WE-G-213CD-06: Implementation of Real-Time Tumor Tracking Using Robotic Couch

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Robotics in Medicine
• Radiation Oncology

Background:

• Accurate patient positioning is crucial in radiation therapy.
• Existing robotic couches lack real-time tumor motion compensation.
• Tumor motion during treatment can lead to geographic misses and increased toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel method for real-time tumor tracking using a modified commercial robotic treatment couch.
• To evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of this tumor tracking system.

Main Methods:

• A commercially available robotic couch (Elekta PreciseTM Table) was adapted with a novel control system.
• The couch was equipped with Maxon and Rockwell Automation motors and Baumer encoders for 3D motion control.
• Galil controllers and Advance Motion Controls amplifiers were integrated for precise position and velocity adjustments.

Main Results:

• The system demonstrated real-time tracking capabilities within a 50mm range in all three directions (superior-inferior, lateral, anterior-posterior).
• Achieved tracking accuracies were 0.15mm (superior-inferior), 0.20mm (lateral), and 0.18mm (anterior-posterior).
• The system exhibited motion repeatability within ±0.2mm.

Conclusions:

• The developed system enables real-time tumor tracking with high, sub-millimeter accuracy.
• This technique offers a potentially simple and effective approach to reduce irradiation of healthy tissues.
• The findings support the integration of advanced robotic couch systems for improved radiation therapy precision.