Web-based 3D planning tool for radiation therapy treatment

ABSTRACT

One of the biggest concerns in external treatment planning is the collision avoidance of the treatment Linear Accelerator (LINAC®) components such as gantry (G), table (T), collimator (C), and any other auxiliary components such as fixation devices etc, with the patient. Some external treatment plans require complex components of the above GTC combinations.We are presenting a preliminary design and implementation of a 3D-graphical tool for the detection of potential gantry-collimator-couch collisions in external treatment planning. The graphical tool uses the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) to model the exact geometry of any treatment machine by reading its manufacturer's CAD design files. Unlike other anti-collision methods developed so far in the literature, our tool would be able to model the details of the treatment linac and add-on devices for patient-specific setups. Hence, the tool will create patient-specific realistic collision map for any external treatment scenario. The tool can be used as a stand-alone program or embedded in the Eclipse treatment planning system.

REFERENCES

• 1: Beange, I. and Nisbet A. A. 2000. Collision Prevention Software Tool for Complex Three-Dimensional Isocentric Set-Ups. Br J Radiol 73, 537--541.
• 2: Boetislav, E. and Chludil, J. 2000. Yacht Captain Training System Based on VRML and Java Cooperation. Czech Technical University, Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
• 3: Don Brutzman, The virtual reality modeling language and Java, Communications of the ACM, v.41 n.6, p.57-64, June 1998 [doi>10.1145/276609.276620]
• 4: Rikk Carey , Gavin Bell, The annotated VRML 2.0 reference manual, Addison-Wesley Longman Ltd., Essex, UK, 1997
• 5: Hua C., Chang J., and Yenice K. et al. 2004. A Practical Approach to Prevent Gantry-Couch Collision for Linac-Based Radiosurgery. Med Phys 31, 2128--2134.
• 6: Humm J. L., Pizzuto D., Fleischman E. et al. 1995. Collision Detection and Avoidance During Treatment Planning. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 33, 1101--1108.
• 7: John, N. W. 2005. The Impact of Web3D Technologies on Medical Education and Training. Computers & Education, Science Direct, In Press.
• 8: Muthuswamy M. S. 1999. A Method of Beam-Couch Intersection Detection, Med Phys 26, 229--235.
• 9: Phillips, R., Ward, J. W., and Beavis A. W. 2005. Immersive Visualization Training of Radiotherapy Treatment. Proceedings of Medicine Meets Virtual Reality 13, January 26--29, 390--396.
• 10: Purdy J. A., Harms W. B., Matthews J. W. et al. 1993. Advances in 3-Dimensional Radiation Treatment Planning Systems: Room-View Display with Real Time Interactivity. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 27, 933--944.
• 11: Tsiakalos M. F., Scherebmann E., Theodorou K. et al. 2001. Graphical Treatment Simulation and Automated Collision Detection for Conformal and Stereotactic Radiotherapy Treatment Planning. Med Phys 28, 1359--1363.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.4 Hypertext/Hypermedia

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.1 Multimedia Information Systems

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.4 Graphics Utilities
  I.7 DOCUMENT AND TEXT PROCESSING
      I.7.2 Document Preparation
          Subjects: Hypertext/hypermedia
          Nouns: VRML

General Terms:
Design, Languages

Keywords:
VRML, Web 3D simulation, collision avoidance, treatment planning