Charged Particle Therapy Control System for Tumor Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current charged particle irradiation therapy systems face challenges in accurately and precisely delivering a uniform radiation dose to tumors, locating tumors accurately, controlling patient positioning, energy, intensity, and timing of radiation delivery, and minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Innovation Solution
A charged particle treatment delivery control system that integrates control of multiple subsystems, including imaging, patient positioning, and radiation delivery, using a negative ion beam source, synchrotron, and patient positioning systems to deliver a uniform radiation dose while minimizing healthy tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If charged particle irradiation therapy is used to treat tumors, then tumor treatment efficacy is improved, but damage to surrounding healthy tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by delivering charged particle beams from multiple directions simultaneously, with each beam contributing to a uniform dose distribution specifically at the tumor location. The system uses imaging and positioning to ensure radiation is concentrated at the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue, achieving different radiation doses at different locations based on spatial coordinates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the radiation delivery process by using multiple independent charged particle beam sources positioned at different locations and orientations. Each source can be independently controlled to deliver portions of the total required dose, allowing precise control over which areas receive radiation and at what intensity, thereby protecting healthy tissue while treating the tumor.
2Measurement precision
If precise tumor location and positioning control are implemented, then radiation delivery accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by integrating imaging capabilities, patient positioning systems, and charged particle beam delivery into a single unified treatment system. The same system components serve multiple purposes: imaging systems provide both diagnostic information and positioning data, while the beam delivery system handles both radiation therapy and real-time monitoring, reducing overall system complexity despite enhanced precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where imaging systems continuously monitor tumor position and patient movement during treatment. This real-time information feeds back to the beam delivery system, allowing dynamic adjustment of beam parameters and positioning to maintain accurate radiation delivery. The feedback loop ensures precision while automating the control process, reducing manual intervention complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple subsystems are integrated for comprehensive control, then treatment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple previously separate subsystems including imaging equipment, patient positioning systems, and charged particle beam accelerators into an integrated treatment platform. This consolidation allows the systems to share common infrastructure such as control computers, coordination software, and safety systems, achieving uniform radiation dose delivery while managing the complexity through functional integration rather than complete separation.
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 enables precise and efficient tumor treatment with reduced damage to surrounding healthy tissue by accurately controlling radiation delivery and patient positioning, enhancing treatment efficacy and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a synchrotron to accelerate charged particles and generate a charged particle beam
Implementation Method 2
a negative ion beam source that generates negative ions, converts the negative ions to positive ions, and focuses the positive ions into a positive ion beam
Implementation Method 3
Proton therapy works by aiming energetic ionizing particles, such as protons accelerated with a particle accelerator, onto a target tumor. These particles damage the DNA of cells, ultimately causing their death.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for control of a charged particle cancer therapy system. A treatment delivery control system is used to directly control multiple subsystems of the cancer therapy system without direct communication between selected subsystems, which enhances safety, simplifies quality assurance and quality control, and facilitates programming. For example, the treatment delivery control system directly controls one or more of: an imaging system, a positioning system, an injection system, a radio-frequency quadrupole system, a ring accelerator or synchrotron, an extraction system, a beam line, an irradiation nozzle, a gantry, a display system, a targeting system, and a verification system. Generally, the control system integrates subsystems and/or integrates output of one or more of the above described cancer therapy system elements with inputs of one or more of the above described cancer therapy system elements.