This invention relates generally to systems and method for accurately locating and tracking a target in a lung of patient.
Lung cancer is a disease that begins in the cells of the lungs. In general, there are two main categories of lung cancer: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer may be treated using surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy. Because lung cancer varies from person to person, no single treatment may be effective for all patients. Typical surgeries for treating lung cancer include lobectomy (removing an entire lobe of a lung), pneumonectomy (removing an entire lung), and wedge or segmental resection (removing a small part of a lung). Surgery is generally not used if the cancer has spread to both lungs, other structures in the chest, the lymph nodes, or other organs. Surgery is also not used to treat tumors at central locations of the lung in which removal is not possible or in the case of small cell lung cancers. Surgery, therefore, is not a viable option for many patients. Surgical treatments may also result in complications with anesthesia or infection, and surgical treatments may have long, painful recovery periods.
Radiation therapy has become a significant and highly successful process for treating lung cancer, brain cancer and many other types of localized cancers. Radiation therapy is particularly useful for treating centrally located tumors and/or small cell tumors that cannot be removed surgically. Radiation therapy can be used as a curative treatment or as a palliative treatment when a cure is not possible. Additionally, surgery and chemotherapy can be used in combination with radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy procedures generally involve (a) a planning process to determine the parameters of the radiation (e.g., dose, shape, etc.), (b) a patient set-up process to position the target at a desired location relative to the radiation beam, (c) radiation sessions to irradiate the cancer, and (d) qualification processes to assess the efficacy of the radiation sessions. Many radiation therapy procedures have several radiation sessions over a period of approximately 5-45 days. Recent advances in radiation therapy, such as three-dimensional conformal external beam radiation, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiosurgery and brachytherapy, provide effective treatments for cancer. These newer treatment modalities are often more effective than previous radiation therapies because they can deliver very high doses of radiation to the tumor.
To further improve the treatment of localized cancers with radiotherapy, it would be desirable to increase the radiation dose because higher doses are more effective at destroying most cancers. Increasing the radiation dose, however, also increases the potential for complications to healthy tissues. The efficacy of radiation therapy accordingly depends on both the total dose of radiation delivered to the tumor and the dose of radiation delivered to normal tissue adjacent to the tumor. To protect the normal tissue adjacent to the tumor, the radiation should be prescribed to a tight treatment margin around the target to avoid irradiating healthy tissue. For example, the treatment margin for lung cancer should be selected to avoid irradiating healthy lung tissue. Therefore, it is not only desirable to increase the radiation dose delivered to the tumor, but it also desirable to mitigate the volume of healthy tissue subject to radiation and the dose of radiation delivered to such healthy tissue.
One difficulty of radiation therapy is compensating for movement of the target within the patient either during or between radiation sessions. This is particularly true in the case of central tumors. For example, tumors in the lungs move significant distances during radiation sessions because of respiration and cardiac functions (e.g., heartbeats and vasculature constriction/expansion). To compensate for such movement, the treatment margins are generally larger than desired so that the tumor does not move out of the treatment volume. This is not a desirable solution because the larger treatment margins may cause more normal tissue to be irradiated.
Another challenge in radiation therapy is accurately aligning the tumor with the isocenter of the radiation beam. Current setup procedures generally align external reference markings on the patient with visual alignment guides for the radiation delivery device. For an example, a tumor is first identified within the patient using an imaging system (e.g., X-ray, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound system), and then the approximate location of a tumor in the body is aligned with two or more alignment points on the exterior of the patient. During setup, the external marks are aligned with a reference frame of the radiation delivery device to position the treatment target within the patient at the beam isocenter of the radiation beam (also referenced herein as the machine isocenter). Conventional setup procedures using external marks are generally inadequate because the target may move relative to the external marks between the patient planning procedure and the treatment session and/or during the treatment session. As such, the target may be offset from the machine isocenter even when the external marks are at their predetermined locations for positioning the target at the machine isocenter. Reducing or eliminating such an offset is desirable because any initial misalignment between the target and the radiation beam will cause normal tissue to be irradiated. Moreover, if the target moves during treatment because of respiration or cardiac functions, any initial misalignment will likely further exacerbate irradiation of normal tissue. Thus, the day-by-day and moment-by-moment changes in radiation treatment setup and target motion have posed significant challenges for increasing the radiation dose applied to patients.
In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or components. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are not intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings.
In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures associated with target locating and tracking systems have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments of the invention.
Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense that is as “including, but not limited to.”
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further more, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the claimed invention.
A. Overview
One aspect of the invention is directed toward methods for treating a target in a lung of a patient. One embodiment of such a method comprises positioning a leadless marker in the lung of the patient relative to the target, and collecting position data of the marker. This method further comprises determining the location of the marker in an external reference frame based on the collected position data, and providing an objective output in the external reference frame that is responsive to movement of the marker. The objective output is provided at a frequency (i.e., periodicity) that adequately tracks the location of the target in real time within a clinically acceptable tracking error range. In addition, the objective output can also be provided at least substantially contemporaneously with collecting the position data used to determine the location of the marker.
Another embodiment of such a method includes placing a magnetic marker proximate to and/or within the lung of the patient relative to the target, positioning the target at a desired situs in a reference frame of the radiation beam by locating the magnetic marker relative to the reference frame, and moving the patient according to the location of the magnetic marker in the reference frame. The magnetic marker has a transponder including a circuit configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted excitation energy and to wirelessly transmit a magnetic location signal in response to the excitation energy. The magnetic marker is located by (a) wirelessly delivering a pulsed magnetic field to energize the magnetic marker, (b) wirelessly transmitting a pulsed location signal from the magnetic marker to a location outside the patient, (c) sensing the pulsed location signal at a sensor located outside the patient, and (d) periodically calculating the location of the magnetic marker in the reference frame. The method can further include irradiating the patient with the radiation beam when the calculated location of the magnetic marker indicates that the target is at the desired situs in the reference frame.
Another embodiment of a method for tracking a target in a lung of a patient comprises placing a magnetic marker proximate to and/or within the lung of the patient relative to the target. The magnetic marker has a transponder including a circuit configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted excitation energy and to wirelessly transmit a magnetic location signal in response to the excitation energy. This embodiment of the method further includes wirelessly delivering a pulsed magnetic field to energize the magnetic marker, wirelessly transmitting a pulsed location signal from the magnetic marker to a location outside the patient, sensing the pulsed location signal at a sensor located outside the patient, and periodically calculating the location of the magnetic marker in the reference frame.
Other methods are directed to deploying a marker into or generally proximate to the lung of the patient. One embodiment of such a method comprises guiding a delivery device with a leadless marker through the patient to position the marker at a desired site relative to a target in or near the lung of the patient. The marker has a transponder configured to receive a wirelessly transmitted excitation energy and generate a wirelessly transmitted location signal in response to the excitation energy. This method further continues releasing the leadless marker at the desired site and securing the marker to the patient at the desired site. For example, the marker can be secured using a stent or other expandable device, a barb, a suture, and/or an adhesive.
Another aspect of the invention is directed to an apparatus for deploying a marker in a lung of the patient. One embodiment of such an apparatus comprises an elongated body having a distal section configured to pass through a passageway in a lung of the patient and a leadless marker having a transponder. The leadless marker is releasably supported by the body at the distal section. The apparatus further includes a deployment mechanism at the distal section, and the deployment mechanism is configured to release the marker from the distal section of the body. In further embodiments, the apparatus can further comprise a steering mechanism configured to direct the distal section. For example, the steering mechanism can comprise a wire having a distal end attached to one side of the distal section of the body and a proximal section axially moveable relative to the body to flex the distal section. In still further embodiments, the transponder in the leadless marker comprises a magnetic transponder having a circuit configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted magnetic excitation energy and to wirelessly transmit a magnetic location signal in response to the magnetic excitation energy.
Another aspect of the invention is directed to a marker for implantation into a patient. One embodiment of such a marker comprises a capsule, a transponder in the capsule, and an anchor attached to the capsule. The transponder includes a circuit configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted excitation energy and to wirelessly transmit a magnetic location signal in response to the excitation energy. The anchor comprises an expandable member that moves between a stored position having a first radius and a deployed position having a second radius greater than the first radius.
Another embodiment of a marker comprises a marker section configured to be localized and an anchor attached to the marker section. The anchor comprises an expandable member that moves between a stored position having a first size and a deployed position having a second size greater than the first size. The anchor, for example, can be a stent, an umbrella-like expandable member, or an expandable cylindrical section.
Various embodiments of the invention are described in this section to provide specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these embodiments. A person skilled in the art, however, will understand that the invention may be practiced without several of these details, or that additional details can be added to the invention. Where context permits, singular or plural terms may also include the plural or singular term, respectively. Moreover, unless the word “or” is expressly limited to mean only a single item exclusive from other items in reference to a list of at least two items, then the use of “or” in such a list is to be interpreted as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c) any combination of the items in the list. Additionally, the term “comprising” is used throughout to means including at least the recited feature(s) such that any greater number of the same features and/or types of other features or components are not precluded.
B. Guided Radiation Therapy Systems with Real time Tracking Systems
The radiation delivery source of the illustrated embodiment is an ionizing radiation device 20 (i.e., a linear accelerator). Suitable linear accelerators are manufactured by Varian Medical Systems, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif.; Siemans Medical Systems, Inc. of Iselin, N.J.; Electa Instruments, Inc. of Iselin, N.J.; or Mitsubishi Denki Kabushik Kaisha of Japan. Such linear accelerators can deliver conventional single or multi-field radiation therapy, 3D conformal radiation therapy (3D CRT), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic radiotherapy, and tomo therapy in conjunction with a variety of treatment planning software systems. The radiation delivery source 20 delivers a gated, contoured or shaped beam 21 of ionizing radiation from a movable gantry 22 to an area or volume at a known location in an external reference frame relative to the radiation delivery source 20. This point in space, referred to as a machine isocenter, is the point to which the ionizing radiation beam 21 is directed.
The tracking system includes a localization system 10 and one or more markers 40. The localization system 10 determines the actual location of the markers 40 in a three-dimensional reference frame, and the markers 40 are typically implanted within the patient 6. In the embodiment illustrated in
1. General Operation of Selected Markers and Localization Systems
The localization system 10 includes an excitation source 60 (e.g., a pulsed magnetic field generator), a sensor assembly 70, and a controller 80 coupled to both the excitation source 60 and the sensor assembly 70. The excitation source 60 generates an excitation energy to energize at least one of the markers 40a-c in the patient 6 (
The sensor assembly 70 can include a plurality of coils to sense the location signals L1-3 from the markers 40a-c. The sensor assembly 70 can be a flat panel having a plurality of coils that are at least substantially coplanar relative to each other. In other embodiments, the sensor assembly 70 may be a non-planar array of coils.
The controller 80 includes hardware, software or other computer-operable media containing instructions that operate the excitation source 60 to multiplex the excitation energy at the different frequencies E1-3. For example, the controller 80 causes the excitation source 60 to generate the excitation energy at the first frequency E1 for a first excitation period, and then the controller 80 causes the excitation source 60 to terminate the excitation energy at the first frequency E1 for a first sensing phase during which the sensor assembly 70 senses the first location signal L1 from the first marker 40a without the presence of the excitation energy at the first frequency E1. The controller 80 then causes the excitation source 60 to: (a) generate the second excitation energy at the second frequency E2 for a second excitation period; and (b) terminate the excitation energy at the second frequency E2 for a second sensing phase during which the sensor assembly 70 senses the second location signal L2 from the second marker 40b without the presence of the second excitation energy at the second frequency E2. The controller 80 then repeats this operation with the third excitation energy at the third frequency E3 such that the third marker 40c transmits the third location signal L3 to the sensor assembly 70 during a third sensing phase. As such, the excitation source 60 wirelessly transmits the excitation energy in the form of pulsed magnetic fields at the resonant frequencies of the markers 40a-c during excitation periods, and the markers 40a-c wirelessly transmit the location signals L1-3 to the sensor assembly 70 during sensing phases. It will be appreciated that the excitation and sensing phases can be repeated to permit averaging of the sensed signals to reduce noise.
The computer-operable media in the controller 80, or in a separate signal processor, also includes instructions to determine the absolute positions of each of the markers 40a-c in a three-dimensional reference frame. Based on signals provided by the sensor assembly 70 that correspond to the magnitude of each of the location signals L1-3, the controller 80 and/or a separate signal processor calculates the absolute coordinates of each of the markers 40a-c in the three-dimensional reference frame.
2. Real Time Tracking
The localization system 10 and markers 40 enable real time tracking of the target 2 relative to the machine isocenter or another external reference frame outside of the patient during treatment planning, set up, irradiation sessions, and at other times of the radiation therapy process. In many embodiments, real time tracking means collecting position data of the markers, determining the locations of the markers in an external reference frame (i.e., a reference frame outside the patient), and providing an objective output in the external reference frame responsive to the location of the marker. The objective output is provided at a frequency/periodicity that adequately tracks the target in real time, and/or a latency that is at least substantially contemporaneous with collecting the position data (e.g., within a generally concurrent period of time).
For example, several embodiments of real time tracking are defined as determining the locations of the markers and calculating the location of the target relative to the machine isocenter at (a) a sufficiently high frequency/periodicity so that pauses in representations of the target location at a user interface do not interrupt the procedure or are readily discernable by a human, and (b) a sufficiently low latency to be at least substantially contemporaneous with the measurement of the location signals from the markers. Alternatively, real time means that the location system 10 calculates the absolute position of each individual marker 40 and/or the location of the target at a periodicity of approximately 1 ms to 5 seconds, or in many applications at a periodicity of approximately 10-100 ms, or in some specific applications at a periodicity of approximately 20-50 ms. In applications for user interfaces, for example, the periodicity can be 12.5 ms (i.e., a frequency of 80 Hz), 16.667 ms (60 Hz), 20 ms (50 Hz), and/or 50 ms (20 Hz). Additionally, real time tracking can further mean that the location system 10 provides the absolute locations of the markers 40 and/or the target 2 to a memory device, user interface, linear accelerator or other device within a latency of 10 ms to 5 seconds from the time the localization signals were transmitted from the markers 40. In more specific applications, the location system generally provides the locations of the markers 40 and/or target 2 within a latency of about 20-50 ms. The location system 10 accordingly provides real time tracking to monitor the position of the markers 40 and/or the target 2 with respect to an external reference frame in a manner that is expected to enhance the efficacy of radiation therapy because higher radiation doses can be applied to the target and collateral effects to healthy tissue can be mitigated.
Alternatively, real time tracking can further mean that the location system 10 provides the absolute locations of the markers 40 and/or the target 2 to a memory device, user interface, linear accelerator or other device within a latency of 10 ms to 5 seconds from the time the localization signals were transmitted from the markers 40. In more specific applications, the location system generally provides the locations of the markers 40 and/or target 2 within a latency of about 20-50 ms. The location system 10 accordingly provides real time tracking to monitor the position of the markers 40 and/or the target 2 with respect to an external reference frame in a manner that is expected to enhance the efficacy of radiation therapy because higher radiation doses can be applied to the target and collateral effects to healthy tissue can be mitigated.
Alternatively, real-time tracking can further be defined by the tracking error. Measurements of the position of a moving target are subject to motion-induced error, generally referred to as a tracking error. According to aspects of the present invention, the localization system 10 and at least one marker 4 enable real time tracking of the target 2 relative to the machine isocenter or another external reference frame with a tracking error that is within clinically meaningful limits.
Tracking errors are due to two limitations exhibited by any practical measurement system, specifically (a) latency between the time the target position is sensed and the time the position measurement is made available, and (b) sampling delay due to the periodicity of measurements. For example, if a target is moving at 5 cm/s and a measurement system has a latency of 200 ms, then position measurements will be in error by 1 cm. The error in this example is due to latency alone, independent of any other measurement errors, and is simply due to the fact that the target has moved between the time its position is sensed and the time the position measurement is made available for use. If this exemplary measurement system further has a sampling periodicity of 200 ms (i.e., a sampling frequency of 5 Hz), then the peak tracking error increases to 2 cm, with an average tracking error of 1.5 cm.
For a real time tracking system to be useful in medical applications, it is desirable to keep the tracking error within clinically meaningful limits. For example, in a system for tracking motion of a tumor in a lung for radiation therapy, it may be desirable to keep the tracking error within 5 mm. Acceptable tracking errors may be smaller when tracking other organs for radiation therapy. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, real time tracking refers to measurement of target position and/or rotation with tracking errors that are within clinically meaningful limits.
The system described herein uses one or more markers to serve as registration points to characterize target location, rotation, and motion. In accordance with aspects of the invention, the markers have a substantially fixed relationship with the target. If the markers did not have a substantially fixed relationship with the target another type of tracking error would be incurred. This generally requires the markers to be fixed or implanted sufficiently close to the target in order that tracking errors be within clinically meaningful limits, thus, the markers may be placed in tissue or bone that exhibits representative motion of the target. For example, with respect to the prostate, tissue that is representative of the target's motion would include tissue in close proximity or adjacent to the prostate. Tissue adjacent to a target involving the prostate may include the prostate gland, the tumor itself, or tissue within a specified radial distance from the target. With respect to the prostate, tracking tissue that is a 5 cm radial distance from the target would provide representative motion that is clinically useful to the motion of the target. In accordance with alternative target tracking locations, the radial distance may be greater or lesser.
According to aspects of the present invention, the marker motion is a surrogate for the motion of the target. Accordingly, the marker is placed such that it moves in direct correlation to the target being tracked. Depending on the target being tracked, the direct correlation relationship between the target and the marker will vary. For example, in long bones, the marker may be place anywhere along the bone to provide motion that directly correlations to target motion in the bone. With respect to soft tissue that moves substantially in response to the bony anatomy, for example, the head and neck, the marker may be placed in a bite block to provide surrogate motion in direct correlation with target motion. With respect to soft tissue and as discussed in detail above, the target may be placed in adjacent soft tissue to provide a surrogate having direct correlation to target motion.
The radiation planning procedure 91 can also include tracking the targets using the localization system 10 (
The localization system 10 and the markers 40 enable an automated patient setup process for delivering the radiation. After developing a treatment plan, the method 90 includes a setup procedure 92 in which the patient is positioned on a movable support table so that the target and markers are generally adjacent to the sensor assembly. As described above, the excitation source is activated to energize the markers, and the sensors measure the strength of the signals from the markers. The computer controller then (a) calculates objective values of the locations of the markers and the target relative to the machine isocenter, and (b) determines an objective offset value between the position of the target and the machine isocenter. Referring to
In one embodiment, the computer controller also determines the position and orientation of the markers relative to the position and orientation of simulated markers. The locations of the simulated markers are selected so that the target will be at the machine isocenter when the real markers are at the selected locations for the simulated markers. If the markers are not properly aligned and oriented with the simulated markers, the support table is adjusted as needed for proper marker alignment. This marker alignment properly positions the target along six dimensions, namely X, Y, Z, pitch, yaw, and roll. Accordingly, the patient is automatically positioned in the correct position relative to the machine isocenter for precise delivery of radiation therapy to the target.
Referring back to
The localization system provides the objective data of the offset and/or rotation to the linear accelerator and/or the patient support table in real time as defined above. For example, as explained above with respect to automatically positioning the patent support table during the setup procedure 92, the localization system generally provides the objective output to the radiation delivery device at least substantially contemporaneously with obtaining the position data of the markers. The objective output, for example, can be provided at a short periodicity (1-20 ms) and a low latency (10-20 ms) such that signals for controlling the beam 21 can be sent to the radiation delivery device 20 in the same time periods during a radiation session. In the case of terminating or activating the radiation beam, or adjusting the leafs of a beam collimator, it is generally desirable to maximize the frequency and minimize the latency. In some embodiments, therefore, the localization system may provide the objective output data of the target location and/or the marker locations at a periodicity of 10 ms or less and a latency of 10 ms or less.
The method 90 further includes a verification procedure 94 in which the real time objective output data from the radiation session 93 is compared to the status of the parameters of the radiation beam. For example, the target locations can be correlated with the beam intensity, beam position, and collimator configuration at corresponding time intervals during the radiation session 93. This correlation can be used to determine the dose of radiation delivered to discrete regions in and around the target. This information can also be used to determine the effects of radiation on certain areas of the target by noting changes in the target configuration or the target trajectory.
The method 90 can further include a first decision (Block 95) in which the data from the verification procedure 94 is analyzed to determine whether the treatment is complete. If the treatment is not complete, the method 90 further includes a second decision (Block 96) in which the results of the verification procedure are analyzed to determine whether the treatment plan should be revised to compensate for changes in the target. If revisions are necessary, the method can proceed with repeating the planning procedure 91. On the other hand, if the treatment plan is providing adequate results, the method 90 can proceed by repeating the setup procedure 92, radiation session 93, and verification procedure 94 in a subsequent fraction of the radiation therapy.
The localization system 10 provides several features, either individually or in combination with each other, that enhance the ability to accurately deliver high doses of radiation to targets within tight margins. For example, many embodiments of the localization system use leadless markers that are implanted in the patient so that they are substantially fixed with respect to the target. The markers accordingly move either directly with the target or in a proportional relationship to the movement of the target. As a result, internal movement of the target caused by respiration, organ filling, cardiac functions, or other factors can be identified and accurately tracked before, during and after medical procedures. Moreover, many aspects of the localization system 10 use a non-ionizing energy to track the leadless markers in an external, absolute reference frame in a manner that provides objective output. In general, the objective output is determined in a computer without having a human interpret data (e.g., images) while the localization system 10 tracks the target and provides the objective output. This significantly reduces the latency between the time when the position of the marker is sensed and the objective output is provided to a device or a user. For example, this enables an objective output responsive to the location of the target to be provided at least substantially contemporaneously with collecting the position data of the marker. The system also effectively eliminates inter-user variability associated with subjective interpretation of data (e.g., images).
In the embodiments discussed above, the markers 40 are described and shown as being subcutaneously implanted in or next to a target 2 to ensure that the markers will move with the target 2 within the patient. In an alternate embodiment, the markers can be surface-mounted to the exterior surface of the patient in addition to being implanted near the target 2. Such surface-mounted markers can be removably adhered to the patient with tape or another type of adhesive in a substantially fixed location.
Surface-mounted markers can be useful for monitoring the base-line girth (anterior-posterior and lateral dimensions) of the patient during a radiation treatment program. The base-line girth measurements, referred to as patient separations, can change over time because of the effects of chemo or radiotherapy. Such changes in the patient separations can invalidate the treatment plan because less tissue is available to attenuate the radiation beam. The controller 80 can detect the extent of change in the patient separations based on the measuring the relative distances between the surface-mounted markers. If the measured extent of change in the patient separations exceeds a predetermined limit, the controller 80 can send a warning message to redefine the treatment plan.
The surface-mounted markers can also be used to improve the patient setup procedures before and/or during the radiation therapy procedure. For example, the location of the surface markers can be used to calculate the Target Skin Distance or Source Skin Distance between the exterior skin of the patient and the linear actuator or the tabletop.
C. Specific Embodiments of Delivery Devices, Markers, and Localization Systems
The following specific embodiments of delivery devices, markers, excitation sources, sensors and controllers provide additional details to implement the systems and processes described above with reference to
1. Delivery Devices
One aspect of several embodiments of the present invention is delivering or deploying the markers 40 into or at least proximate to a tumor located in the lung of the patient.
The delivery device 800 further includes a steering mechanism 812 that is operable from the handle 802. The steering mechanism 812 can include an attachment point at the distal section 808 and a slidable member 814 configured to move longitudinally relative to the elongated body 804. Longitudinal movement of the slidable member 814 flexes the distal section 808 in a manner that steers the delivery device 800 through bends and bifurcations in the lumen of the respiratory system. In other embodiments, the steering mechanism comprises a flexible support element and a flexible control element attached to the flexible support element such that tension applied to the control element flexes the flexible support element. Suitable steering mechanisms are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,780 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0208101 A1, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
One aspect of several embodiments of apparatus and methods in accordance with the invention is accurately guiding the delivery device 800 to a desired site relative to the target. In one embodiment, the distal section of the delivery device can be guided by localizing the marker 40 in real time before releasing the marker in a manner analogous to the localization of the markers 40a-c explained above. In other embodiments, the delivery device 800 can include a separate leadless marker similar to the marker 40 that is fixed to the body 804 and localized according to the processes explained above, or the delivery device 800 can include a radiopaque marker fixed to the body for fluoroscopic localization. In still another embodiment, the delivery device 800 can include a wired system having a plurality of sensors and/or transponders for electromagnetically locating the tip of the catheter. The wired markers are attached to the delivery device 800 and are in addition to the leadless marker 40 releasably carried at the distal section 808 of the elongated body 804. Suitable wired navigation systems are disclosed in the following U.S. patents and U.S. patent publications, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,833,814 B2; 6,711,429 B1; 6,615,155 B2; 6,574,498 B1; 6,558,333 B2; 6,188,355 B1; 6,226,543 B1, 6,593,884 B1; US 2004/0006268 A1; US 2002/0193686 A1; US 2003/0074011 A1; US 2003/0216639 A1; US 2001/0031985 A1; US 2003/0160721 A1; US 2002/0062203 A1; US 2002/0042571 A1; and US 2202/0005719 A1. In alternative embodiments, the delivery device 800 can be guided under fluoroscopic or optical (e.g., bronchoscope) procedures known in the art.
To deploy a marker in a lumen of the respiratory system, the distal portion 808 of the elongated body 804 is typically inserted through the mouth or nose of the patient and into the trachea 852. When the elongated body 804 is rigid, the distal section of the elongated body is typically positioned along the trachea 852 or another passageway of the lung generally proximate to the trachea 852. In the embodiment shown in
In an alternative embodiment, the distal section 808 of the elongated body 804 is passed through a lumen wall of one of the passageways to implant the marker 804 into the tissue of the lung or other tissue near the lung. In another alternative embodiment, a percutaneous implanter such as the delivery device 820 illustrated in
2. Markers
The marker 40 shown in
The magnetic transponder 120 can include a resonating circuit that wirelessly transmits a location signal in response to a wirelessly transmitted excitation field as described above. In this embodiment, the magnetic transponder 120 comprises a coil 122 defined by a plurality of windings of a conductor 124. Many embodiments of the magnetic transponder 120 also include a capacitor 126 coupled to the coil 122. The coil 122 resonates at a selected resonant frequency. The coil 122 can resonate at a resonant frequency solely using the parasitic capacitance of the windings without having a capacitor, or the resonant frequency can be produced using the combination of the coil 122 and the capacitor 126. The coil 122 accordingly generates an alternating magnetic field at the selected resonant frequency in response to the excitation energy either by itself or in combination with the capacitor 126. The conductor 124 of the illustrated embodiment can be hot air or alcohol bonded wire having a gauge of approximately 45-52. The coil 122 can have 800-1000 turns, and the windings are preferably wound in a tightly layered coil. The magnetic transponder 120 can further include a core 128 composed of a material having a suitable magnetic permeability. For example, the core 128 can be a ferromagnetic element composed of ferrite or another material. The magnetic transponder 120 can be secured to the casing 110 by an adhesive 129.
The marker 100 also includes an imaging element that enhances the radiographic image of the marker to make the marker more discernible in radiographic images. The imaging element also has a radiographic profile in a radiographic image such that the marker has a radiographic centroid at least approximately coincident with the magnetic centroid of the magnetic transponder 120. As explained in more detail below, the radiographic and magnetic centroids do not need to be exactly coincident with each other, but rather can be within an acceptable range.
The first and second contrast elements 132 and 134 illustrated in
The radiographic centroid of the image produced by the imaging element 130 does not need to be absolutely coincident with the magnetic centroid Mc, but rather the radiographic centroid and the magnetic centroid should be within an acceptable range. For example, the radiographic centroid Rc can be considered to be at least approximately coincident with the magnetic centroid Mc when the offset between the centroids is less than approximately 5 mm. In more stringent applications, the magnetic centroid Mc and the radiographic centroid Rc are considered to be at least substantially coincident with each other when the offset between the centroids is 2 mm, or less than 1 mm. In other applications, the magnetic centroid Mc is at least approximately coincident with the radiographic centroid Rc when the centroids are spaced apart by a distance not greater than half the length of the magnetic transponder 120 and/or the marker 100.
The imaging element 130 can be made from a material and configured appropriately to absorb a high fraction of incident photons of a radiation beam used for producing the radiographic image. For example, when the imaging radiation has high acceleration voltages in the megavoltage range, the imaging element 130 is made from, at least in part, high density materials with sufficient thickness and cross-sectional area to absorb enough of the photon fluence incident on the imaging element to be visible in the resulting radiograph. Many high energy beams used for therapy have acceleration voltages of 6 MV-25 MV, and these beams are often used to produce radiographic images in the 5 MV-10 MV range, or more specifically in the 6 MV-8 MV range. As such, the imaging element 130 can be made from a material that is sufficiently absorbent of incident photon fluence to be visible in an image produced using a beam with an acceleration voltage of 5 MV-10 MV, or more specifically an acceleration voltage of 6 MV-8 MV.
Several specific embodiments of imaging elements 130 can be made from gold, tungsten, platinum and/or other high density metals. In these embodiments the imaging element 130 can be composed of materials having a density of 19.25 g/cm3 (density of tungsten) and/or a density of approximately 21.4 g/cm3 (density of platinum). Many embodiments of the imaging element 130 accordingly have a density not less than 19 g/cm3. In other embodiments, however, the material(s) of the imaging element 130 can have a substantially lower density. For example, imaging elements with lower density materials are suitable for applications that use lower energy radiation to produce radiographic images. Moreover, the first and second contrast elements 132 and 134 can be composed of different materials such that the first contrast element 132 can be made from a first material and the second contrast element 134 can be made from a second material.
Referring to
One specific process of using the marker involves imaging the marker using a first modality and then tracking the target of the patient and/or the marker using a second modality. For example, the location of the marker relative to the target can be determined by imaging the marker and the target using radiation. The marker and/or the target can then be localized and tracked using the magnetic field generated by the marker in response to an excitation energy.
The marker 100 shown in
The marker 200 is expected to operate in a manner similar to the marker 100 described above. The marker 200, however, does not have two separate contrast elements that provide two distinct, separate points in a radiographic image. The imaging element 230 is still highly useful in that it identifies the radiographic centroid of the marker 200 in a radiographic image, and it can be configured so that the radiographic centroid of the marker 200 is at least approximately coincident with the magnetic centroid of the magnetic transponder 120.
Additional embodiments of markers in accordance with the invention can include imaging elements incorporated into or otherwise integrated with the casing 110, the core 128 (
The markers described above with reference to
3. Localization Systems
The excitation source 1010 is adjustable to generate a magnetic field having a waveform with energy at selected frequencies to match the resonant frequencies of the markers 40. The magnetic field generated by the excitation source 1010 energizes the markers at their respective frequencies. After the markers 40 have been energized, the excitation source 1010 is momentarily switched to an “off” position so that the pulsed magnetic excitation field is terminated while the markers wirelessly transmit the location signals. This allows the sensor assembly 1012 to sense the location signals from the markers 40 without measurable interference from the significantly more powerful magnetic field from the excitation source 1010. The excitation source 1010 accordingly allows the sensor assembly 1012 to measure the location signals from the markers 40 at a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio so that the signal processor 1014 or the controller 1016 can accurately calculate the absolute location of the markers 40 relative to a reference frame.
a. Excitation Sources
Referring still to
The energy storage device 1042 is capable of storing adequate energy to reduce voltage drop in the energy storage device while having a low series resistance to reduce power losses. The energy storage device 1042 also has a low series inductance to more effectively drive the coil assembly 1046. Suitable capacitors for the energy storage device 1042 include aluminum electrolytic capacitors used in flash energy applications. Alternative energy storage devices can also include NiCd and lead acid batteries, as well as alternative capacitor types, such as tantalum, film, or the like.
The switching network 1044 includes individual H-bridge switches 1050 (identified individually by reference numbers 1050a-d), and the coil assembly 1046 includes individual source coils 1052 (identified individually by reference numbers 1052a-d). Each H-bridge switch 1050 controls the energy flow between the energy storage device 1042 and one of the source coils 1052. For example, H-bridge switch #1 1050a independently controls the flow of the energy to/from source coil #1 1052a, H-bridge switch #2 1050b independently controls the flow of the energy to/from source coil #2 1052b, H-bridge switch #3 1050c independently controls the flow of the energy to/from source coil #3 1052c, and H-bridge switch #4 1050d independently controls the flow of the energy to/from source coil #4 1052d. The switching network 1044 accordingly controls the phase of the magnetic field generated by each of the source coils 1052a-d independently. The H-bridges 1050 can be configured so that the electrical signals for all the source coils 1052 are in phase, or the H-bridge switches 1050 can be configured so that one or more of the source coils 1052 are 180° out of phase. Furthermore, the H-bridge switches 1050 can be configured so that the electrical signals for one or more of the source coils 1052 are between 0 and 180° out of phase to simultaneously provide magnetic fields with different phases.
The source coils 1052 can be arranged in a coplanar array that is fixed relative to the reference frame. Each source coil 1052 can be a square, planar winding arranged to form a flat, substantially rectilinear coil. The source coils 1052 can have other shapes and other configurations in different embodiments. In one embodiment, the source coils 1052 are individual conductive lines formed in a stratum of a printed circuit board, or windings of a wire in a foam frame. Alternatively, the source coils 1052 can be formed in different substrates or arranged so that two or more of the source coils are not planar with each other. Additionally, alternate embodiments of the invention may have fewer or more source coils than illustrated in
The selected magnetic fields from the source coils 1052 combine to form an adjustable excitation field that can have different three-dimensional shapes to excite the markers 40 at any spatial orientation within an excitation volume. When the planar array of the source coils 1052 is generally horizontal, the excitation volume is positioned above an area approximately corresponding to the central region of the coil assembly 1046. The excitation volume is the three-dimensional space adjacent to the coil assembly 1046 in which the strength of the magnetic field is sufficient to adequately energize the markers 40.
In the embodiment of
The spatial configuration of the excitation field in the excitation volume 1109 can be quickly adjusted by manipulating the switching network to change the phases of the electrical signals provided to the source coils 1052a-d. As a result, the overall magnetic excitation field can be changed to be oriented in either the X, Y or Z directions within the excitation volume 1109. This adjustment of the spatial orientation of the excitation field reduces or eliminates blind spots in the excitation volume 1109. Therefore, the markers 40 within the excitation volume 1109 can be energized by the source coils 1052a-d regardless of the spatial orientations of the leadless markers.
In one embodiment, the excitation source 1010 is coupled to the sensor assembly 1012 so that the switching network 1044 (
The excitation source 1010 illustrated in
b. Sensor Assemblies
The panel 1604 may be a substantially non-conductive material, such as a sheet of KAPTON® produced by DuPont. KAPTON® is particularly useful when an extremely stable, tough, and thin film is required (such as to avoid radiation beam contamination), but the panel 1604 may be made from other materials and have other configurations. For example, FR4 (epoxy-glass substrates), GETEK or other Teflon-based substrates, and other commercially available materials can be used for the panel 1604. Additionally, although the panel 1604 may be a flat, highly planar structure, in other embodiments, the panel may be curved along at least one axis. In either embodiment, the field sensors (e.g., coils) are arranged in a locally planar array in which the plane of one field sensor is at least substantially coplanar with the planes of adjacent field sensors. For example, the angle between the plane defined by one coil relative to the planes defined by adjacent coils can be from approximately 0° to 10°, and more generally is less than 5°. In some circumstances, however, one or more of the coils may be at an angle greater than 10° relative to other coils in the array.
The sensor assembly 1012 shown in
The sensor assembly 1012 can further include a first exterior cover 1630a on one side of the sensing subsystem and a second exterior cover 1630b on an opposing side. The first and second exterior covers 1630a-b can be thin, thermally stable layers, such as Kevlar or Thermount films. Each of the first and second exterior covers 1630a-b can include electric shielding 1632 to block undesirable external electric fields from reaching the coils 1602. The electric shielding 1632 can be a plurality of parallel legs of gold-plated, copper strips to define a comb-shaped shield in a configuration commonly called a Faraday shield. It will be appreciated that the shielding can be formed from other materials that are suitable for shielding. The electric shielding can be formed on the first and second exterior covers using printed circuit board manufacturing technology or other techniques.
The panel 1604 with the coils 1602 is laminated to the core 1620 using a pressure sensitive adhesive or another type of adhesive. The first and second exterior covers 1630a-b are similarly laminated to the assembly of the panel 1604 and the core 1620. The laminated assembly forms a rigid structure that fixedly retains the arrangement of the coils 1602 in a defined configuration over a large operating temperature range. As such, the sensor assembly 1012 does not substantially deflect across its surface during operation. The sensor assembly 1012, for example, can retain the array of coils 1602 in the fixed position with a deflection of no greater than ±0.5 mm, and in some cases no more than ±0.3 mm. The stiffness of the sensing subsystem provides very accurate and repeatable monitoring of the precise location of leadless markers in real time.
In still another embodiment, the sensor assembly 1012 can further include a plurality of source coils that are a component of the excitation source 1010. One suitable array combining the sensor assembly 1012 with source coils is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/334,700, entitled PANEL-TYPE SENSOR/SOURCE ARRAY ASSEMBLY, filed on Dec. 30, 2002, which is herein incorporated by reference.
The coils 1602 may be conductive traces or depositions of copper or another suitably conductive metal formed on the panel 1604. Each coil 1602 has a trace with a width of approximately 0.15 mm and a spacing between adjacent turns within each coil of approximately 0.13 mm. The coils 1602 can have approximately 15 to 90 turns, and in specific applications each coil has approximately 40 turns. Coils with less than 15 turns may not be sensitive enough for some applications, and coils with more than 90 turns may lead to excessive voltage from the source signal during excitation and excessive settling times resulting from the coil's lower self-resonant frequency. In other applications, however, the coils 1602 can have less than 15 turns or more than 90 turns.
As shown in
The pitch of the coils 1602 in the array 1605 is a function of, at least in part, the minimum distance between the marker and the coil array. In one embodiment, the coils are arranged at a pitch of approximately 67 mm. This specific arrangement is particularly suitable when the wireless markers 40 are positioned approximately 7-27 cm from the sensor assembly 1012. If the wireless markers are closer than 7 cm, then the sensing subsystem may include sensor coils arranged at a smaller pitch. In general, a smaller pitch is desirable when wireless markers are to be sensed at a relatively short distance from the array of coils. The pitch of the coils 1602, for example, is approximately 50%-200% of the minimum distance between the marker and the array.
In general, the size and configuration of the array 1605 and the coils 1602 in the array depend on the frequency range in which they are to operate, the distance from the markers 40 to the array, the signal strength of the markers, and several other factors. Those skilled in the relevant art will readily recognize that other dimensions and configurations may be employed depending, at least in part, on a desired frequency range and distance from the markers to the coils.
The array 1605 is sized to provide a large aperture to measure the magnetic field emitted by the markers. It can be particularly challenging to accurately measure the signal emitted by an implantable marker that wirelessly transmits a marker signal in response to a wirelessly transmitted energy source because the marker signal is much smaller than the source signal and other magnetic fields in a room (e.g., magnetic fields from CRTs, etc.). The size of the array 1605 can be selected to preferentially measure the near field of the marker while mitigating interference from far field sources. In one embodiment, the array 1605 is sized to have a maximum dimension D1 or D2 across the surface of the area occupied by the coils that is approximately 100% to 300% of a predetermined maximum sensing distance that the markers are to be spaced from the plane of the coils. Thus, the size of the array 1605 is determined by identifying the distance that the marker is to be spaced apart from the array to accurately measure the marker signal, and then arrange the coils so that the maximum dimension of the array is approximately 100% to 300% of that distance. The maximum dimension of the array 1605, for example, can be approximately 200% of the sensing distance at which a marker is to be placed from the array 1605. In one specific embodiment, the marker 40 has a sensing distance of 20 cm and the maximum dimension of the array of coils 1602 is between 20 cm and 60 cm, and more specifically 40 cm.
A coil array with a maximum dimension as set forth above is particularly useful because it inherently provides a filter that mitigates interference from far field sources. As such, one aspect of several embodiments of the invention is to size the array based upon the signal from the marker so that the array preferentially measures near field sources (i.e., the field generated by the marker) and filters interference from far field sources.
The coils 1602 are electromagnetic field sensors that receive magnetic flux produced by the wireless markers 40 and in turn produce a current signal representing or proportional to an amount or magnitude of a component of the magnetic field through an inner portion or area of each coil. The field component is also perpendicular to the plane of each coil 1602. Each coil represents a separate channel, and thus each coil outputs signals to one of 32 output ports 1606. A preamplifier, described below, may be provided at each output port 1606. Placing preamplifiers (or impedance buffers) close to the coils minimizes capacitive loading on the coils, as described herein. Although not shown, the sensing unit 1601 also includes conductive traces or conductive paths routing signals from each coil 1602 to its corresponding output port 1606 to thereby define a separate channel. The ports in turn are coupled to a connector 1608 formed on the panel 1604 to which an appropriately configured plug and associated cable may be attached.
The sensing unit 1601 may also include an onboard memory or other circuitry, such as shown by electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) 1610. The EEPROM 1610 may store manufacturing information such as a serial number, revision number, date of manufacture, and the like. The EEPROM 1610 may also store per-channel calibration data, as well as a record of run-time. The run-time will give an indication of the total radiation dose to which the array has been exposed, which can alert the system when a replacement sensing subsystem is required.
Although shown in one plane only, additional coils or electromagnetic field sensors may be arranged perpendicular to the panel 1604 to help determine a three-dimensional location of the wireless markers 40. Adding coils or sensors in other dimensions could increase the total energy received from the wireless markers 40, but the complexity of such an array would increase disproportionately. The inventors have found that three-dimensional coordinates of the wireless markers 40 may be found using the planar array shown in
Implementing the sensor assembly 1012 may involve several considerations. First, the coils 1602 may not be presented with an ideal open circuit. Instead, they may well be loaded by parasitic capacitance due largely to traces or conductive paths connecting the coils 1602 to the preamplifiers, as well as a damping network (described below) and an input impedance of the preamplifiers (although a low input impedance is preferred). These combined loads result in current flow when the coils 1602 link with a changing magnetic flux. Any one coil 1602, then, links magnetic flux not only from the wireless marker 40, but also from all the other coils as well. These current flows should be accounted for in downstream signal processing.
A second consideration is the capacitive loading on the coils 1602. In general, it is desirable to minimize the capacitive loading on the coils 1602. Capacitive loading forms a resonant circuit with the coils themselves, which leads to excessive voltage overshoot when the excitation source 1010 is energized. Such a voltage overshoot should be limited or attenuated with a damping or “snubbing” network across the coils 1602. A greater capacitive loading requires a lower impedance damping network, which can result in substantial power dissipation and heating in the damping network.
Another consideration is to employ preamplifiers that are low noise. The preamplification can also be radiation tolerant because one application for the sensor assembly 1012 is with radiation therapy systems that use linear accelerators (LINAC). As a result, PNP bipolar transistors and discrete elements may be preferred. Further, a DC coupled circuit may be preferred if good settling times cannot be achieved with an AC circuit or output, particularly if analog to digital converters are unable to handle wide swings in an AC output signal.
c. Signal Processors and Controllers
The signal processor 1014 and the controller 1016 illustrated in
Overview
An experimental phantom based study was conducted to determine effectiveness of this system for real-time tracking. In this experiment, a custom 4D stage was constructed to allow arbitrary motion in three axes for speeds up to 10 cm/sec in each dimension, with accuracy to 0.3 mm. Position accuracy was measured by a 3D digitizing arm attached to the stage system. As shown in
Experiment Summary
As shown in
Conclusion
The above description of illustrated embodiments, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Although specific embodiments of and examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art. The teachings provided herein of the invention can be applied to target locating and tracking systems, not necessarily the exemplary system generally described above.
The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ systems, devices and concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.
These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all target locating and monitoring systems that operate in accordance with the claims to provide apparatus and methods for locating, monitoring, and/or tracking the position of a selected target within a body. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims.
This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/165,843, filed Jun. 24, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/582,733 filed on Jun. 24, 2004, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190022412 A1 | Jan 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60582733 | Jun 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11165843 | Jun 2005 | US |
Child | 16143863 | US |