An overview of the key principles of the underlying technologies used by SimRT®, MapRT®, AlignRT® and DoseRT®
Vision RT has pioneered SGRT through a series of highly innovative proprietary techniques and optical methods, from first principles. These allow the delivery of non-contact, non-ionizing SGRT solutions to enhance patient care and treatment efficacy at all stages of the radiotherapy workflow: Sim (SimRT), Plan (MapRT), Treat (AlignRT and AlignRT InBore) and Dose (DoseRT).
Within SimRT, MapRT and AlignRT (including InBore), Vision RT generates three-dimensional models of the patient’s surface using video-based stereo photogrammetry. Proprietary ceiling-mounted camera units project an optical speckle pattern onto the patient’s surface, each with two image sensors that acquire raw textured data of the scene from different perspectives. Corresponding two-dimensional information from each of the two images is then converted into a series of 3D coordinates via triangulation, and visualized as a real-time surface rendering of the patient.
Stereo Photogrammetry
Surface Registration
Within AlignRT, a proprietary algorithm is used to register the live and reference surfaces, resulting in Real-Time Deltas (RTDs), which can be used to hold the beam (either manually or automatically) when exceeding a user-defined threshold.
AlignRT InBore includes a novel ring and miniaturized camera system, to complement ceiling-mounted cameras for patient tracking with bore-based linacs.
The cameras in InBore’s ring have a direct line of sight to the patient’s surface from within the bore.
This enables InBore to deliver motion monitoring without compromise.
InBore
CT Tracking
SimRT recreates a patient’s 3D surface in real time.
It uses a single camera unit to track a patient’s respiratory motion, or breath-hold position, through a virtual tracking patch before and during CT simulation.
During the CT simulation, MapRT uses two camera units, with a wide field of view. This allows the reconstructed surface captured during CT Sim to include the complete surface of the patient in the treatment position. Combining calibration and treatment plan information, the surface is superimposed into a virtual treatment room. Proprietary techniques are then used to calculate a clearance map for all couch and gantry configurations, providing information on all available, safe delivery beams.
Clearance Mapping
Cherenkov imaging
During radiation therapy, Cherenkov light is emitted from the patient’s skin where the radiation beam enters or exits the body.
DoseRT, powered by BeamSite, uses proprietary technology to detect the faint Cherenkov signal as the patient is treated, at the same time as AlignRT tracks the patient.
This provides real-time and retrospective feedback on dose delivery and patient positioning, to prevent errors.
To achieve the required levels of patient tracking accuracy and surface quality for procedures including the most complex stereotactic procedures, proprietary calibration techniques have been developed.
These include: Advanced Camera Optimization (ACO) for volumetric intrinsic calibrations; plate calibration for isocentric calibration and camera position and orientation; and MV cube calibration for enhanced isocenter co-calibration between the radiographic and optical isocenters (required for stereotactic and other non-coplanar treatment deliveries). The calibration procedures are protected by various granted and pending Vision RT patent families.
Calibration
Vision RT has over 200 granted, licensed, and pending patents across the breadth of its product and technology portfolio including but not limited to:
GB2501516, GB2549022, CN104245046, CH2841158, DE602013077944.9, FR2841158, GB2841158, SE2841158, JP6265971, US9736465, US10926109, US11628313, CN104755136, DE602013043202.3, FR2906289, UK2906289, SE2906289, JP6203275, US10183177, US9456947, UK2516282, US10456601, US10933258, US11633629, US12042671, CN105473181, CH3021939, DE602014069133.1, FR3021939, UK3021939, SE3021939, JP6284635, US9962561, CN112446856, US11504552, US11957935, CN107077745, CH3218871, DE602015031930.3, FR3218871, UK3218871, SE3218871, JP6543705, US10315054, CH3470115, DE602016048877.9, FR3470115, UK3470115, SE3470115, UK2538260, UK2538363, UK2541138, US9731150, US10675485, CN107636492, CH3294414, DE602016008240.3, FR3294414, UK3294414, SE3294414, JP6340488, UK2552872, US11612766, US11986678, CN111132730, CH3661596, DE602018017390.0, FR3661596, GB3661596, SE3661596, JP7145929, US11224765, CN112843495, CH3821943, UK3821943, UP3821943, US11590365, US11850447, US10549116, US10940332, US10201718, US11235177, US11000703.
Get in touch
Ready to take the next step?
Vision RT’s family of SGRT solutions guide radiation therapy for better patient care at every step: Sim, Planning, Treatment and Dose. Whether you’re looking for a quote, a product demo (virtual or in-person) or just more information, please get in touch.