BNCT Treatment Planning With 3D Boron Distribution Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional radiotherapy methods, such as photon or electron therapy, cause significant harm to normal tissues due to their physical limitations and are ineffective against radio-resistant tumors like glioblastoma multiforme and melanoma, while neutron capture therapy lacks accurate modeling of boron concentration distribution, affecting dose calculation reliability.
Innovation Solution
A BNCT system with a neutron beam irradiation device, treatment plan module, and control module that uses medical imaging data to establish a 3D voxel prosthesis tissue model with precise boron concentration data, performing dose simulation and calculation to generate accurate treatment plans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional photon or electron therapy is used, then the treatment can be applied widely, but it causes significant harm to normal tissues and is ineffective against radio-resistant tumors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radiation dose delivery by using multiple irradiation beams from different directions, allowing precise targeting of tumor regions while distributing and minimizing dose to surrounding normal tissues. The treatment plan divides the irradiated site into multiple regions with different dose requirements based on boron concentration distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by adjusting radiation dose distribution according to spatial variations in boron concentration. Regions with high boron concentration receive higher doses, while normal tissues receive lower doses. The system creates a non-uniform dose distribution that matches the local boron uptake pattern, maximizing tumor cell killing while protecting normal tissues.
2Reliability
If given boron concentration information from blood sample test or slice test is used in the model, then the dose calculation can be performed, but it does not consider real distribution of boron drugs and metabolic condition, affecting reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback by using actual medical imaging data (PET, SPECT, or MRI) to measure and map the real-time boron concentration distribution in the patient's body. This measured distribution feeds back into the treatment planning system, allowing continuous adjustment and refinement of the dose calculation model to match actual boron uptake and metabolic conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical sampling methods (blood tests or slice tests) with non-invasive medical imaging techniques. PET, SPECT, or MRI imaging systems substitute for physical sampling and laboratory analysis, providing three-dimensional spatial mapping of boron concentration without disrupting the patient's metabolic state or requiring invasive procedures.
3Measurement precision
If accurate 3D voxel prosthesis tissue model with precise boron concentration data is established, then dose simulation accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by using a single integrated treatment planning system that performs multiple functions: it processes medical imaging data, reconstructs three-dimensional anatomical models, maps boron concentration distribution, simulates neutron beam transport, calculates dose distribution, and generates treatment plans. This multi-functional system eliminates the need for separate specialized tools for each step, reducing overall system complexity despite the sophistication of individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary treatment planning system that acts as a bridge between medical imaging data and dose calculation. This intermediary layer automatically processes and transforms raw imaging data into standardized three-dimensional models with embedded boron concentration information, simplifying the workflow for clinicians while maintaining high accuracy in dose simulation.
Data Source
AI summary
A boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) system includes a neutron beam irradiation device, a treatment planning module, and a control module. The neutron beam irradiation device is used to generate a therapeutic neutron beam during irradiation therapy and irradiate same to an irradiated body that has ingested a boron (10B)-containing drug so as to form an irradiated site. According to medical image data of the irradiated site and a parameter of the therapeutic neutron beam generated by the neutron beam irradiation device, the treatment planning module performs a dosage simulation calculation and generates a treatment plan, the medical image data of the irradiated site comprising tissue-related information and boron (10B) concentration-related information. The control module retrieves, from the treatment planning module, a treatment plan corresponding to the irradiated body, and controls the neutron beam irradiation device to perform irradiation therapy on the irradiated body according to the treatment plan.