Charged Particle Beam Irradiation System Real-Time Dose Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current charged particle beam irradiation systems cannot measure the dose distribution in real time just before actual irradiation, making it difficult to check the energy, Bragg peak, and irradiation depth of the beam intended for the patient, especially in multi-energy extraction cycles, and fail to distinguish between beam transport line and synchrotron malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a high-speed steering system with a steering electromagnet and a multi-layer beam monitor to divert a checking beam into a beam dump for real-time dose distribution measurement, allowing for accurate pre-irradiation checks and identifying potential malfunction sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a multi-layer beam monitor is disposed downstream of the irradiation device to measure dose distribution, then the dose distribution can be measured accurately, but the measurement cannot be performed in real time just before actual irradiation and cannot distinguish between beam transport line and synchrotron malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the beam transport system into two separate measurement paths: one for the beam transport line (using a beam monitor in the transport line) and one for the synchrotron (using a beam monitor at the synchrotron outlet). This segmentation allows independent measurement of each component, enabling precise identification of which part is malfunctioning and allowing real-time dose distribution measurement before patient irradiation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the beam scanning irradiation method is used to reduce influence on normal cells, then normal cells are protected better, but real-time measurement of beam parameters just before irradiation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces beam monitors as intermediary devices that measure beam parameters (dose distribution, energy, Bragg peak position) before the beam reaches the patient. These monitors act as mediators between the complex beam scanning system and the patient, providing real-time verification of beam parameters without interfering with the therapeutic beam delivery or requiring modification of the scanning system itself.
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
Enables real-time verification of the energy, Bragg peak, and irradiation depth of the charged particle beam before actual treatment, reducing investigation time and improving accuracy by isolating malfunction causes and allowing for early system startup.
Implementation Method 1
diverging the checking beam extracted from the synchrotron by controlling excitation of a steering electromagnet provided in a transport line downstream of the synchrotron
Implementation Method 2
measuring a dose distribution of the charged particle beam to be hit into the beam dump by a multi-layer beam monitor
Data Source
AI summary
A charged particle beam irradiation system in which the energy, Bragg peak, and irradiation depth of a charged particle beam, with which a patient is to be irradiated, can be checked in real time just before actual irradiation. Just before the actual irradiation, by providing a high-speed steering magnet with 100% current, a checking beam is intentionally hit into a beam damper. By using a dosimeter and a dose measuring device in front thereof, extraction beam intensity is measured. By using a multi-layer beam monitor, a dose distribution thereof is measured. Accordingly, just before the actual irradiation, the energy, Bragg peak, and irradiation depth of the charged particle beam, with which the patient is to be irradiated, can be checked accurately and in real time. When the beam has a desired dose distribution as a result of checking, continuously, extraction control is performed.