Bite-Block Stabilization for Radiotherapy Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing immobilization systems for radiotherapy, particularly in the head and neck region, face challenges in achieving high accuracy and comfort due to difficulties in immobilizing the area while allowing breathing and minimizing bulk, which affects treatment precision and patient comfort.
Innovation Solution
A bite-block stabilization system with a dental interface and integral airway passage, allowing for accurate repositioning and unobstructed breathing, combined with a retention mask that is moldable to the patient's contours and secured by a releasable retainer, ensuring high reproducibility and minimal bulk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a retention mask is heated and molded to the patient's head to achieve precise positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to the bulk and heat
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the immobilization function into separate components: a lightweight bite block for intraoral stabilization and a separate retention mask for external support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the bite block provides precise positioning without the bulk of a full thermoplastic mask, while the retention mask can be removed or adjusted for patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The bite block serves as an intermediary element between the patient's teeth and the retention mask. It provides a stable reference point for positioning without requiring the entire head to be enclosed in a bulky mask, thereby improving comfort while maintaining positioning accuracy through the dental interface.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a bulky immobilization device is used to stabilize the head and neck area, then positioning stability is improved, but treatment precision deteriorates due to mass attenuation of radiotherapy beams
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the essential stabilization function from the bulky mask and relocates it to the lightweight bite block within the oral cavity. This removes unnecessary mass from the treatment path while preserving positioning stability through the dental structures, which are inherently stable and do not attenuate radiation beams.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mask is designed as a thin, lightweight structure that provides necessary stabilization without the bulk of traditional immobilization devices. When combined with the bite block, it achieves positioning stability with minimal mass, reducing beam attenuation while maintaining treatment precision.
3Reliability
If the head and neck area is tightly immobilized to achieve high positioning accuracy, then repeatability is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to restricted breathing
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the immobilization approach by focusing stabilization on the intraoral bite block rather than enclosing the entire head and neck. This allows the airway to remain open and unobstructed while the bite block provides reliable repositioning reference points through the dental structures, achieving repeatability without compromising breathing comfort.
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
The system provides highly accurate and reproducible patient positioning with unobstructed breathing and minimal bulk, enhancing treatment precision and patient comfort during radiotherapy.
Implementation Method 1
Masks are heated to a temperature of about 160° F (71° C), and formed directly on to the patient's head or other body part. The masks may be affixed to a table supporting the patient and cooled to form a firm mask holding the patient steady for treatment.
Implementation Method 2
Low-temperature thermoplastics for patient positioning are well-known and dates back to splinting devices invented in the 1960's. Splints are heated, usually in hot water, to a temperature of about 160° F, whereupon they become pliable and can be molded by hand directly on the patient's body part.
Data Source
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AI summary
An immobilization system, especially for use on the human head and neck area, is described in various embodiments. The system may include a bite block immobilization system having a bite block with a dental interface releasably engageable with a plurality of teeth of a patient, and a retention mask. The dental interface releasably engages the teeth of a patient and allows very highly accurate repositioning during multiple procedures. In some embodiments, the bite block may have an integral bite block airway passage, allowing a patient to have unobstructed breathing both during molding of the retention mask and during subsequent use of the system, and may include a tongue diverter, that may, by way of example only and not limitation, be used to divert the tongue away from a therapeutic radiation beam. Steps for utilizing the system are further described.