Accelerator Control Device for Particle Beam Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Particle beam therapy devices face the challenge of beam spikes, where the intensity of the charged particle beam exceeds target values immediately after acceleration, particularly when low-energy beams are emitted, leading to inefficiencies and potential inaccuracies in tumor treatment.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an accelerator control device that includes a timing controller, high-frequency power controller, and a blocker controller to manage the timing and power supply of the charged particle beam, using pre-emission techniques and threshold value tables to prevent beam spikes by adjusting the blocker's operation based on current and charge amount or pulse width, ensuring stable beam delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a charged particle beam is accelerated to a desired energy by the accelerator, then the beam can be emitted for treatment, but beam spikes occur causing intensity to exceed target values

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam energyVSAvoidbeam intensity control
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blocker is operated in advance to block the charged particle beam before emission, removing excessive beam quantity from the accelerator. This preliminary action prevents beam spikes from occurring in the first place, ensuring that only the appropriate amount of beam is emitted for treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The blocker extracts and removes the excessive portion of the charged particle beam from the accelerator before emission. By taking out the unnecessary beam quantity, the system achieves reliable intensity control while maintaining the desired beam energy for treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If beam spikes are prevented by blocking the charged particle beam, then intensity control is improved, but treatment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam intensity controlVSAvoidtreatment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The blocker rapidly blocks and removes the excessive beam quantity in a quick operation, minimizing the time added to the treatment process. This allows the system to achieve reliable intensity control without significantly increasing overall treatment time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Reliability

If the blocker operates to remove excessive beam quantity, then beam spike prevention is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam intensity controlVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blocker serves multiple functions: it blocks the charged particle beam, removes excessive beam quantity, and prevents beam spikes. By consolidating these functions into a single device, the system achieves reliable intensity control without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller operates the blocker based on detected beam conditions, using feedback to determine when blocking is necessary. This automated feedback control achieves reliable intensity control while minimizing the complexity of manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively prevents beam spikes, maintaining consistent energy levels and reducing the risk of intensity fluctuations, thereby enhancing the precision and efficiency of particle beam therapy treatments.

Implementation Method 1

a high-frequency acceleration cavity including a plurality of electrodes is provided. The particle beam therapy device accelerates the charged particle beam to a desired energy by supplying high frequency power to the electrode provided in the high-frequency acceleration cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHigh-frequency acceleration: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a blocker which blocks the charged particle beam emitted from the accelerator, a current value detector which detects a current value of the charged particle beam circulating in the accelerator, and a controller which controls an operation timing of the blocker on the basis of the current value

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBeam blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3402314B1Accelerator control device, accelerator control method, and particle beam therapy device
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 TOSHIBA ENERGY SYST & SOLUTIONS CORP
  • EP3402314B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3402314B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3402314B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to some embodiments, an accelerator control device has a high-frequency power controller and a timing controller. The high-frequency power controller supplies high frequency power for accelerating a charged particle beam to an accelerator. The timing controller controls an operation timing of a blocker that blocks the charged particle beam emitted from the accelerator based on a current value of the charged particle beam circulating in the accelerator.