METHOD AND APARATUS FOR PERFORMING IRRADIATION TIME OPTIMIZATION FOR INTENSITY MODULATED PROTON THERAPY DURING TREATMENT PLANNING WHILE MAINTAINING ACCEPTABLE IRRADIATION PLAN QUALITY

摘要

A computer implemented method of determining a resultant treatment plan for a proton radiation therapy system based on given dose volume constraints, wherein the resultant treatment plan is optimized for treatment time comprises accessing 802 the dose volume constraints and range information, wherein the range information indicates acceptable deviations from the dose volume constraints. Based on the proton radiation therapy system, the method further comprises accessing 804 machine configuration information comprising a plurality of machine parameters that define a maximum resolution achievable in irradiating a patient. Further, the method comprises iteratively adjusting 806 the plurality of machine parameters to values which decrease the maximum resolution and simulating 808 a plurality of candidate treatment plans to generate a plurality of treatment plan results, wherein each treatment plan result comprises: a respective treatment time and a respective plan quality. Finally, the method comprises selecting 810 a resultant treatment plan with the shortest treatment time.