Improves Targeting of Therapeutic Radiation Exposure by Tracking Non-Invasive Markers in Real-Time
This multipurpose optical tracking system improves the safety and accuracy of advanced radiotherapy. The global radiotherapy market value will exceed $10 billion by 2025 . Radiotherapy uses high-energy particles emitted from a linear accelerator to destroy tumors. The complicated process requires several steps and has significant room for error. If the patient is not precisely positioned, healthy tissue is at risk, and tumors are not targeted. Optical tracking systems can help guide patient positioning and monitoring; however, available tracking systems suffer from several limitations, like ambiguous markers and the lack of a seamless clinical workflow.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a non-invasive, marker-based optical tracking system with a streamlined workflow that improves marker target precision. This multipurpose optical tracking system may be employed for a host of clinical situations, including various forms of radiotherapy.
Application
High-precision radiotherapy tracking system for optimal workflow while treating patients with cancer
Advantages
- Streamlines radiotherapy workflow with repeatable steps, potentially reducing the risk of human error and increasing patient safety
- Minimizes marker occlusion and ambiguous markers, improving real-time tracking
- Resists abrupt patient feature changes such as movement and gradual patient feature changes like hair loss/growth and weight loss/gain, increasing accuracy
- Enables non-invasive patient interactions, increasing patient comfort
- Integrates with multiple optical trackers, improving available radiotherapy systems
Technology
This optical tracking system uses a pair of infrared cameras to track infrared reflective markers to align cancer patients to a designated treatment site. Technicians can place one or more markers directly on a patient’s skin or onto a removable pair of face goggles for intracranial stereotactic radiotherapy. The markers can be part of patient immobilization devices such as a face mask or body mold to streamline the workflow. The optical tracking system seamlessly integrates into the clinical workflow by directly interacting with the software systems controlling the linear accelerator. The integration also enhances the safety of radiotherapy. During treatment, the system tracks patient movement with an accuracy of 0.3 mm.
Brochure
