Charged Particle Beam Treatment Planning System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charged particle beam treatment systems face prolonged irradiation times due to low scanning speeds at locations requiring high doses, leading to increased total treatment time.
Innovation Solution
A treatment planning system that calculates and sets a higher current value for the charged particle beam by cutting off doses equal to or smaller than predetermined cut-off values, allowing for optimized scanning speeds based on dose distribution, thereby shortening irradiation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the charged particle beam scans at high speed to reduce irradiation time, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates because high doses cannot be delivered accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the irradiation process by dividing the treatment plan into multiple sub-fields, each with its own optimized current value. The calculation unit calculates dose distribution separately for each sub-field based on predetermined cut-off dose values, allowing different scanning conditions for different regions. This segmentation enables high-speed scanning in low-dose regions while maintaining accuracy in high-dose regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the beam current parameter dynamically based on the dose requirements of different sub-fields. The calculation unit determines appropriate current values for each sub-field by referencing cut-off dose values, and the control unit adjusts the beam current accordingly during scanning. This parameter change allows the system to optimize both scanning speed and dose accuracy for different treatment regions.
2Productivity
If the charged particle beam uses high current value to shorten irradiation time, then productivity is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen due to potential overheating or damage from excessive dose
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different current values to different sub-fields based on their specific dose requirements. The calculation unit determines the appropriate current value for each sub-field by comparing the required dose against predetermined cut-off values. This ensures that high current values are only applied where appropriate, preventing overheating and overdose damage in sensitive regions while maintaining high productivity in regions that can tolerate higher doses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the calculation unit continuously evaluates the dose distribution and adjusts the current values for subsequent sub-fields accordingly. The system references the cut-off dose values and the accumulated dose distribution to determine appropriate current values, ensuring that the total dose remains within safe limits while optimizing irradiation time. This feedback control prevents harmful effects from excessive dosing.
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment planning system for performing treatment planning of a charged particle beam treatment includes a calculation unit that calculates a dose distribution and an irradiation time required for the irradiation in a case where an irradiation target body is irradiated with a charged particle beam, corresponding to a plurality of predetermined cut-off dose values, and an output unit that outputs each of the cut-off values, data based on the dose distribution corresponding to each of the cut-off dose values, and the irradiation time corresponding to each of the cut-off dose values, to a display unit. The calculation unit cuts off an irradiation location having a dose which is equal to or smaller than the cut-off dose value, from doses required in respective irradiation locations of the irradiation target body, and thereafter, sets a current value of the charged particle beam when the dose distribution is calculated.