Invention Title
Software-defined Radar Respiration Monitor for Gated Lung Cancer Radiotherapy
Executive Summary
Current radiation treatment methods for lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, are plagued with challenges such as required invasive procedures, inaccuracy, high imaging radiation doses, difficult clinical implementation, or interference by clothing and chest hair. The present invention addresses and overcomes each of these challenges. The technology developed at Texas Tech University is a device which uses a radar system to deliver absolute measurements of respiratory motion allowing more precise gated radiation delivery in real time.
Product Description
The invention offers a unique method for live tracking of mobile tumors, specifically in lung cancer, using a non-contact Doppler radar. The device provides real-time, accurate tumor location information to precisely deliver the prescribed radiation dose, minimizing exposure of healthy tissue and the associated severe side effects, and without the risk of implanted fiducial markers or the inconvenience and inaccuracy of external markers. The developed software uses the patient’s CT scan to quickly calibrate the device and then guides the medical linear accelerator onto which the palm-sized device attaches.
Publications
C. Gu, R. Li, C. Li, S.B Jiang. “Doppler Radar Respiration Measurement for Gated Lung Cancer Radiotherapy.” IEEE Topical Conference on Biomedical Wireless Technologies, Networks & Sensing Systems, Phoenix, AZ, January 18, 2011.
C. Li, C. Gu, R. Li, S.B. Jiang. “Radar Motion Sensing for Accurate Tumor Tracking in Radiation Therapy.” 12th Annual IEEE Wireless and Microwave Technology Conference, Clearwater, FL, April 2011.