add manufacturing the driving apparatus of the existing dynamic chest Phantom, Phantom the form of respiration we have developed a program that can be applied to. Movement of the phantom inside the target (Ball cube target) was driven by the displacement of three sizes of according to the size of the respiratory vertical (Superior-Inferior) direction to the 5 mm, 10 mm, 20 mm. Insert crosses two EBT3 films in phantom inside the target in response to changes in the target movement, the End-to-End (E2E) test provided in Cyber-Knife manufacturer depending on the form of the breathing five times each. It was determined by carrying. Accuracy of tumor tracking system is indicated by the target error by analyzing the inserted film, additional E2E test is analyzed by measuring the correlation error while being advanced. Results : If the target error is a sine curve breathing form, the size of the target of the movement is in response to the 5 mm, 10 mm, 20 mm, respectively, of the average $1.14{\pm}0.13mm$, $1.05{\pm}0.20mm$, with $2.37{\pm}0.17mm$, suddenly for it is variations in breathing, respective average $1.87{\pm}0.19mm$, $2.15{\pm}0.21mm$, and analyzed with $2.44{\pm}0.26mm$. If the correlation error can be defined by the length of the displacement vector in the target track is a sinusoidal breathing mode, the size of the target of the movement in response to 5 mm, 10 mm, 20 mm, respective average $0.84{\pm}0.01mm$, $0.70{\pm}0.13mm$, with $1.63{\pm}0.10mm$, if it is a variant of sudden breathing respective average $0.97{\pm}0.06mm$, $1.44{\pm}0.11mm$, and analyzed with $1.98{\pm}0.10mm$. The larger the correlation error values in both the both the respiratory form, the target error value is large. If the motion size of the target of the sine curve breathing form is greater than or equal to 20 mm, was measured at 1.5 mm or more is a recommendation value of both cyber knife manufacturer of both error value. Conclusion : There is a tendency that the correlation error value between about target error value magnitude of the target motion is large is increased, the error value becomes large in variation of rapid respiration than breathing the form of a sine curve. The more the shape of the breathing large movements regular shape of sine curves target accuracy of the tumor tracking system can be judged to be reduced. Using the algorithm of Cyber-Knife tumor tracking system, when there is a change in the sudden unpredictable respiratory due patient coughing during treatment enforcement is to stop the treatment, it is assumed to carry out the internal target validation process again, it is necessary to readjust the form of respiration. Patients under treatment is determined to be able to improve the treatment of accuracy to induce the observed form of regular breathing and put like to see the goggles monitor capable of the respiratory form of the person.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.14-20
• /
• 2009

We measured the dose distribution for spinal cord and tumor using Gafchromic film, applying 3D and 4D-Treatment Planning for lung tumor within the phantom. A measured dose distribution was compared with a calculated dose distribution generated from 3D radiation treatment planning and 4D radiation treatment planning system. The agreement of the dose distribution in tumor for 3D and 4D treatment planning was 90.6%, 97.64% using gamma index computed for a distance to agreement of 1 mm and a dose difference of 3%. However, a gamma agreement index of 3% dose difference tolerence of and 2 mm distance to agreement, the accordance of the dose distribution around cord for 3D and 4D radiation treatment planning was 57.13%, 90.4%. There are significant differences between a calculated dose and a measured dose for 3D radiation treatment planning, no significant differences for 4D treatment planning. The results provide the effectiveness of the 4D treatment planning as compared to 3D. We suggest that the 4-dimensional treatment planning should be considered in the case where such equipments as Cyberknife with the real time tracking system are used to treat the tumors in the moving organ.

• 대한방사선치료학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2005.06a
• /
• pp.13-17
• /
• 2005

Introduction : For stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) of a tumor in the region whose movement due to respiration is significant, like Lung lower lobe, the gated therapy, which delivers radiation dose to the selected respiratory phases when tumor motion is small, was peformed using the Respiratory gating system and its clinical effectiveness was evaluated. Methode and Materials : For two SRS patients with a tumor in Lung lower lobe, a marker block (infrared reflector) was attached on the abdomen. While patient' respiratory cycle was monitored with Real-time Position Management (RPM, Varian, USA), 4D CT was performed (10 phases per a cycle). Phases in which tumor motion did not change rapidly were decided as treatment phases. The treatment volume was contoured on the CT images for selected treatment phases using maximum intensity projection (MIP) method. In order to verify setup reproducibility and positional variation, 4D CT was repeated. Result : Gross tumor volume (GTV) showed maximum movement in superior-inferior direction. For patient $\#$1, motion of GTV was reduced to 2.6 mm in treatment phases ($30\%\~60\%$), while that was 9.4 mm in full phases ($0\%\~90\%$) and for patient $\#$2, it was reduced to 2.3 mm in treatment phases ($30\%\~70\%$), while it was 11.7 mm in full phases ($0\%\~90\%$). When comparing two sets of CT images, setup errors in all the directions were within 3 mm. Conclusion : Since tumor motion was reduced less than 5 mm, the Respiratory gating system for SRS of Lung lower lobe is useful.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.143-152
• /
• 2015

In this study, we aim to design the architecture of the kV imaging system for tumor tracking in the dual-head gantry system and analyze its accuracy by simulations. We established mathematical formulas and algorithms to track the tumor position with the two-pair kV imaging systems when they are in the non-orthogonal positions. The algorithms have been designed in the homogeneous coordinate framework and the position of the source and the detector coordinates are used to estimate the tumor position. 4D XCAT (4D extended cardiac-torso) software was used in the simulation to identify the influence of the angle between the two-pair kV imaging systems and the resolution of the detectors to the accuracy in the position estimation. A metal marker fiducial has been inserted in a numerical human phantom of XCAT and the kV projections were acquired at various angles and resolutions using CT projection software of the XCAT. As a result, a positional accuracy of less than about 1mm was achieved when the resolution of the detector is higher than 1.5 mm/pixel and the angle between the kV imaging systems is approximately between $90^{\circ}$ and $50^{\circ}$. When the resolution is lower than 1.5 mm/pixel, the positional errors were higher than 1mm and the error fluctuation by the angles was greater. The resolution of the detector was critical in the positional accuracy for the tumor tracking and determines the range for the acceptable angle range between the kV imaging systems. Also, we found that the positional accuracy analysis method using XCAT developed in this study is highly useful and will be a invaluable tool for further refined design of the kV imaging systems for tumor tracking systems.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.117-124
• /
• 2016

Intrafractional motion of patients, such as respiratory motion during radiation treatment, is an important issue in image-guided radiotherapy. The accuracy of the radiation treatment decreases as the motion range increases. We developed a control system for a robotic patient immobilization system that enables to reduce the range of tumor motion by compensating the tumor motion. Fusion technology, combining robotics and mechatronics, was developed and applied in this study. First, a small-sized prototype was established for use with an industrial miniature robot. The patient immobilization system consisted of an optical tracking system, a robotic couch, a robot controller, and a control program for managing the system components. A multi speed and position control mechanism with three degrees of freedom was designed. The parameters for operating the control system, such as the coordinate transformation parameters and calibration parameters, were measured and evaluated for a prototype device. After developing the control system using the prototype device, a feasibility test on a full-scale patient immobilization system was performed, using a large industrial robot and couch. The performances of both the prototype device and the realistic device were evaluated using a respiratory motion phantom, for several patterns of respiratory motion. For all patterns of motion, the root mean squared error of the corresponding detected motion trajectories were reduced by more than 40%. The proposed system improves the accuracy of the radiation dose delivered to the target and reduces the unwanted irradiation of normal tissue.