Interactive dose gradient based optimization method to control IMRT delivery complexity

摘要

A method for dose gradient-based optimization of intensity-modulated radiation therapy plans. First, a first optimization of the plan is performed 40 so that the optimizer 6 generates a dose distribution corresponding to the plan. The optimizer 6 then generates 42 a beam specific dose gradient map for each beam in the plan. A new dose gradient is then designated 44 for the plan. Finally, the optimizer 6 performs final optimization 46 using the new dose gradient. The final optimization gives the new dose gradient as a soft constraint on the objective function. The optimizer 6 applies a limiting factor to the objective function so that the first dose gradient is limited by the optimizer only if the first dose gradient exceeds the new dose gradient for the particular beamlet.