Angled Scintillator Beam Monitoring with UV Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation beam monitoring systems in external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) face challenges in minimizing the impact on the quality of the radiation beam while providing real-time, high-resolution monitoring of ionizing particle and photon beams, particularly in maintaining beam stability and accuracy without significant radiation damage to the scintillator materials.
Innovation Solution
The development of an ultra-fast transmissive (UFT) ionizing particle and photon beam monitoring system using a vacuum chamber with a scintillator oriented at an angle greater than 10 degrees to the beam, coupled with a machine vision camera and UV illumination for real-time monitoring and self-calibration, minimizing beam scatter and energy loss, and employing thin, ultra-thin scintillator materials for reduced radiation damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a scintillator is placed in the ionizing-radiation beam for monitoring, then real-time beam monitoring is achieved, but radiation damage to the scintillator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the scintillator from perpendicular (0 degrees to normal) to angled (greater than 10 degrees to normal). This parameter change reduces the path length of radiation through the scintillator, thereby reducing radiation damage accumulation while maintaining monitoring capability. The angled orientation allows the scintillator to monitor beam position and intensity with reduced exposure to the full beam flux.
2Power
If a thick scintillator is used for monitoring, then signal strength increases, but beam energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the effective thickness parameter by orienting the scintillator at an angle greater than 10 degrees to the beam normal. This geometric parameter change reduces the path length of radiation through the scintillator material, thereby reducing beam energy loss while still allowing the scintillator to generate sufficient signal for monitoring purposes.
3Illumination intensity
If the scintillator is oriented perpendicular to the beam, then maximum light output is achieved, but beam scatter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry by orienting the scintillator at an angle greater than 10 degrees to the normal of the incident beam, rather than symmetrically perpendicular to the beam. This asymmetric orientation reduces the cross-sectional area presented to the beam, thereby reducing beam scatter and energy loss while maintaining sufficient light output for monitoring through the angled geometry.
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 system enables real-time, high-resolution monitoring of beam position, intensity, and fluence with minimal impact on the radiation beam quality, achieving sub-millisecond analysis and feedback for improved treatment delivery and extended scintillator lifespan through rapid calibration and radiation damage recovery.
Implementation Method 1
at least one scintillator within the vacuum chamber structure that can be at least partially translated in the ionizing-radiation beam
Implementation Method 2
a machine vision camera coupled to a light-tight structure at atmospheric/ambient pressure that is attached to the vacuum chamber structure
Implementation Method 3
at least one ultraviolet ('UV') illumination source facing the scintillator in the ionizing-radiation beam for monitoring a scintillator stability comprising scintillator radiation damage
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed generally to an ionizing-radiation beamline monitoring system that includes a vacuum chamber structure with vacuum compatible flanges through which an incident ionizing-radiation beam enters the monitoring system. Embodiments further include at least one scintillator within the vacuum chamber structure that can be at least partially translated in the ionizing-radiation beam while oriented at an angle greater than 10 degrees to a normal of the incident ionizing-radiation beam, a machine vision camera coupled to a light-tight structure at atmospheric/ambient pressure that is attached to the vacuum chamber structure by a flange attached to a vacuum-tight viewport window with the camera and lens optical axis oriented at an angle of less than 80 degrees with respect to a normal of the scintillator, and at least one ultraviolet (“UV”) illumination source facing the scintillator in the ionizing-radiation beam for monitoring a scintillator stability comprising scintillator radiation damage.