Real-Time Charged Particle Beam Trajectory Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current proton beam therapy systems face challenges in maintaining beam alignment due to unwanted variations in magnetic fields, leading to potential harm to healthy tissues and increased treatment time, which can result in operator errors and compromised dose distribution.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop control system that includes particle beam generators, beamline deflector magnets, detectors, and correction magnets to provide real-time trajectory correction of charged particle beams, allowing for independent control of beam offset and angle in two planes, enabling precise alignment without interrupting patient treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If beam alignment is corrected by stopping treatment and manually adjusting the system, then beam positioning accuracy is improved, but treatment time increases and operator error risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a feedback mechanism where detectors continuously monitor the actual beam position and provide real-time data to the control system. The control system compares measured positions with commanded positions and automatically adjusts beamline deflector magnets to correct deviations, eliminating the need for manual intervention and treatment interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam alignment system performs self-correction through automated control loops that detect position errors and adjust deflector magnets without operator intervention. The system monitors its own performance and corrects deviations autonomously, reducing both treatment time and operator error risk while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If beam alignment is corrected by stopping treatment and manually adjusting the system, then beam positioning accuracy is improved, but the risk of operator error increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated feedback control system continuously monitors beam position and automatically corrects deviations through the control system and deflector magnets, eliminating manual adjustment operations and associated operator errors while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs autonomous self-correction of beam alignment through integrated detectors and control systems that automatically detect and correct position deviations without human intervention, thereby eliminating operator error risk entirely.
3Measurement precision
If real-time beam trajectory correction is implemented with multiple detectors and correction magnets, then beam positioning accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides beam position correction into independent orthogonal components (x and y directions), with separate detector pairs and correction magnet pairs for each axis. This segmentation allows complex three-dimensional beam control to be achieved through coordinated operation of simpler, independent subsystems.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system serves multiple functions: it processes data from multiple detectors, calculates beam position and angle deviations, generates correction signals, and controls multiple deflector magnets. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated control platform.
4Manufacturing precision
If beam offset and angle are controlled independently in two planes, then beam alignment precision is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system independently manages orthogonal beam parameters (x-offset, y-offset, x-angle, y-angle) through separate detector pairs and correction magnet pairs for each axis, allowing precise control of each parameter while maintaining modular system architecture that simplifies overall control.
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 ensures accurate and efficient beam alignment in real-time, reducing treatment time, minimizing exposure to healthy tissues, and maintaining the intended dose distribution, thereby improving patient throughput and reducing operator intervention.
Implementation Method 1
beamline deflector magnets to generate magnetic fields to deflect said generated particle beam along a defined trajectory towards a scan nozzle
Implementation Method 2
correction magnets configured to generate magnetic fields to correct a measured position error of the deflected particle beam
Implementation Method 3
The principle generally relies on the controlled and localized deposition of sufficient energy in a treatment volume... ionizing radiation is used to physically overcome the diseased tissue's survival thresholds and thereby destroy the diseased tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for providing a closed loop, real time control of a charged particle pencil beam is disclosed. The system includes a first detector apparatus, a second detector apparatus, a first orthogonal magnetic deflector apparatus, a second orthogonal magnetic deflector apparatus, and a controller. The controller compares the measured position and beam angle of the beam with a model position and beam angle of a model beam to determine an offset error and a beam angle error. The first orthogonal magnetic deflector apparatus includes a pair of electromagnets to correct a first component of the offset and beam angle errors. The second orthogonal magnetic deflector apparatus includes a pair of electromagnets to correct a second component of the offset and beam angle errors. The beam can be iteratively adjusted during patient therapy or short pauses in patient therapy.