Real-time DMLC IMRT delivery for mobile and deforming targets

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Radiotherapy for moving targets often relies on motion assumptions that are not always accurate.
• Real-time adaptation algorithms are needed to improve the precision of radiation delivery to dynamic targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present algorithms for dynamic multileaf collimator (DMLC) intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) delivery to moving and deforming targets in real time.
• To ensure algorithms respect constraints on leaf speed during delivery.

Main Methods:

• Development of real-time algorithms for DMLC IMRT delivery.
• Construction of algorithms that preserve maximum admissible leaf speeds.
• Simulation of delivery to targets with various motion patterns, including rigid body motion and uniform deformation.
• Inclusion of time-dependent random perturbations in target motion.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated real-time DMLC IMRT delivery to moving and deforming targets.
• Algorithms successfully maintained leaf speed constraints during dynamic delivery.
• Examples illustrated the behavior of leaf trajectories under various motion scenarios, including perturbations.

Conclusions:

• The developed algorithms enable precise real-time radiation delivery for moving and deforming targets in IMRT.
• This approach improves accuracy in radiotherapy by adapting to actual target motion during treatment.