Radiation shielding structure

Abstract

A radiation shielding structure, comprising: a filter module with a first aperture for neutron beam passage; a shielding module with a second aperture, configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the path of neutron beam for switching between an open state and a closed state. The shielding module can be positioned in front of a structural wall or behind the filter module directly, thereby addressing the shortcomings of conventional radiation shielding doors that cannot be closed ar once after treatment, thereby reducing unnecessary radiation exposure

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This case proposes a radiation shielding structure, more specifically, a radiation shielding structure used to shield photons emitted into the treatment room due to neutron activation after the irradiation course of boron neutron capture therapy has ended. Prior Technology

[0002] Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an innovative radiotherapy for cancer that uses boron-containing drugs (such as those using amino acids as boron carriers). These drugs are designed to specifically accumulate in the patient's tumor cells, while normal cells absorb less. When a patient is irradiated with an epithermal neutron beam, the tumor cells containing the boron-containing drugs absorb neutrons more readily than normal healthy cells. When the neutrons interact with the boron-containing drugs, a nuclear reaction occurs, producing lithium nuclei (7Li) and alpha particles. The generated alpha particles and lithium nuclei (7Li) atoms have an extremely short range (approximately 5-9 micrometers) to destroy tumor cells. This range is roughly equal to the diameter of a cell, allowing the energy to be concentrated inside the tumor cells with minimal damage to adjacent healthy tissues. Therefore, BNCT treatment has advantages such as high selectivity for tumor sites, low toxicity, fewer treatment sessions compared to traditional radiotherapy, less burden on the body, and faster recovery.

[0003] In the prior art, please refer to Figures 1A and 1B, which depict the treatment facility environment where the patient is located. A typical BNCT treatment facility includes a treatment room 100, which contains a medical bed 160, a robotic arm 150, a beam port 120, a beam shaping assembly (BSA, not shown), a collimator 110, a neutron source (not shown), a structural wall 130, and a radiation shielding door 140. The beam shaper and neutron source are located within the structural wall 130. The patient lies on the medical bed 160 within the treatment room 100, and the medical bed 160 is connected to the robotic arm 150. When treatment begins, the radiation shielding door 140 is opened as shown in Figure 1A, the collimator 110 is installed at the beam port 120, and the robotic arm 150 controls the patient's affected area to move (rotate) to the position of the beam port 120. The neutron source begins to generate a neutron beam and irradiates the patient's affected area through the beam adjuster and collimator 110 located in the structural wall 130. After the treatment is completed, the neutron source stops generating a neutron beam, then the collimator 110 is removed, and the radiation shielding door 140 is closed as shown in Figure 1B, thereby isolating the radiation (e.g., gamma rays) generated by the neutron-activated radioactive material in the form of photons, thereby reducing the dose of radiation leaking to the outside from the beam port.

[0004] However, the existing configuration of the beam port 120, beam adjuster, collimator 110, neutron source, and radiation shielding door 140 in the treatment room 100 still has shortcomings. The shortcoming is that when treatment ends, because the collimator 110 is still installed in the beam port 120 and has not been removed, the radiation shielding door 140 located outside the structural wall 130 cannot be closed immediately after treatment. It must wait until the photon dose has decreased to a certain level before the treatment personnel enter the treatment room 100 to remove the collimator 110 before the radiation shielding door 140 can be closed. Examples of this type of architecture include the Southern Tohoku BNCT Research Center in Japan and the BNCT treatment facilities at Helsinki University Hospital Cancer Center in Finland.

[0005] To elaborate further, the current configuration of BNCT treatment equipment components in treatment room 100 means that patients in treatment room 100 will receive additional unnecessary radiation doses during the waiting period after treatment as the radiation weakens. This somewhat negates the advantages of BNCT's low toxicity or the ability to conduct treatments more frequently than conventional radiotherapy. Furthermore, the need to wait for the radiation dose to decrease wastes time for medical units where every second counts. From a long-term operational management perspective, the accumulated delays reduce the efficiency of medical facilities and increase economic costs. Therefore, the radiation shielding structure for BNCT treatment currently on the market urgently needs further improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0006] For the reasons mentioned above, the main objective of this invention is to provide a novel radiation shielding structure. By optimizing the configuration of components such as radiation shielding doors, collimators, and structural walls in the medical room, the radiation shielding door can be closed at any time before and after treatment, regardless of whether the neutron source is activated or the dose of radiation generated by neutron activation during the neutron beam's path. Furthermore, medical personnel can easily remove and replace the required collimator using the improved radiation shielding structure. For patients, the readily closable radiation shielding door prevents them from being continuously exposed to high doses of radiation after treatment, thus allowing for a more ideal utilization of the advantages of BNCT treatment technology (low toxicity, less burden on the body, and faster recovery). From an operational management perspective, it also increases the efficiency of treatment equipment utilization and reduces its economic costs. For a detailed technical solution of this invention, please refer to the following description.

[0007] The first generalized embodiment of this invention provides a radiation shielding structure, comprising: a filter module with a first perforation for a neutron beam to pass through; a shielding module with a second perforation; and a structural wall with a third perforation for outputting the neutron beam, wherein the shielding module is positioned in front of the structural wall. According to an embodiment of the invention, the shielding module can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the neutron beam direction to either an open or closed state. Specifically, when the first, second, and third perforations are connected, the shielding module is in an open state; when the first, second, and third perforations are not connected, the shielding module is in a closed state. Thus, when the radiation shielding structure is in an open state, a neutron beam can be output for therapeutic purposes; when the radiation shielding structure is in a closed state, it can shield the neutron beam and photons, achieving the radiation shielding objective of this invention.

[0008] A second generalized embodiment of this invention provides a radiation shielding structure, comprising: a filter module with a first perforation for a neutron beam to pass through; a shielding module with a second perforation; and a collimator disposed on the shielding module, having a collimation hole at its top, the collimation hole communicating with the second perforation; wherein the shielding module is disposed after the filter module. According to an embodiment of the invention, the shielding module can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the neutron beam direction to move to an open state or a closed state. Specifically, when the first perforation, the second perforation, and the collimation hole are connected, the shielding module is in an open state; when the first perforation, the second perforation, and the collimation hole are not connected, the shielding module is in a closed state. Thus, when the radiation shielding structure is in an open state, a neutron beam can be output for treatment; when the radiation shielding structure is in a closed state, it can shield the neutron beam and photons, achieving the purpose of radiation shielding of the present invention. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0009] The following detailed description of the invention and the illustrated embodiments are intended to enable a fuller understanding of the invention; however, it should be understood that this is limited to providing a reference for understanding the application of the invention and not to limiting the invention to a particular embodiment.

[0010] Figure 1A illustrates the configuration of various components in a treatment room in conventional techniques, such as collimators, structural walls, and radiation shielding doors. Figure 1B illustrates the configuration of a radiation shielding door in a treatment room in the conventional technology when it is closed. Figure 2 shows the treatment scenario in this invention, as well as the direction and configuration of the shielding module that can be switched on and off. Figure 3 shows the operation of the shielding module switch in one embodiment of the present invention from a three-dimensional perspective. Figure 4 shows, from a perspective, another embodiment of the invention, the operation of the shielding module switch. Figure 5A illustrates the external structure of the collimator in this invention. Figure 5B illustrates the external structure of the collimator in this invention. Figure 6 illustrates the second generalized implementation where the shielding module is in a switching operation. Implementation

[0011] This invention will be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments and viewpoints so that the reader may fully understand how these embodiments are implemented. However, those skilled in the art will understand that this invention can also be implemented without these details. Furthermore, this invention can also be used and implemented through other specific embodiments, and the various details set forth in this specification can be applied based on different needs, and various modifications or changes can be made without departing from the spirit of this invention. Therefore, this invention will be described with reference to preferred embodiments and viewpoints. Such descriptions are for explaining the structure of the invention and are only for illustration and not for limiting the scope of the patent application of this invention. The terminology used in the following description will be interpreted in the broadest reasonable sense. Those skilled in the art can adjust the structure of this invention to meet the needs of actual industry according to the requirements of manufacturing or therapeutic applications, which is hereby stated in advance.

[0012] The terms "about," "approximately," or "substantially" as used in this invention generally refer to within 20 percent of a given value or range, preferably within 10 percent, and more preferably within 5 percent. The values ​​given herein are approximate, meaning that unless explicitly stated otherwise, the meaning of the terms "about," "approximately," or "substantially" can be inferred. Furthermore, the terms "front and back," "left and right," and "up and down" as used in this invention can be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise stated in this invention, the meaning can be obtained from the context of the description after reading it. Finally, for the sake of simplicity in the drawings, some conventionally known structures and components will be shown in a simplified schematic manner. For ease of viewing, the dimensions of the components in the drawings are not drawn to scale, which is hereby stated.

[0013] Please refer to Figure 2. The radiation shielding structure 200 of this invention will be applied to a radiotherapy system. This radiotherapy system includes an accelerator 300 and a beam channel 310. The beam channel 310 is connected to the accelerator 300 and is used to provide a radiation source. The accelerator 300 can be selected from a linear accelerator, a cyclotron accelerator, or a synchrotron radiation accelerator. After the accelerator 300 interacts with the other components enclosed in the filter module 210, the type of radiation source provided can be determined according to the aforementioned radiotherapy system. It can be, but is not limited to, X-rays (such as high-energy X-rays), gamma rays (such as cobalt-60), proton beams (such as proton-boron fusion therapy, PBFT), and neutron beams (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, BNCT). In the context of this invention, the final radiation source is a neutron source for BNCT treatment.

[0014] Please refer to Figures 2 and 3. To achieve the objectives of this invention, a first generalized embodiment provides a radiation shielding structure 200, comprising: a filter module 210 with a first through-hole 211 for a neutron beam to pass through; a shielding module 220 with a second through-hole 221; and a structural wall 230 with a third through-hole 231 for outputting the neutron beam, wherein the shielding module 220 is positioned in front of the structural wall 230. According to this first generalized embodiment, the shielding module 220 can move in a direction perpendicular to the neutron beam direction, such as up / down, left / right, or clockwise / counterclockwise, to move the shielding module 220 to an open state or a closed state. Specifically, when the shielding module 220 moves, connecting the first perforation 211, the second perforation 221, and the third perforation 231, the shielding module 220 is in the open state; when the shielding module 220 moves, disconnecting the first perforation 211, the second perforation 221, and the third perforation 231, the shielding module 220 is in the closed state. Thus, when the radiation shielding structure 200 is in the open state, a neutron beam can be output for treatment; when the radiation shielding structure 200 is in the closed state, it can shield both the neutron beam and photons. According to one aspect of the present invention, since the shielding module 220 is positioned in front of the structural wall 230, no matter how the shielding module 220 is moved, it will not affect the layout of any component of the medical space where the structural wall 230 is located, which is closer to the patient 400. Especially during treatment, the patient 400 is very close to the structural wall 230, only about 0.5 cm to 25 cm away. Therefore, the advantage of this arrangement of the shielding module 220 and the structural wall 230 is that when the treatment is finished, the medical personnel can close the shielding module 220 without moving the patient 400. This achieves the goal of reducing the time that the patient 400 is exposed to high-dose radiation, thereby allowing the advantages of BNCT treatment technology to be more fully realized.

[0015] Please refer to Figures 3 and 4. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shielding module 220 has an overall appearance of a door-like structure. This door-like structure can be configured as rectangular, polygonal, trapezoidal, elliptical, or any shape, or any combination of the above configurations, depending on the application requirements. The door-like structure includes a first region 222 and a second region 223, and a second perforation 221 is located on the second region 223 and penetrates the door-like structure of the shielding module 220, allowing the neutron beam to pass through. The first region 222 is a radiation shielding material, specifically selected from lead, silicon, boron, carbon, zinc, aluminum, nickel, tungsten, bismuth, copper, titanium, iron, or any combination thereof. The second region is a neutron shielding material. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the second perforation 221 is a circular hole with a diameter ranging from 2 cm to 30 cm. In another embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of the second perforation 221 can also be selected from rectangle, polygon, trapezoid, ellipse, any shape, or any combination of the above configurations. Furthermore, in yet another embodiment of the present invention, the number and arrangement of the second perforations 221 can also be configured according to actual needs, so that those skilled in the art can select them according to the treatment requirements, such as the predetermined tumor range or tumor type.

[0016] Please refer to Figures 3 and 4. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the radiation shielding structure 200 further includes at least one slide rail 250 disposed on the shielding module 220, that is, the outer side of the aforementioned door-like structure (e.g., the side shown in Figures 3 and 4), so that the shielding module 220 can adjust the relative position of the second through hole 221 with respect to the first through hole 211 and the third through hole 231 in space by moving on the slide rail 250 (e.g., moving up and down, moving left and right, or rotating), so as to control the shielding module 220 to be in an open or closed state.

[0017] As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the slide rail 250 is disposed on the side of the door-like structure and perpendicular to the ground, allowing the shielding module 220 to slide up and down. When the shielding module 220 moves upward to a predetermined open position, the shielding module 220 is in an open state, allowing the neutron beam to pass through the second perforation 221. When the shielding module 220 moves downward to a predetermined closed position, the shielding module 220 is in a closed state, blocking the radiation and / or neutron beam by the first region 222, preventing it from passing through the second perforation 221. In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 4, the slide rail 250 is disposed on the side of the door-like structure and parallel to the ground, so that the shielding module 220 can slide left and right. When the shielding module 220 moves to the left to a predetermined open position, the shielding module 220 is in an open state, allowing the neutron beam to pass through the second perforation 221. When the shielding module 220 moves to the right to a predetermined closed position, the shielding module 220 is in a closed state, so that the radiation and / or neutron beam is blocked by the first region 222 and cannot pass through the second perforation 221. It should be noted that in the two embodiments described above, the present invention only provides examples of two shielding modules 220 being able to reach an open state and a closed state. However, those skilled in the art should understand that in addition to moving up and down as shown in Figure 3 and moving left and right as shown in Figure 4, they can also rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. Furthermore, the predetermined open position, the predetermined closed position, the relative positions of the first region 222 and the second region 223, and even the distance the shielding module 220 moves can all be modified according to the application requirements. The above embodiments are only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. This is specifically stated here.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the filter module 210 is provided with a first perforation 211 for a neutron beam to pass through. The accelerator 300 is used to generate a neutron beam with the other components in the filter module 210. After passing through the filter module 210, the neutron beam generates a neutron beam with adjusted energy required for medical treatment. The filter module may include a housing 213 and at least one filter layer 212, and the direction of the neutron beam can be parallel to the ground at a macroscopic angle, moving along the directions of the first perforation 211, the second perforation 221, and the third perforation 231.

[0019] Please continue with Figures 2, 5A, and 5B. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the radiation shielding structure 200 further includes a collimator 240, which further includes a base 241, a guide portion 242, a collimating portion 243, and at least one fixing portion 244, such that the collimator 240 is attached to the structural wall 230 via the base 241 and covers the third perforation 231. The guide portion 242 guides the collimator 240 to slide within the corresponding fixing structure of the structural wall 230, and finally is secured to the structural wall 230 by the fixing portion 244. This allows the neutron beam to pass through the first perforation 211, the second perforation 221, the third perforation 231, and the collimating hole 243a in sequence to perform radiotherapy on the patient 400 when the shielding module 220 is in the open state, enabling the collimator 240 to adjust the irradiated area and morphology of the final output neutron beam.

[0020] As described above, in an embodiment of the present invention, the base 241 of the collimator 240 is flat, and more specifically, it can be disc-shaped. One side of the disc-shaped base 241 is provided with a guide portion 242 and a fixing portion 244. The guide portion 242 is arranged in a ring shape at the inner diameter of the base 241 and protrudes from the plane of one side of the base 241. The fixing portion 244 is arranged along the guide portion 242. The other side of the base 241 is provided with a collimation portion 243. In one embodiment, the collimation portion 243 can be a conical configuration and extend from one side of the base 241 to the other side. A collimation hole 243a is provided on the collimation portion 243, penetrating both sides of the collimator 240. The conical angle of the collimation portion 243 and the size of the collimation hole 243a can be set according to the treatment method. In the embodiments of the present invention, the materials of the base 241, the guide part 242, the collimation part 243, and the fixing part 244 can be selected from a radiation shielding material, a neutron shielding material, or any combination thereof. The radiation shielding material can be selected from lead, silicon, boron, carbon, zinc, aluminum, nickel, tungsten, bismuth, copper, titanium, iron, or any combination thereof.

[0021] According to one aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figure 2, since the shielding module 220 is positioned before the structural wall 230 and the collimator 240 in the radiation shielding structure 200, meaning that the neutron beam emitted from the accelerator 300 will sequentially pass through the accelerator 300, beam channel 310, filter module 210, shielding module 220, structural wall 230, and collimator 240, as mentioned above, regardless of how the shielding module 220 moves, it will not affect the proximity of the structural wall 230 to the lesion. The layout of any component on the side of patient 400, that is, the medical space where patient 400 is located, can be adjusted by medical personnel at any time as long as the shielding module 220 is closed, based on the treatment needs, such as the area and shape to be irradiated by the neutron beam. For example, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, when the collimating aperture 243a is circular, the shape of the neutron beam irradiating the affected area is close to a circular configuration.

[0022] Please refer to Figure 6. To achieve the objective of this invention, a second generalized embodiment provides a radiation shielding structure 200, comprising: a filter module 210 with a first through-hole 211 for a neutron beam to pass through; a shielding module 220 with a second through-hole 221; and a collimator 240 with a collimation hole 243a communicating with the second through-hole 221; wherein the shielding module 220 is disposed after the filter module 210. According to an embodiment of the invention, the shielding module 220 can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the neutron beam direction to move to an open state or a closed state. Specifically, when the first through-hole 211, the second through-hole 221, and the collimation hole 243a are connected, the shielding module 220 is in an open state; when the first through-hole 211, the second through-hole 221, and the collimation hole 243a are not connected, the shielding module 220 is in a closed state. Thus, when the shielding module 220 is in the open state, a neutron beam can be output for treatment; when the shielding module 220 is in the closed state, it can shield the neutron beam and photons, achieving the purpose of shielding radiation according to the present invention. In the second generalized embodiment of the radiation shielding structure 200, the movement mode of the shielding module 220 and the structure of the collimator 240 are the same as in the first generalized embodiment, and therefore will not be described again here. However, in the second generalized embodiment, the collimator 240 is attached to the second perforation 221 of the shielding module 220 via the base 241, and is guided by the guide part 242 to slide within the corresponding fixing structure of the shielding module 220. Finally, it is secured to the shielding module 220 by the fixing part 244, so that when the shielding module 220 is in the open state, the neutron beam can pass through the first perforation 211, the second perforation 221, and the collimation hole 243a in sequence to treat the patient 400. In radiation therapy, the collimator 240 can be adjusted to determine the irradiation site and morphology of the final output of the neutron beam. When the shielding module 220 is moved to the closed state, it can shield the neutron beam and photons, achieving the purpose of shielding radiation of this invention. When the shielding module 220 is moved, the medical bed 160 can also be moved slightly by the robotic arm 150 as needed, so that medical personnel can conveniently replace / remove the collimator 240 when the shielding module 220 is in the closed state, thus achieving the purpose of this invention.

[0023] In summary, the radiation shielding structure proposed in this invention optimizes the configuration of components such as radiation shielding doors, collimators, and structural walls in medical rooms. This is primarily achieved by placing the shielding module in front of the structural wall or directly replacing the structural wall with the shielding module. This allows the radiation shielding door to be closed at any time. Furthermore, medical personnel can easily remove and replace the required collimator using the improved radiation shielding structure. For patients, it reduces the time spent in a high-dose radiation environment. For operators, it increases the efficiency of treatment equipment and reduces economic costs. Therefore, this invention, besides being highly industrially applicable, also possesses a novel structure and improved performance, hence this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art are free to make various modifications after reading this invention, but all such modifications will not depart from the protection intended by the appended claims.

[0024] 100: Treatment Room 110: Collimator 120: Beam nozzle 130: Structural wall 140: Radiation shielding door 150: Robotic Arm 160: Medical Bed 200: Radiation shielding structure 210: Screen Filter Module 211: First perforation 212: Filter layer 213: Outer shell 220: Shielding Module 221: Second perforation 222: Area 1 223: Second Area 230: Structural wall 231: Third perforation 240: Collimator 241: Base 242: Guiding Department 243:Collimation part 243a: Collimation hole 244: Fixing part 250: Slide rail 300: Accelerator 310: Beam Channel 400: Patients

Claims

1. A radiation shielding structure, comprising: a filter module having a first through-hole; a shielding module having a second through-hole; a structural wall having a third through-hole, wherein the shielding module is disposed in front of the structural wall; and a collimator disposed on the structural wall; wherein, When the first perforation, the second perforation, and the third perforation are connected, the radiation shielding structure is in the open state; when the first perforation, the second perforation, and the third perforation are not connected, the radiation shielding structure is in the closed state.

2. The radiation shielding structure as described in claim 1, wherein the shielding module presents a door-like structure, which may be selected from a rectangle, polygon, trapezoid, ellipse, or any combination thereof.

3. The radiation shielding structure as described in claim 2 further includes at least one slide rail disposed on the side of the shielding module, wherein the shielding module is opened and closed by sliding, wherein the direction of sliding of the shielding module is perpendicular to the direction of the neutron beam.

4. The radiation shielding structure as described in claim 1, wherein the shielding module includes a first region and a second region, and the second perforation is disposed in the second region, wherein, The first region is a radiation shielding material, and the second region is a neutron shielding material.

5. The radiation shielding structure as described in claim 4, wherein the radiation shielding material is selected from lead, silicon, boron, carbon, zinc, aluminum, nickel, tungsten, bismuth, copper, titanium, iron, or any combination thereof.

6. The radiation shielding structure as described in claim 1, wherein the second perforation is a circular hole with a diameter ranging from 2 cm to 30 cm.

7. The radiation shielding structure as described in claim 1, the collimator further comprising: a base, which is flat; a guide portion disposed in an annular manner at the inner diameter of the base and protruding from a plane on one side of the base; at least one fixing portion disposed along the guide portion; and a collimating portion disposed on the other side of the base and having a collimating hole extending through both sides of the collimator.

8. The radiation shielding structure as described in claim 7, wherein the collimation portion is a conical configuration.

9. The radiation shielding structure as described in claim 7, wherein the collimator is made of a radiation shielding material, a neutron shielding material, or any combination thereof.

10. A radiation shielding structure, comprising: a filter module having a first through hole; a shielding module having a second through hole; and a collimator having a collimation hole, wherein... The shielding module is located after the filter module; The system includes a structural wall, in front of which the shielding module is placed, and on which the collimator is placed; when the first perforation, the second perforation, and the collimation hole are connected, the radiation shielding structure is in the open state; when the first perforation, the second perforation, and the collimation hole are not connected, the radiation shielding structure is in the closed state.

11. The radiation shielding structure as described in claim 10, wherein the shielding module is a door-like structure, which may be selected from a rectangle, polygon, trapezoid, ellipse, or any combination of the above configurations; the shielding module includes a first region and a second region, and the second through-hole is disposed in the second region, wherein... The first region is a radiation shielding material, and the second region is a neutron shielding material.

12. The radiation shielding structure as described in claim 11 further includes at least one slide rail disposed on the side of the shielding module, so that the shielding module can be opened and closed by sliding, wherein the direction of sliding of the shielding module is perpendicular to the direction of the neutron beam.

13. The radiation shielding structure as described in claim 10, wherein the second perforation is a circular hole with a diameter ranging from 2 cm to 30 cm.

14. The radiation shielding structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the collimator further comprises: a base, which is flat; a guide portion disposed in an annular manner at the inner diameter of the base and protruding from a plane on one side of the base; at least one fixing portion disposed along the guide portion; and a collimating portion disposed on the other side of the base, wherein the collimating hole is formed through the top end of the collimating portion.

15. The radiation shielding structure as described in claim 10, wherein the collimator is made of a radiation shielding material, a neutron shielding material, or any combination thereof.

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