title: Development of a video-guided real-time patient motion monitoring system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors developed a video image-guided real-time patient motion monitoring (VGRPM) system using PC-cams, and its clinical utility was evaluated using a motion phantom.
  
  
  METHODS
  The VGRPM system has three components: (1) an image acquisition device consisting of two PC-cams, (2) a main control computer with a radiation signal controller and warning system, and (3) patient motion analysis software developed in-house. The intelligent patient motion monitoring system was designed for synchronization with a beam on/off trigger signal in order to limit operation to during treatment time only and to enable system automation. During each treatment session, an initial image of the patient is acquired as soon as radiation starts and is compared with subsequent live images, which can be acquired at up to 30 fps by the real-time frame difference-based analysis software. When the error range exceeds the set criteria (δ(movement)) due to patient movement, a warning message is generated in the form of light and sound. The described procedure repeats automatically for each patient. A motion phantom, which operates by moving a distance of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 cm for 1 and 2 s, respectively, was used to evaluate the system performance. The authors measured optimal δ(movement) for clinical use, the minimum distance that can be detected with this system, and the response time of the whole system using a video analysis technique. The stability of the system in a linear accelerator unit was evaluated for a period of 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As a result of the moving phantom test, the δ(movement) for detection of all simulated phantom motion except the 0.1 cm movement was determined to be 0.2% of total number of pixels in the initial image. The system can detect phantom motion as small as 0.2 cm. The measured response time from the detection of phantom movement to generation of the warning signal was 0.1 s. No significant functional disorder of the system was observed during the testing period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VGRPM system has a convenient design, which synchronizes initiation of the analysis with a beam on/off signal from the treatment machine and may contribute to a reduction in treatment error due to patient motion and increase the accuracy of treatment dose delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. sg.ju@samsung.com
authors.forename: Sang Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Woong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Chae-Seon
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jin Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Eunhyuk
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Youngyih
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yong Chan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Hee Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Doo Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording