Biomimicry in Radiation Therapy: Optimizing Patient Scheduling for Improved Treatment Outcomes

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of bio-inspired algorithms to automate and optimize patient scheduling in radiation therapy, aiming to improve treatment efficiency and patient outcomes through computational methods.

Contribution

It introduces the application of genetic, firefly, and wolf optimization algorithms to the complex scheduling problem in radiation therapy, demonstrating the effectiveness of wolf optimization.

Findings

Wolf Optimization outperforms other algorithms in scheduling tasks.

Bio-inspired algorithms effectively improve RT scheduling efficiency.

Optimized scheduling can potentially enhance treatment outcomes.

Abstract

In the realm of medical science, the pursuit of enhancing treatment efficacy and patient outcomes continues to drive innovation. This study delves into the integration of biomimicry principles within the domain of Radiation Therapy (RT) to optimize patient scheduling, ultimately aiming to augment treatment results. RT stands as a vital medical technique for eradicating cancer cells and diminishing tumor sizes. Yet, the manual scheduling of patients for RT proves both laborious and intricate. In this research, the focus is on automating patient scheduling for RT through the application of optimization methodologies. Three bio-inspired algorithms are employed for optimization to tackle the complex online stochastic scheduling problem. These algorithms include the Genetic Algorithm (GA), Firefly Optimization (FFO), and Wolf Optimization (WO). These algorithms are harnessed to address the intricate challenges of online stochastic scheduling. Through rigorous evaluation, involving the scrutiny of convergence time, runtime, and objective values, the comparative performance of these algorithms is determined. The results of this study unveil the effectiveness of the applied bio-inspired algorithms in optimizing patient scheduling for RT. Among the algorithms examined, WO emerges as the frontrunner, consistently delivering superior outcomes across various evaluation criteria. The optimization approach showcased in this study holds the potential to streamline processes, reduce manual intervention, and ultimately improve treatment outcomes for patients undergoing RT.