Systems, Methods and Computer Readable Storage Media Storing Instructions for Generating Planning Images Based on HDR Applicators

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media relate to generate an integrated image based on one or more applicators inserted into a target of a patient. The method may include receiving ultrasound image data and planning image data of the target. The ultrasound image data including a pre-operative and post-operative image data and the planning image data may include post-operative image data (e.g., CT and/or MRI image data). The method may include processing the ultrasound image data and the planning image data to determine a location of each channel and/or needle. The method may include generating an integrated image including the ultrasound image data and the planning image data based on the location of each channel and/or needle of the applicator. The methods, systems, and computer readable media according to embodiments can improve target (e.g., prostate) delineation, enable accurate dose planning and delivery, and potentially enhance HDR treatment outcome.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for generating an integrated image based on one or more applicators inserted into a target of a patient, comprising:
 receiving ultrasound image data and planning image data of the target of the patient, the ultrasound image data including (i) a first set of ultrasound image data of the target before insertion of one or more applicators that includes at least one channel and/or needle, each channel and/or needle including a tip portion and body portion; and (ii) a second set of ultrasound image data of the target after the insertion of the one or more applicators and before application of one or more radiation sources into the one or more applicators, the planning image data including image data of the target after the insertion of the planning image data being acquired from an imaging system different from ultrasound;   processing the ultrasound image data to determine a location of a body portion and/or a tip portion of each channel and/or needle, the processing including registering the first set of ultrasound image data and the second set of ultrasound image data;   determining a location of body portion and/or tip portion of each channel and/or needle from the planning image data;   registering the ultrasound image data and the planning image data using one or more sampling points from the at least one channel and/or needle from the second set of ultrasound image data and the planning image data based on the location of each channel and/or needle; and   generating an integrated image of the target including the ultrasound image data and the planning image data based on the location of each channel and/or needle of the one or more applicators.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 processing the first set of ultrasound image data to generate a correction map; and   applying the correction map to the second set of ultrasound image data to determine the location of each channel and/or needle of the one or more applicators.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sampling a plurality of points from each channel and/or needle from the second set of ultrasound image data and the planning image data based on the location of each channel and/or needle.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the planning image data is acquired by a CT imaging system. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing the ultrasound image data to determine the location of a body portion and/or the tip portion of each channel and/or needle includes:
 generating an attenuation correction map based on the first set of ultrasound image data;   transforming the attenuation correction map to second set of ultrasound image data to generate a corrected second set of ultrasound image data; and   determining the location of each channel and/or needle from the corrected second set of ultrasound image data.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the determining the location of the tip portion of each needle and/or channel is based on the corrected second set of ultrasound image data. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the target is a prostate of the patient and the applicator is a high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy applicator. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instruction stored thereon, wherein the program instructions are executable by a computer to cause the computer to generating an integrated image based on one or more applicators inserted into a target of a patient, by performing steps comprising:
 receiving ultrasound image data and planning image data of the target of the patient, the ultrasound image data including (i) a first set of ultrasound image data of the target before insertion of one or more applicators that includes at least one channel and/or needle, each channel and/or needle including a tip portion and body portion; and (ii) a second set of ultrasound image data of the target after the insertion of the one or more applicators and before application of one or more radiation sources into the one or more applicators, the planning image data including image data of the target after the insertion of the planning image data being acquired from an imaging system different from ultrasound;   processing the ultrasound image data to determine a location of a body portion and/or a tip portion of each channel and/or needle, the processing including registering the first set of ultrasound image data and the second set of ultrasound image data;   determining a location of body portion and/or tip portion of each channel and/or needle from the planning image data;   registering the ultrasound image data and the planning image data using one or more sampling points from the at least one channel and/or needle from the second set of ultrasound image data and the planning image data based on the location of each channel and/or needle; and   generating an integrated image of the target including the ultrasound image data and the planning image data based on the location of each channel and/or needle of the one or more applicators.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 8 , further comprising program instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform steps comprising:
 processing the first set of ultrasound image data to generate a correction map; and   applying the correction map to the second set of ultrasound image data to determine the location of each channel and/or needle of the one or more applicators.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 8 , further comprising program instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform steps comprising:
 sampling a plurality of points from each channel and/or needle from the second set of ultrasound image data and the planning image data based on the location of each channel and/or needle.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 8 , wherein the planning image data is acquired by a CT imaging system. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 8 , wherein the processing the ultrasound image data to determine the location of the body portion and/or the tip portion of each channel and/or needle includes:
 generating an attenuation correction map based on the first set of ultrasound image data;   transforming the attenuation correction map to second set of ultrasound image data to generate a corrected second set of ultrasound image data; and   determining the location of each channel and/or needle from the corrected second set of ultrasound image data.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 8 , wherein the determining the location of the body portion and the tip portion of each needle and/or channel based on the first set of ultrasound image data and the second set of ultrasound image data includes:
 registering the first set of ultrasound image data and the second set of ultrasound image data;   generating an attenuation correction map based on the first set of ultrasound image data;   transforming the attenuation correction map to second set of ultrasound image data to generate corrected second set of ultrasound image data; and   determining the location of each channel and/or needle from the corrected second set of ultrasound image data.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 13 , wherein the determining the location of the tip portion of each needle and/or channel is based on the corrected second set of ultrasound image data. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 8 , wherein the target is the prostate and the applicator is a high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy applicator. 
     
     
         16 . A system for generating an integrated image based on one or more applicators inserted into a target of a patient, the system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a memory, wherein the processor is configured to cause:
 receiving ultrasound image data and planning image data of the target of the patient, the ultrasound image data including (i) a first set of ultrasound image data of the target before insertion of one or more applicators that includes at least one channel and/or needle, each channel and/or needle including a tip portion and body portion; and (ii) a second set of ultrasound image data of the target after the insertion of the one or more applicators and before application of one or more radiation sources into the one or more applicators, the planning image data including image data of the target after the insertion of the planning image data being acquired from an imaging system different from ultrasound; 
 processing the ultrasound image data to determine a location of a body portion and/or a tip portion of each channel and/or needle, the processing including registering the first set of ultrasound image data and the second set of ultrasound image data; 
 determining a location of body portion and/or tip portion of each channel and/or needle from the planning image data; 
 registering the ultrasound image data and the planning image data using one or more sampling points from the at least one channel and/or needle from the second set of ultrasound image data and the planning image data based on the location of each channel and/or needle; and 
 generating an integrated image of the target including the ultrasound image data and the planning image data based on the location of each channel and/or needle of the one or more applicators. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the processing the ultrasound image data to determine a location of a body portion and/or a tip portion of each channel and/or needle includes:
 generating an attenuation correction map based on the first set of ultrasound image data;   transforming the attenuation correction map to second set of ultrasound image data to generate a corrected second set of ultrasound image data; and   determining the location of each channel and/or needle from the corrected second set of ultrasound image data,   wherein the determining the location of the tip portion of each needle and/or channel is based on the corrected second set of ultrasound image data.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the generating includes:
 sampling a plurality of points from each channel and/or needle from the second set of ultrasound image data and the planning image data based on the location of each channel and/or needle.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the determining the location of the body portion and the tip portion of each needle and/or channel based on the first set of ultrasound image data and the second set of ultrasound image data includes:
 registering the first set of ultrasound image data and the second set of ultrasound image data;   generating an attenuation correction map based on the first set of ultrasound image data;   transforming the attenuation correction map to second set of ultrasound image data to generate corrected second set of ultrasound image data; and   determining the location of each channel and/or needle from the corrected second set of ultrasound image data.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the planning image data is acquired by a CT imaging system,
 wherein the target is a prostate of the patient and the applicator is a high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy applicator.