Reinhard W. Schulte

Developments in mathematical algorithms and computational tools for proton CT and particle therapy treatment planning

  • Yair Censor
  • Keith E. Schubert
  • Reinhard W. Schulte
    • Categories Basic Sciences Applications, Biomedical Applications, Constrained Nonlinear Optimization Tags , , , , , , , ,

    We summarize recent results and ongoing activities in mathematical algorithms and computer science methods related to proton computed tomography (pCT) and intensitymodulated particle therapy (IMPT) treatment planning. Proton therapy necessitates a high level of delivery accuracy to exploit the selective targeting imparted by the Bragg peak. For this purpose, pCT utilizes the proton beam itself … Read more

    Derivative-Free Superiorization With Component-Wise Perturbations

  • Yair Censor
  • Howard Heaton
  • Reinhard W. Schulte
    • Categories Biomedical Applications, Constrained Nonlinear Optimization, Nonsmooth Optimization Tags , , , , ,

    Superiorization reduces, not necessarily minimizes, the value of a target function while seeking constraints-compatibility. This is done by taking a solely feasibility-seeking algorithm, analyzing its perturbations resilience, and proactively perturbing its iterates accordingly to steer them toward a feasible point with reduced value of the target function. When the perturbation steps are computationally efficient, this … Read more

    An Improved Method of Total Variation Superiorization Applied to Reconstruction in Proton Computed Tomography

  • Yair Censor
  • Paniz Karbasi
  • Keith E. Schubert
  • Reinhard W. Schulte
  • Blake Schultze
    • Categories Biomedical Applications, Constrained Nonlinear Optimization, Convex Optimization Tags , , , , ,

    Previous work showed that total variation superiorization (TVS) improves reconstructed image quality in proton computed tomography (pCT). The structure of the TVS algorithm has evolved since then and this work investigated if this new algorithmic structure provides additional benefits to pCT image quality. Structural and parametric changes introduced to the original TVS algorithm included: (1) … Read more

    Sparsity constrained split feasibility for dose-volume constraints in inverse planning of intensity-modulated photon or proton therapy

  • Mark Brooke
  • Margherita Casiraghi
  • Yair Censor
  • Scott Penfold
  • Reinhard W. Schulte
  • Rafal Zalas
    • Categories Biomedical Applications, Convex Optimization Tags , , , , , ,

    A split feasibility formulation for the inverse problem of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment planning with dose-volume constraints (DVCs) included in the planning algorithm is presented. It involves a new type of sparsity constraint that enables the inclusion of a percentage-violation constraint in the model problem and its handling by continuous (as opposed to integer) … Read more

    Feasibility-Seeking and Superiorization Algorithms Applied to Inverse Treatment Planning in Radiation Therapy

  • Yair Censor
  • Ran Davidi
  • Sarah Geneser
  • Reinhard W. Schulte
  • Lei Xing
    • Categories Biomedical Applications, Convex Optimization Tags , , , ,

    We apply the recently proposed superiorization methodology (SM) to the inverse planning problem in radiation therapy. The inverse planning problem is represented here as a constrained minimization problem of the total variation (TV) of the intensity vector over a large system of linear two-sided inequalities. The SM can be viewed conceptually as lying between feasibility-seeking … Read more

    Projected subgradient minimization versus superiorization

  • Yair Censor
  • Ran Davidi
  • Gabor T. Herman
  • Reinhard W. Schulte
  • Luba Tetruashvili
    • Categories Biomedical Applications, Constrained Nonlinear Optimization Tags , , , , , , , ,

    The projected subgradient method for constrained minimization repeatedly interlaces subgradient steps for the objective function with projections onto the feasible region, which is the intersection of closed and convex constraints sets, to regain feasibility. The latter poses a computational difficulty and, therefore, the projected subgradient method is applicable only when the feasible region is “simple … Read more

    Total variation superiorization schemes in proton computed tomography image reconstruction

  • Yair Censor
  • Scott Penfold
  • Anatoly Rosenfeld
  • Reinhard W. Schulte
    • Categories Biomedical Applications, Constrained Nonlinear Optimization, Other Topics Tags ,

    Purpose: Iterative projection reconstruction algorithms are currently the preferred reconstruction method in proton computed tomography (pCT). However, due to inconsistencies in the measured data arising from proton energy straggling and multiple Coulomb scattering, noise in the reconstructed image increases with successive iterations. In the current work, we investigated the use of total variation superiorization (TVS) … Read more

    Block-Iterative and String-Averaging Projection Algorithms in Proton Computed Tomography Image Reconstruction

  • Vladimir Bashkirov
  • Yair Censor
  • Scott McAllister
  • Scott Penfold
  • Anatoly Rosenfeld
  • Keith Schubert
  • Reinhard W. Schulte
    • Categories Applications - Science and Engineering, Biomedical Applications Tags , , ,

    Proton computed tomography (pCT) is an imaging modality that has been suggested as a means for reducing the range uncertainty during proton radiation treatments. By measuring the spatial location of individual protons pre- and post-patient, as well as the energy lost along the proton path, three dimensional maps of patient water equivalent electron densities can … Read more