A TEMPORAL THERMAL ABLATION REPRESENTATION FOR THERAPY DELIVERY

Abstract

A system and a method for medical therapy, particularly ablation treatment, are provided in which diagnostic data may be processed and represented as a function of therapy time. This allows to appropriate plan and dynamically monitor thermal ablation therapy which significantly reduces the risks to damage organs and tissue outside the target area.

Claims

1. A system for thermal ablation therapy comprising an input unit for receiving a time series of two-dimensional diagnostic diagrams, the diagnostic diagrams being indicative of the course of the thermal ablation therapy and representing at least one treatment parameter as a function of dose, each one of the time series of diagnostic diagrams related to a particular point in therapy time; a processing unit for processing the time series of diagnostic diagrams as a function of the therapy time to generate a time-resolved therapy summary, the generating comprising generating a three-dimensional dataset by merging the diagnostic diagrams as a function of the therapy time, and a display unit for generating and displaying a graphical representation of the time-resolved therapy summary, said graphical representation representing, in a first dimension, the at least one treatment parameter as a function of the therapy time in a second dimension and as a function of the dose delivered at a particular point in therapy time in a third dimension.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an analyzation unit for analyzing the time-resolved therapy summary.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the dose may comprise one or more of: a thermal dose or an energy delivered to the target area.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment parameter comprises one or more of: a probability of ablation, an ablation distribution in a cell, absorbing cell volume, an adsorbed power by the cell.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of dose values of the dose delivered to the target area are represented in the graphical representation as colour-coded values.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface allowing a user to interact with the graphical representation.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein generating the graphical representation comprises: generating a first time-resolved summary of a first time series of diagnostic diagrams representing real-time data; generating a second time-resolved summary of a second time series of diagnostic diagrams representing planned data; and representing the first time-resolved summary and the second time-resolved summary alongside one another in the graphical representation.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein generating the graphical representation comprises analyzing the diagnostic diagrams as a function of time.

11. A system according to claim 5, wherein the colour-coded values may be one or more of instantaneous values or accumulated values.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the therapy time may be one or more of: a time relative to the start of therapy, a time during therapy, a time of planned therapy, a fixed number of samples, a flexible non-linear mapping associated with starting and stopping therapy.

13. Method for thermal ablation therapy comprising the steps of: receiving, at an input unit, a time series of two-dimensional diagnostic diagrams, the diagnostic diagrams being indicative of the course of the thermal ablation therapy and representing at least one treatment parameter as a function of dose, each one of the time series of diagnostic diagrams related to a particular point in therapy time; processing, at a processing unit, the time series of diagnostic diagrams as a function of the therapy time to generate a time-resolved therapy summary, the generating comprising generating a three-dimensional dataset by merging the diagnostic diagrams as a function of the therapy time; and generating and displaying, at a display unit, a graphical representation of the time-resolved therapy summary, said graphical representation representing, in a first dimension, the at least one treatment parameter as a function of the therapy time in a second dimension and as a function of the dose a function of the dose delivered at a particular point in therapy time in a third dimension.

14. A computer program for controlling a system according to claim 1, when executed by a processing unit, is adapted to perform the method according to claim 13.

15. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon the computer program according to claim 13.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: receiving, via a user interface, a user interaction with the graphical representation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] In the following drawings:

[0065] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a system for medical therapy according to an embodiment.

[0066] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a system for medical therapy according to a further embodiment.

[0067] FIG. 2 schematically shows a method for generating a time-resolved therapy summary according to an embodiment.

[0068] FIG. 4A schematically illustrates an exemplary diagnostic diagram according to an embodiment.

[0069] FIG. 4B schematically shows an exemplary graphical representation of a time-resolved therapy summary according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0070] The illustration in the drawings is schematically. In different drawings similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0071] FIG. 1 illustrates a system 1 for medical treatment according to an exemplary embodiment. The system 1 comprises an input unit 100 which is configured to receive a time series of diagnostic diagrams 10, a processing unit 200 configured to process the time series of diagnostic diagrams 10, an analyzation unit 300, a user interface 400, and a display unit 700. Further, the system 1 is communicative coupled to external database 2.

[0072] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the treatment to be performed corresponds to a thermal ablation treatment. The system 1 is hereby used for treatment monitoring. The input unit 100 may receive a first time series of diagnostic diagrams 10 which have been measured in real-time at a plurality of points in treatment time. In this particular example, each of the diagnostic diagrams represents the measured volume as a function of the thermal dose at that particular point in treatment time.

[0073] The input unit 100 may subsequently provide the first time series of diagnostic diagrams 10 to the processing unit 200. The processing unit 200 may then use the time series of diagnostic diagrams 10 to generate a first time resolved-therapy summary. That is, the processing unit 200 may merge each of the plurality of diagnostic diagrams from the first time series of diagnostic diagrams 10 as a function of time. Hereby, the first time-resolved summary also comprises the values of the thermal dose as represented by the individual diagnostic diagrams that have been merged in a time-resolved manner.

[0074] The system 1 may be communicatively coupled to the external database 2. In this particular embodiment of FIG. 1, the system 1 is coupled to external database 2 by means of the processing unit 200. From the external database 2 the processing unit may further receive a second time-resolved summary generated from a second time series of diagnostic diagrams, which have been simulated, based on diagnostic imaging data, for a plurality of points in treatment time. In this particular example, each of the second time series of diagnostic diagrams represents the simulated volume as a function of the thermal dose at that particular point in treatment time.

[0075] The processing unit 10 may then combine first time-resolved therapy summary and the second time-resolved therapy summary and forward the first and second time-resolved therapy summary to analyzation unit 300. Analyzation unit 300 may then analyze and evaluate the first and/or second time-resolved therapy summary. In the particular example according to FIG. 1, analyzation unit 300 compares the first time resolved therapy summary representing the treatment parameters collected in real-time with the second time resolved therapy summary representing the planned treatment parameters. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, analyzation unit 300 may be configured to output an indication in case the deviation between the first time-resolved therapy summary and the second time-resolved therapy summary becomes too severe. This indication may prompt a user to check whether the treatment is properly applied, thus preventing mistreatment of a patient.

[0076] The analyzation unit 300 may further be communicative coupled to a user interface 400 and a display unit 500. In the particular embodiment of FIG. 1, this user interface may particularly be a keyboard or the like. The display unit 500 may particularly be a display screen. In some embodiments, display unit 500 may be a touch screen, thereby providing an (additional) user interface to the user.

[0077] The display unit 500 may receive, from the analyzation unit 300, the first time-resolved therapy summary and the second time-resolved therapy summary and may generate a graphical representation thereof. In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the display unit 500 particularly generates a graphical representation in terms of a sliding window, in which the first time-resolved therapy summary and the second time-resolved therapy summary are displayed alongside one another, whereby the first time-resolved therapy summary is graphically represented in the graphical presentation up to the present point in therapy time and the second time-resolved therapy summary is graphically represented starting with the next point following the present point in therapy time. The graphical representation is dynamically updated as the therapy time passes.

[0078] Based on the graphical representation on the display unit 500, a user, such as a medical personnel, may review the currently running treatment session and visually check whether everything is going according to plan. Further, using the user interface 400, the user may interact with the graphical representation of the first and second time resolved therapy summary. This for example allows a user to select a particular point in therapy time which prompts the display unit 500 to generate a graphical representation of the diagnostic diagram 10 collected at and/or simulated for that particular point in therapy time and to present this representation to the user for further inspection.

[0079] The user may further indicate, via the user interface 400, that the first and/or second time resolved therapy summary shall be stored. In that case, the processing unit 200 is prompted to distribute the currently available first and second therapy summary to the external database 2. In some embodiments, the processing unit 200 may wait until the therapy session is finished and distribute the first and second time-resolved therapy summary only thereafter.

[0080] FIG. 2 schematically represents a system 1′ for medical therapy according to another embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, system 1′ is a therapy planning system. That is, the time series of diagnostic diagrams 10 that is received by system 1′ comprises a plurality of diagnostic diagrams which have been simulated, for example in a manner as described herein above in relation to FIG. 1.

[0081] Upon receipt of the (simulated) time series of diagnostic image data 10 at the input unit 100, these are transferred to processing unit 200 and processed in the manner as described herein above in relation to FIG. 1 in order to generate a time-resolved therapy summary. The time-resolved therapy summary may then be forwarded to analyzation unit 300, which uses the time-resolved therapy summary to determine a potential treatment session for the patient for which the diagnostic diagrams have simulated, i.e. from which the diagnostic image data has been obtained. The analyzation unit 300 may then provide the information regarding the potential treatment, along with the time resolved therapy summary, to display unit 500.

[0082] The display unit 500 may then generate a graphical representation encompassing the time-resolved therapy summary of the planned therapy as well as the information for the proposed treatment session and output the graphical representation to a user. To that end, the information for the proposed treatment session may particularly comprise an indication of the target area, the positioning of the thermal energy source, the proposed treatment time or the like.

[0083] The user may then use the user interface 400 to review the proposed information and assess, in particular on the basis of the graphical representation of the time-resolved therapy summary, whether the analyzation units treatment plan is sufficient. The user may optionally edit the treatment plan where necessary. In some embodiments, the user may also directly accept the proposed treatment plan.

[0084] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a method for generating and displaying a time-resolved therapy summary for a thermal ablation therapy treatment according to an embodiment.

[0085] In step S101, input unit 100 receives a time series of diagnostic diagrams 10. This time series of diagnostic diagrams may either be a time series which has been measured in real-time or may correspond to a simulated time series of diagnostic diagrams or may be both, depending on the purpose of the time-resolved therapy summary being used for either treatment monitoring or treatment planning or both. The time series of diagnostic diagrams comprises a plurality of diagnostic diagrams which have obtained for plurality of points in treatment time. In this particular example, each of the diagnostic diagrams represents the volume as a function of the thermal dose at that particular point in treatment time.

[0086] In step S102, the input unit 100 provides the time series of diagnostic diagrams 10 to the processing unit 200. In step S201, the processing unit 200 receives the time series of diagnostic diagrams and uses them, in step S202, to generate a time-resolved therapy summary. In order to do so, the processing unit 200 merges each of the plurality of diagnostic diagrams 10 as a function of time, while maintaining the information about the thermal dose values as originally represented by each of the individual diagnostic diagrams 10.

[0087] In step S203, the processing unit 200 then forwards the thus generated time-resolved therapy summary to analyzation unit 300, where it is received at step S301.

[0088] In step S302, analyzation unit 300 evaluates the time-resolved therapy summary in order to determine a possible treatment plan and/or evaluate the ongoing treatment process. In case of any issues, the analyzation unit 300 may, in step S303, output an indication which may prompt a user to countercheck the proposed treatment plan and/or to intervene with the ongoing treatment process. It shall be understood that step S303 only occurs in case the analyzation unit 300 detects a problem. Else, the method proceeds to step S304, in which the analyzation unit 300 sends the time-resolved therapy summary to display unit 500, where it is received in step S501.

[0089] In step S502, the display unit 500 generates a graphical representation of the time-resolved therapy summary and presents said graphical representation to a user in step S503.

[0090] Based on the graphical representation on the display unit 500, a user can then visually check the time-resolved treatment summary and interact, via the user interface 400, with the time-resolved treatment summary, respectively the graphical representation thereof, in step S401. As an example, a user may provide a user input to adjust the time-resolved treatment summary or may select a particular point in therapy time shown therein, which leads to a graphical representation of the respective diagnostic diagram being displayed or the like.

[0091] FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically illustrate an exemplary diagnostic diagram and an exemplary graphical representation of a time-resolved therapy summary according to an embodiment.

[0092] More specifically, FIG. 4A represents a diagnostic diagram that has been embodied as a Dose Volume Histogram (DVH) as commonly applied for radiation therapy treatment. In this kind of diagnostic diagram, the horizontal axis represents the dose, which in case of thermal ablation treatment, may particularly correspond to the thermal dose, but may also correspond to the energy deposited or the cell death probability, and the vertical axis represents the volume in the target area that has been irradiated by the thermal energy source. It may either be given as a percentage of the cell volume in units of [%] or as total adsorbing volume in units of a volume.

[0093] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4A, curves a, b and c schematically represent the absorbing volume V as a function of the delivered thermal dose D. Hereby, the different curves may particularly represent different parts of the target area. Alternatively or additionally, different curves may also represent the tissue in the target area and the organs at risk, respectively, thereby allowing to analyze which dose/energy deposition in the target area results in which dose/energy deposition in the organs at risk. This allows for an improved treatment planning and treatment monitoring procedure.

[0094] FIG. 4B represents an exemplary graphical representation of the time-resolved therapy summary in the form of a two-dimensional, color-coded diagram.

[0095] In this particular exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4B, the time-resolved therapy summary summarizes time-series of diagnostic diagrams according to FIG. 4A, i.e. representing the absorbing volume V as a function of the dose D, as a function of the therapy (or treatment) time t. Accordingly, the volume V in the target area is represented on the vertical axis of the two-dimensional diagram as a function of the therapy time t represented on the horizontal axis. The values for the thermal dose D are encoded by means of the color coding of the graphical representation. In this context, it shall be understood that the color coding may represent the accumulated dose determined by true integration, the accumulated dose determined with dedicate math, the instantaneous dose or the like. In the particular embodiment according to FIG. 4B, the instantaneous dose is represented by the color coding. Hereby, the color coding may be used to represent any kind of parameter indicative of the delivered dose as mentioned herein above, such as temperature, time at equivalent temperature, probability of ablation, volume, count, power, ablation zone or the like.

[0096] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4B, two possible approaches for applying the thermal dose are represented.

[0097] In the upper graphical representation of the time-resolved therapy summary, only a small portion of the volume in the target area is heated. That is, the thermal treatment exhibits a hotspot. This may for example be achieved using a needle-shaped heat source to apply a thermal dose to specific location over time. At the beginning of treatment session, i.e. at the point where the therapy time is at zero, the temperate is substantially equal for the entire volume. Thus, no thermal dose is present in the entire volume and, thus, the color code represents a low thermal dose 1000. With ongoing therapy time, the location in the target area to which the heat source applies the thermal dose shows an increase in thermal dose, from a low thermal dose 1000 to a high thermal dose 2000. In terms of color coding this may be encoded by exhibiting a change from blue (low) to green to yellow to orange to red (high) over time for that particular hotspot in the volume.

[0098] In the lower graphical representation of the time-resolved therapy summary, the thermal dose is delivered in a cyclic manner, that is, it is cycled between warm and cold temperatures, such as used in cryotherapy around a particular location in the target area. As a result, the change between high dose 2000 and low dose 1000 (or high and low temperature in this case) occurs in a cyclic manner. This is reflected by several spots of high, respectively low values represented in the color coded ablatogram during the course of therapy time.

[0099] Although the above-described embodiments relate to methods for thermal ablation treatment it may be noted that those methods may also be applied to radiation therapy.

[0100] Further, it shall be understood that, although in the above-described embodiments, the system is implemented as part of a system for therapy planning and/or treatment monitoring, the system may likewise be implemented in other systems, such as a therapy control system (TCS) and/or a therapy verification system (TVS).

[0101] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

[0102] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.

[0103] A single unit or device may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0104] Procedures like receiving of the series of diagnostic diagrams, processing of the time series of diagnostic diagrams as a function of the therapy time to generate a time-resolved therapy summary, generating and displaying a graphical representation, allowing a user to interact with the time-resolved summary and/or the diagnostic diagrams et cetera performed by one or several units or devices can be performed by any other number of units or devices. These procedures in accordance with the invention can hereby be implemented as program code means of a computer program and/or as dedicated hardware.

[0105] A computer program may be stored and/or distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium, supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems.

[0106] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

[0107] A system for medical therapy comprising an input unit for receiving a time series of diagnostic diagrams, each one of the time series of diagnostic diagrams obtained at a particular point in therapy time, and a processing unit for processing the time series of diagnostic diagrams as a function of the therapy time to generate a time-resolved therapy summary is disclosed. By means of such a system the dynamics of a medical therapy may be efficiently mapped and implementation of medical therapy may be significantly simplified for a person skilled in the art.