Controlling x-ray imaging based on target motion

Abstract

An image guided treatment is performed to treat a target. To perform the image guided treatment, measurement data indicative of target motion is acquired. A timing of one or more x-ray images is determined based on the measurement data. Treatment may be performed on the target using the position of the target.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 acquiring measurement data indicative of a target motion;   determining, by a processing device, a timing of one or more x-ray images based on the target motion;   acquiring the one or more x-ray images according to the determined timing;   computing a position of the target based on the acquired one or more x-ray images; and   directing a radiation treatment beam using the position of the target.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target is a prostrate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement data is ultrasound measurement data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether the target motion is within a treatment tolerance; and   generating an x-ray image of the target if the target motion is not within the treatment tolerance.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement data includes a prior x-ray image. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 comparing the prior x-ray image to another image to track the target motion; and   visually presenting the target motion via a display.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 acquiring the one or more x-ray images when the target motion is detected to be above a threshold.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement data includes at least one of ultrasound measurement data or external imaging data of a patient. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to treatment of a patient, determining a treatment plan that includes a plurality of radiation treatment beams;   receiving selection of an initial image age threshold;   determining that completing delivery of at least one radiation treatment beam extends beyond the initial image age threshold; and   modifying the treatment plan by splitting the at least one radiation treatment beam into two or more radiation treatment beams, wherein delivery of each of the two or more radiation treatment beams will complete at or before the initial image age threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adjusting a total number of x-ray images taken during an image guided treatment session in response to the target motion.   
     
     
         11 . A treatment system, comprising:
 an imaging apparatus;   a motion detecting apparatus to acquire measurement data indicative of a motion of a target;   a linear accelerator to deliver radiation treatment beams to the target; and   a processing device coupled with the imaging apparatus, the motion detecting apparatus, and the linear accelerator, wherein the processing device is to:   direct a radiation treatment beam to the target; and
 in response to determining that the motion of the target is not within a treatment tolerance:
 cause the imaging apparatus to generate one more x-ray images of the target, and 
 pause the directing of the radiation treatment beam to the target. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The treatment system of  claim 11 , wherein the processing device is further configured to compute a position of the target based on the one or more x-ray images. 
     
     
         13 . The treatment system of  claim 11 , the linear accelerator is mounted on a gantry. 
     
     
         14 . The treatment system of  claim 11 , wherein the motion detecting apparatus and the imaging apparatus are a single system, and wherein measurement data includes a prior x-ray image. 
     
     
         15 . The treatment system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a display;   wherein the processing device is further configured to compare the prior x-ray image to another image to track the motion of the target motion, and to visually present the target motion via the display.   
     
     
         16 . The treatment system of  claim 11 , wherein the motion detecting apparatus comprises an ultrasound imaging apparatus, and wherein the measurement data is ultrasound measurement data. 
     
     
         17 . The treatment system of  claim 11 , wherein the motion detecting apparatus comprises an optical tracking system, and wherein the measurement data is generated by at least one of optical tracking of markers disposed on a patient or optical tracking of a surface of the patient.