Boron Medicament Feed Path Through Shielding Doors in Neutron Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional radiotherapy methods, such as photon or electron therapy, cause significant damage to normal tissues due to their broad radiation beams, and are ineffective against radiation-resistant tumors like glioblastoma and melanoma, while neutron capture therapy requires continuous medicament supply to maintain effective boron concentration in the body during treatment.
Innovation Solution
A medicament supply apparatus that allows continuous supply of boron-containing medicine to a patient by bypassing shielding doors in a neutron capture therapy system, using a containing mechanism with containers and slots to maintain uninterrupted medicament delivery during neutron irradiation, and shielding materials to protect the medicament from neutron exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a shielding door is used to protect the irradiation room, then radiation safety is improved, but the medicament supply path is blocked and continuous supply cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall is segmented to include a slot body that creates a separate passage for the medicament supply channel. This allows the shielding door to close completely for radiation protection while the medicament channel remains open for continuous supply during treatment
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated medicament supply channel acts as an intermediary structure that penetrates through the partition wall. This channel allows medicament to flow continuously from the control room to the irradiation room without being blocked by the shielding door, maintaining both safety and supply continuity
2Reliability
If the shielding door is closed during treatment, then radiation leakage is prevented, but medicament supply must be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The medicament supply channel is pre-installed and positioned within the partition wall structure before the shielding door is closed. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the supply path is already established and can operate independently when the door closes, preventing any interruption in medicament delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The medicament supply channel is designed to maintain continuous flow throughout the treatment process. The channel's positioning and structure ensure uninterrupted medicament delivery even when the shielding door is closed, allowing the useful action of medicament supply to continue without interruption
3Productivity
If the medicament passing member passes through the partition wall, then continuous supply is enabled, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The medicament supply channel is merged with the partition wall structure by positioning it within the slot body. This integration allows the channel to pass through the wall without requiring separate complex penetration structures, simplifying the overall design while maintaining continuous supply capability
Solution Approach 2:
The slot body structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the partition wall, creates a passage for the medicament channel, and maintains the integrity of the radiation barrier. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized structures, simplifying the overall design
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
Ensures continuous medicament supply to the patient, maintaining effective boron concentration for treatment efficacy while minimizing exposure to neutron radiation, thus enhancing treatment efficiency and reducing damage to normal tissues.
Implementation Method 1
By the specific aggregation of the boron-containing medicine in human tumor cells
Implementation Method 2
When captured by 10B in the tumor cells, neutrons can undergo fission to generate α particles and 7Li particles
Implementation Method 3
A medicament supply apparatus that allows continuous supply of boron-containing medicine to a patient by bypassing shielding doors in a neutron capture therapy system, using a containing mechanism with containers and slots to maintain uninterrupted medicament delivery during neutron irradiation, and shielding materials to protect the medicament from neutron exposure
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the present invention relates to a medicament supply apparatus applied to a neutron capture therapy system, including a medicament passing member, configured to supply a medicament to a to-be-irradiated body; and a containing mechanism, configured to contain the medicament passing member, the containing mechanism including a first container arranged on a partition wall. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a neutron capture therapy system including the above medicament supply apparatus. By designing the containing mechanism, the medicament passing member outside a shielding door can bypass the shielding door and directly enter an irradiation room. In a process of moving the to-be-irradiated body from a medicament control room to the irradiation room, medicament supplying does not need to be stopped, thereby achieving a purpose of continuously supplying the medicament to the to-be-irradiated body.