KR102619330B1 - Breath hold monitoring system for detecting patient movement during radiation therapy and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a breath holding monitoring system and method for detecting patient movement during radiation treatment. The breath-holding monitoring system for detecting patient movement during radiation therapy according to the present invention is implemented with an IR camera that photographs a reflector block located on the patient's chest or stomach, and a plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors, and is installed on the patient's back. A pressure measuring device that is positioned and detects a change in pressure, and generates positional change data of the reflector block according to the patient's breathing using the image received from the IR camera, and receives the generated positional change data and the pressure measuring device. It includes a control device that determines whether movement occurs on the patient's back using the determined pressure value and transmits a control signal generated according to the judgment result to the radiation irradiation device.
As such, according to the present invention, the location of the tumor can be accurately detected using gating therapy, and the pressure value measured from a sensor installed on the patient's back can be constantly monitored to continuously check whether the patient is properly holding his or her breath. And when the pressure value corresponding to abnormal movement is obtained, the operation of the radiation therapy device can be controlled to prevent high doses of radiation from being irradiated to the patient's normal tissues.

Description

Breath hold monitoring system for detecting patient movement during radiation therapy and method thereof}

The present invention relates to a breath-holding monitoring system and method for detecting patient movement during radiation therapy. More specifically, the present invention relates to a change in the position of a marker placed on the patient's abdomen and a change in the position of a marker placed on the patient's back during breath-holding therapy performed during radiation therapy. It relates to a breath-holding monitoring system and method that detects inappropriate breath-holding movements by measuring pressure.

Radiation therapy is a treatment that kills cancer cells using high-energy radiation, and is included in one of the three major cancer treatments along with surgery and chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy has the advantage of promoting local control and improved survival, but because it uses high-energy radiation, it causes side effects that affect not only cancer cells but also normal tissues.

To elaborate, when radiation therapy is performed for breast cancer, the treatment area is wide because it includes the entire breast on one side, and the lungs are located right behind it due to the anatomical structure, so a certain amount of radiation is also irradiated to the lungs. In this case, radiation-induced pneumonia, such as dry cough or difficulty breathing, may occur in 10 to 20% of patients. In addition, in the case of left breast cancer, the survival rate tended to be lower than that of right breast cancer due to the high dose irradiated to the heart, which increases the risk of ischemic heart disease.

Also, in the case of chest tumors, the location changes depending on breathing. Therefore, in the past, the treatment range was wide to cover all changing tumors. However, there was a problem that the wider the treatment range, the larger the volume of the lungs to which the high dose was irradiated.

Additionally, tumors in the upper abdomen (liver/pancreatobiliary tract) show significant changes in location depending on breathing.

Therefore, a breath hold technique was performed to accurately target the tumor and minimize tumor movement.

Breath-holding therapy not only limits tumor movement but also increases lung volume, which helps protect the lungs and heart during radiation therapy. Additionally, it has the advantage of faster treatment than gating treatment because the patient actively holds his or her breath.

However, breath-holding therapy is difficult for patients because the location of the tumor can change depending on the amount of breath-holding, so the patient must adjust the exact position where he or she is holding his or her breath, and must take a deep breath and then hold his or her breath during radiation therapy. It existed. This could cause problems with intra-fraction error.

The technology behind the present invention is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1679513 (announced on November 25, 2016).

As such, according to the present invention, a breath-holding monitoring system and method for detecting inappropriate breath-holding movements by measuring the change in position of a marker placed on the patient's abdomen and the pressure on the back during breath-holding therapy performed during radiation therapy are provided. It is for this purpose.

According to an embodiment of the present invention to achieve this technical problem, a breath-holding monitoring system for detecting patient movement during radiation treatment includes an IR camera for photographing a reflector block located on the patient's chest or abdomen, and a plurality of pressure sensors. Alternatively, it is implemented as a pressure sensor and is located on the back of the patient to detect pressure changes, and generates and generates data on the change in position of the reflector block according to the patient's breathing using the image received from the IR camera. It includes a control device that determines whether movement occurs on the patient's back using the position change data and the pressure value received from the pressure measuring device, and transmits a control signal generated according to the judgment result to the radiation irradiation device. .

The pressure measuring device is arranged at regular intervals so that a plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors are located corresponding to the area corresponding to the pelvis starting from the 2nd or 3rd lumbar vertebrae of the patient, and is attached to the upper surface of the fixation device (Vac-lok). It can be installed in a form that is inserted into the inside of the fixing device (Vac-lok).

The control device includes a reflector position detector that detects the position information of the reflector block using the image acquired from the IR camera, and a reflector position detector that tracks the position of the reflector block using the position information of the detected reflector block. A data detection unit, a pressure value acquisition unit that acquires each pressure value measured by a plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors from the pressure measuring device, location information of the reflector and the pressure after the point of radiation irradiation using a radiation irradiation device. A determination unit that uses the value to determine whether movement has occurred on the patient's back, and when it is determined that movement has occurred on the patient's back, a warning message is sent or a control signal is sent to stop the operation of the radiation irradiation device. It may include a control unit.

The determination unit sets the pressure value when the patient's breathing is stopped and no movement occurs on the back as a reference pressure range, and the pressure value measured from the plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors at the current time and the reference pressure By comparing the ranges, if the pressure value at the current time is outside the reference pressure range, it can be determined that movement has occurred on the patient's back.

The control unit may generate a warning signal when it is determined that the patient's breathing has stopped for a certain period of time from the point when radiation is irradiated through the radiation irradiation device and movement has occurred on the patient's back.

The control unit may generate a signal to stop operation of the radiation irradiation device if the patient's breathing is not maintained within a certain period of time from the time the radiation is irradiated through the radiation irradiation device.

In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention, in a method of monitoring a patient's breath holding during radiation therapy using a breath holding monitoring system, an image taken of a reflector block located on the chest or abdomen of the patient is received from an IR camera, and the received image is received. Detecting the position of the reflector block using the detected image, tracking the position of the reflector block using the detected position of the reflector block, Pressure value from a pressure measuring device located on the back of the patient Obtaining, determining whether movement has occurred on the back of the patient using the position information of the reflector and the pressure value after the point of irradiation using a radiation irradiation device, and determining whether movement has occurred on the back of the patient If it is determined that it is, it includes sending a warning message or transmitting a control signal to stop the operation of the radiation irradiation device.

As such, according to the present invention, the location of the tumor can be accurately detected using gating therapy, and the pressure value measured from a sensor installed on the patient's back can be constantly monitored to continuously check whether the patient is properly holding his or her breath. And when the pressure value corresponding to abnormal movement is obtained, the operation of the radiation therapy device can be controlled to prevent high doses of radiation from being irradiated to the patient's normal tissues.

1 is a configuration diagram of a breath holding monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram showing a state in which the pressure measuring device of FIG. 1 is located on the back of a patient.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram for explaining the control device shown in FIG. 1.
Figure 4 is a flowchart for explaining a breath holding monitoring method using a breath holding monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is an example diagram for explaining the breathing cycle in step S450 shown in Figure 3.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In this process, the thickness of lines or sizes of components shown in the drawing may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation.

Additionally, the terms described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms should be made based on the content throughout this specification.

Hereinafter, the breath holding monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail using FIGS. 1 and 2.

1 is a configuration diagram of a breath-holding monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the breath holding monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an IR camera 100, a pressure measuring device 200, a control device 300, and a radiation irradiation device 400.

First, the IR camera 100 photographs a reflector block located on the patient's chest or abdomen and transmits the captured image to the control device 300. Granted, IR camera 100 includes an infrared sensor. When the reflector block reflects infrared rays emitted through the infrared sensor, the IR camera 100 photographs the surroundings of the reflector block and transmits the captured image to the control device 300. Then, the control device 300 tracks the position of the reflector block using the received image.

Additionally, the pressure measuring device 200 is installed on a fixture (Vac-lok) on which the patient lies, and measures the pressure generated by the patient.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram showing a state in which the pressure measuring device of FIG. 1 is located on the back of a patient.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pressure measuring device 200 is installed at a location corresponding to the patient's back. To elaborate, the pressure measuring device 200 is positioned between the patient's second or third lumbar vertebrae and the pelvis.

In addition, the pressure measuring device 200 is composed of a plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors to detect pressure changes on the back of the patient and transmits the sensed pressure value to the control device 300.

Meanwhile, the pressure measuring device 200 may be installed attached to the upper surface of the fixture or inserted into the inside.

To elaborate, a plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors may be installed attached to the upper surface of the fixture. That is, after setting the arrangement positions for a plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors, each pressure sensor or pressure sensor may be installed to be attachable or detachable to a fixing device, or may be installed as one unit.

In addition, a plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors are produced by integrating them on the upper surface of a flexible body (not shown), and then placed on the upper surface of the fixing device or built into the inside of the fixing device as needed. It can also be installed as .

Next, the control device 300 tracks the position of the reflector block using the image received from the IR camera 100 and obtains the patient's breathing cycle according to the tracked results. Additionally, the control device 300 uses the pressure value received from the pressure measurement device 200 to determine whether the patient's back movement has occurred. And the control device 300 determines whether the patient is performing correct breath holding using the obtained breathing cycle and whether or not the patient's back movement occurs. If it is determined that inappropriate breath holding is performed, the control device 300 generates a notification signal or a control signal to control the operation of the radiation irradiation device 400.

Lastly, the radiation irradiation device 400 represents a device used to heal diseases or wounds using particles emitted from an object as radioactive elements decay. Since the radiation irradiation device 400 is already a known technology, detailed descriptions of sub-configurations included in the radiation irradiation device 400 are omitted in the embodiments of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the control device 300 shown in FIG. 1 will be described in more detail using FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram for explaining the control device shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a position detection unit 310, a data detection unit 320, a pressure value acquisition unit 330, a determination unit 340, and a control unit 350. ) includes.

First, in active breath-holding therapy, the patient adjusts the position of the reflector block on the abdomen through abdominal breathing. To elaborate, the patient uses a visual coaching device and a visual feedback system to visually check the position of the reflector block so that the reflector block can be placed in the correct position.

After positioning the reflector block in the correct position, the position detection unit 310 receives the image captured by the IR camera 100 and detects the position of the reflector block using the received image.

Next, the data detection unit 320 uses the position information of the detected reflector block to determine whether the reflector block deviates from the placed position. To elaborate, the data detection unit 320 obtains information on the first position where the patient placed the reflector block using a visual coaching device and a visual feedback system. Then, the data detection unit 320 detects whether the reflector block has deviated from its original position by comparing the obtained initial position information with the position information of the reflector block at the current time.

The pressure value acquisition unit 330 acquires each pressure value measured by a plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors installed in the pressure measuring device 200.

Meanwhile, the pressure value acquisition unit 330 acquires and stores the pressure value measured when there is no movement of the patient's back. And the pressure value acquisition unit 330 obtains the amount of change by comparing the pressure value measured when there is no back movement with the pressure value measured when back movement occurs.

Next, the determination unit 340 determines whether the patient's breathing cycle changes and whether back movement occurs. To elaborate, the determination unit 340 obtains a breathing graph of the patient, and uses the obtained breathing graph to extract the point in time when the patient's breathing stops according to the change trend of the breathing cycle. Then, the determination unit 340 determines whether movement has occurred on the patient's back using the pressure value obtained at the time when breathing stops.

Finally, the control unit 350 transmits a warning message or generates a control signal to stop the operation of the radiation apparatus 400 depending on whether the patient's back movement occurs.

Hereinafter, a method of monitoring whether correct breath holding is performed using the breath holding monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail using FIGS. 4 and 5.

Figure 4 is a flowchart for explaining a breath holding monitoring method using a breath holding monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention receives an image from the IR camera 100 (S410).

First, the examiner places a reflector block on the chest or abdomen of the patient who is lying on the immobilizer (Vac-lok) and doing breathing exercises. Then, the patient places the reflector block at the designated location while visually checking the position of the reflector block using a visual coaching device and a visual feedback system. When the reflector block is located at the designated location, the IR camera 100 takes pictures around the reflector block.

At this time, the IR camera 100 includes an infrared sensor, and the infrared sensor emits infrared rays toward the reflector block according to a driving signal and recognizes the infrared rays reflected from the reflector block. Then, the IR camera 100 captures a preset range and transmits the captured image to the control device 300.

Next, the control device 300 detects the position of the reflector block using the received image (S420).

To elaborate, the position detection unit 310 detects the position of the reflector block from the image received in real time. At this time, the position of the reflector block can be obtained as a coordinate value.

When step S420 is completed, the data detector 320 uses the position of the reflector block to determine whether the reflector block deviates from the designated position (S430).

To explain this again, the data detection unit 320 acquires designated position information about the reflector block from the patient using a visual coaching device and a visual feedback system. Then, the data detector 320 determines whether the reflector block has deviated from the designated position by comparing the acquired designated position information with the position of the reflector block acquired at the current time. Then, the pressure value acquisition unit 330 acquires the pressure value from the pressure measurement device 200 (S440).

First, the pressure measuring device 200 is installed on the top or inside of the fixation device (Vac-lok) and on the back of the patient. In the case of breath-holding therapy, radiation is focused on the lungs, liver, and breast areas. thus,

The pressure measuring device 200 is positioned between the patient's second or third lumbar vertebrae and the pelvis so that it is not located in at least one of the patient's lungs, liver, and breast regions.

Then, the pressure measuring device 200 transmits the pressure value measured through a plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors to the control device 300.

Next, the determination unit 340 determines whether the patient's breathing remains stopped after radiation is irradiated from the radiation irradiation device 400 (S450).

The control device 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention is driven in conjunction with the radiation irradiation device 400, and determines whether the patient's breathing has stopped and whether the patient's back moves while irradiated with radiation, thereby preventing the patient from holding his or her inaccurate breath. detect. Therefore, the determination unit 340 first determines whether radiation has been irradiated from the radiation irradiation device 400.

And when it is determined that radiation has been irradiated, the determination unit 340 determines whether the patient's breathing has stopped.

To explain this again, the determination unit 340 obtains the patient's breathing graph from an external device (not shown).

Figure 5 is an example diagram for explaining the breathing cycle in step S450 shown in Figure 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, the determination unit 340 receives changes in the patient's breathing cycle over time in the form of a graph from an external device (not shown). Here, the x-axis of the graph represents time and the y-axis represents the height of the reflector block, that is, the height of the patient's abdomen.

Next, the determination unit 340 uses changes in the breathing cycle to determine whether breathing has stopped after the point at which radiation was irradiated.

If it is determined in step S450 that the patient's breathing has not stopped, the control unit 350 transmits a control signal to stop operation to the radiation irradiation device 400 (S460).

When a patient breathes during radiation treatment, the tumor moves and radiation is applied to unnecessary locations. Accordingly, the control unit 350 transmits a control signal to stop the operation of the radiation irradiation device 400.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the patient's breathing has stopped in step S450, the determination unit 340 determines whether movement has occurred on the patient's back (S470).

When a patient holds their breath, they push their stomach or move their back without being recognized in order to adjust their breathing level. Accordingly, the determination unit 340 obtains the pressure value when the patient's breathing is stopped and there is no movement of the back, and sets the obtained pressure value as the reference pressure range.

Then, the determination unit 340 compares the pressure value obtained at the time the patient's breathing stops with the reference pressure range. As a result of the comparison, if the pressure value obtained at the current time is outside the reference pressure range, the determination unit 340 determines that movement has occurred on the patient's back.

If it is determined in step S470 that the patient's breathing has stopped and that movement of the back has occurred, the control unit 350 generates a warning signal (S480).

That is, the control unit 350 generates a warning signal to caution the medical personnel to prevent the patient from moving or adjusts the radiation dose.

As such, the breath-holding monitoring system according to the present invention accurately detects the location of the tumor using gating therapy, and constantly monitors the pressure value measured from a sensor installed on the patient's back to determine whether the patient is appropriately holding his or her breath. It can be continuously checked, and when the pressure value corresponding to abnormal movement is obtained, the operation of the radiation therapy device can be controlled to prevent high doses of radiation from being irradiated to the patient's normal tissues.

The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but these are merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and other equivalent embodiments are possible therefrom. will be. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the patent claims below.

100: IR camera
200: pressure measuring device
300: Control device
310: Position detection unit
320: data detection unit
330: Pressure value acquisition unit
340: Judgment unit
350: control unit
400: Radiation irradiation device

Claims (11)

In the breath-holding monitoring system for detecting patient movement during radiation treatment,
An IR camera that images a reflector block located on the patient's chest or abdomen;
A pressure measuring device implemented with multiple pressure sensors or pressure sensors and located on the patient's back to detect pressure changes, and
Generate position change data of the reflector block using the image received from the IR camera, and determine whether movement occurs on the patient's back using the generated position change data and the pressure value received from the pressure measuring device. And includes a control device that transmits the control signal generated according to the judgment result to the radiation irradiation device,
The control device is,
A reflector position detection unit that detects position information of the reflector block using the image obtained from the IR camera,
A data detector that tracks the location of the reflector block using the location information of the detected reflector block,
A pressure value acquisition unit that acquires each pressure value measured by a plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors from the pressure measuring device;
A determination unit that determines whether movement occurs on the patient's back using the position information of the reflector and the pressure value obtained from the pressure measuring device after the point of radiation irradiation using the radiation irradiation device, and
When it is determined that movement has occurred on the patient's back, it includes a control unit that transmits a warning message or a control signal to stop operation of the radiation irradiation device,
The judgment department,
Set the pressure value when the patient's breathing is stopped and no movement occurs on the back as the standard pressure range,
By comparing the pressure values measured from the plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors at the current time with the standard pressure range, if the pressure value at the current time is outside the standard pressure range, it is determined that movement has occurred on the patient's back. Cough monitoring system. According to paragraph 1,
The pressure measuring device,
A plurality of pressure sensors or pressure reduction sensors are arranged at regular intervals to correspond to the area corresponding to the pelvis starting from the patient's 2nd or 3rd lumbar vertebrae, and are installed in a form attached to the upper surface of a fixation device (Vac-lok), A breath-holding monitoring system installed inside the fixation device (Vac-lok). delete delete According to paragraph 1,
The control unit,
A breath-holding monitoring system that maintains the patient's breathing in a suspended state for a certain period of time from the point when radiation is irradiated through the radiation irradiation device and generates a warning signal when it is determined that movement has occurred on the patient's back. According to paragraph 1,
The control unit,
A breath-holding monitoring system that generates a signal to stop operation of the radiation irradiation device if the patient's breathing is not maintained within a certain period of time from the time the radiation is irradiated through the radiation irradiation device. In a method of monitoring a patient's breath holding during radiation therapy using a breath holding monitoring system,
Receiving an image of a reflector block located on the patient's chest or abdomen from an IR camera, and detecting the position of the reflector block using the received image,
Tracking the position of the reflector block using the detected position of the reflector block,
Obtaining pressure values from a pressure measuring device located on the back of the patient,
A step of determining whether movement occurs on the patient's back using the position information of the reflector and the pressure value after the point of irradiation using a radiation irradiation device, and
When it is determined that movement has occurred on the patient's back, sending a warning message or a control signal to stop the operation of the radiation irradiation device,
The step of determining whether movement occurs on the back of the patient is:
Set the pressure value when the patient's breathing is stopped and no movement occurs on the back as the standard pressure range,
At the current time, pressure values measured from a plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors installed in the pressure measuring device are compared with the standard pressure range, and if the pressure value at the current time is outside the standard pressure range, movement occurs on the patient's back. A method of monitoring breath holding that is determined to be present. In clause 7,
The pressure measuring device,
A plurality of pressure sensors or pressure sensors are arranged at regular intervals to correspond to the pelvis from the patient's 2nd or 3rd lumbar vertebrae, and are attached to the upper surface of the fixation device (Vac-lok), or A breath holding monitoring method installed inside the fixing device (Vac-lok). delete In clause 7,
The step of transmitting the control signal is,
A breath holding monitoring method that maintains the patient's breathing in a stopped state for a certain period of time from the time the radiation is irradiated through the radiation irradiation device and generates a warning signal when it is determined that movement has occurred on the patient's back. In clause 7,
The step of transmitting the control signal is,
A breath holding monitoring method that generates a signal to stop operation of the radiation irradiation device if the patient's breathing is not maintained within a certain period of time from the time the radiation is irradiated through the radiation irradiation device.

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