Charged Particle Beam Irradiation System with Real-Time Position Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current charged particle beam irradiation systems for treating tumors face challenges in shortening treatment time, which increases the burden on patients and limits the number of treatments that can be performed, due to inefficiencies in irradiation time and dose distribution.

Innovation Solution

A charged particle beam irradiation system that includes a charged particle beam generating unit, scanning electromagnets, beam irradiation apparatus, and beam position/ dose measuring instruments, which divides the irradiation target into layers and spots, allowing for real-time measurement and adjustment of beam position and width, and splits the dose into multiple sections to optimize irradiation efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the irradiation dose per spot is increased to shorten treatment time, then the dose rate improves, but the risk of beam position deviation and treatment safety issues increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedose rateVSAvoidtreatment safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements real-time feedback by measuring beam position at each spot using beam position measuring instruments and comparing it against predetermined allowable ranges. When deviation is detected, the system automatically interrupts beam irradiation, creating a closed-loop control system that enables higher dose rates while maintaining treatment safety through continuous monitoring and immediate correction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If beam position is measured at every spot to ensure safety, then treatment reliability improves, but the time required for position verification and treatment efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam position accuracyVSAvoidtreatment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing allowable position ranges for each spot before irradiation begins. During treatment, the beam position measuring instruments quickly check whether measurements fall within these predetermined ranges, eliminating the need for complex real-time calculations and enabling rapid verification that maintains both accuracy and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement and control process is segmented into discrete spot-by-spot operations. The beam position is measured, evaluated against predetermined ranges, and corrected at each individual spot independently. This segmentation allows for efficient, modular processing that maintains high treatment efficiency while ensuring comprehensive safety verification at each irradiation location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If the number of re-paints is reduced by increasing dose per spot, then treatment time shortens, but the precision of dose distribution control decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveirradiation timeVSAvoiddose distribution precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic adaptation by continuously adjusting beam parameters based on real-time position measurements. When position deviations are detected during irradiation, the system dynamically corrects beam positioning and recalculates dose distribution, enabling precise dose delivery even when treating fewer spots with higher doses, thus maintaining precision while reducing treatment time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 approach significantly shortens the irradiation time, reduces the number of re-paints, and improves the dose rate by allowing for precise control and adjustment of the charged particle beam, thereby enhancing treatment efficiency and reducing patient burden.

Implementation Method 1

a charged particle beam generating unit configured to accelerate and extract a charged particle beam to an irradiation target

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCharged particle acceleration: Electromagnetic Propulsion

Implementation Method 2

scanning electromagnets configured to scan the accelerated charged particle beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLorentz force: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentEP2923733B1Charged particle beam irradiation system
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 HITACHI LTD
  • EP2923733B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2923733B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2923733B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The charged particle beam irradiation system (1) includes a charged particle beam generating unit for accelerating a charged particle beam, scanning electromagnets for scanning the charged particle beam, a beam irradiation apparatus (5) for irradiating the accelerated charged particle beam to irradiation spots of an irradiation target, beam radiation dose measuring instrument (s) (59) for obtaining a dose of the charged particle beam passing through the beam irradiation apparatus, and a beam position measuring instrument for obtaining one or both of the position and the width of the beam scanned by the scanning electromagnets. The beam position measuring instrument (58) obtains one or both of the position and the width of the beam for each irradiation spot and determines whether the obtained result is within an allowable range and obtains one or both of the position and the width of the charged particle beam for each split during irradiation to the spot with the charged particle beam regarding a split of which a dose is managed by dividing a part of or all of irradiation spots into irradiation sections and determines whether the obtained result is within an allowable range.