Isn convolution too slow for pencil beam calculations?
Not really. With our convolution calculations you will eventually save plenty of time in creating the plans. Some other treatment planning systems have used dose calculation algorithms for their pencil that stress speed very much at the expense of accuracy. The problem with that approach is that you spend a lot of time coming up with a plan that you like. You then perform a final dose calculation, and the treatment plan degrades significantly. Then your hard work is lost. We use a very accurate pencil beam dose calculation because it means that the DVH that you see during the optimization will match what you measure at your machine. With our tool, what you see is what you get. Starting with version 4.4 of our software we have introduced a fast Collapsed Cone Convolution Superposition for final dose calculations. This algorithm can calculate doses for most plans in five minutes while accurately accounting for heterogeneities.
