Composite Radiation Collimator Fin for Precision Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiotherapy collimation fins made entirely of tungsten or tungsten compounds are expensive and difficult to join accurately, leading to challenges in achieving the required precision and stability for shielding surrounding tissues during therapeutic radiation treatment.
Innovation Solution
The fin is composed of a collimation area made of tungsten or a tungsten compound for radiation attenuation, and a holding area made of a different material such as copper-nickel compound, brass, titanium, steel, stainless steel, or aluminum alloy, pressed together via hot isostatic pressing with a sintered material to form a stable connection, allowing for precise adjustment and reduced material costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fin is made entirely of tungsten or tungsten compound, then radiation attenuation performance is improved, but manufacturing cost and difficulty of joining increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fin is designed with different material properties in different areas: the collimation area uses tungsten or tungsten compound for optimal radiation attenuation, while the holding area uses a different material (such as steel, copper-nickel compound, brass, titanium, or aluminum alloy) that is easier and less expensive to manufacture. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying high-performance material only where radiation shielding is critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The fin combines multiple materials with different properties into a single composite structure. The collimation area and holding area are made from different materials that are pressed together, creating a composite fin that optimizes both radiation attenuation performance and manufacturing ease. This composite approach allows each material to contribute its strengths while mitigating the weaknesses of individual materials.
2Ease of manufacture
If the fin is made of a single material, then joining and manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different functional requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different areas of the fin are assigned different materials based on their specific functional requirements. The collimation area requires tungsten for radiation attenuation, while the holding area requires materials suitable for precise adjustment and mounting. This local quality differentiation enables the fin to meet diverse functional requirements within a single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The fin is segmented into two distinct functional areas: the collimation area and the holding area. Each segment can be manufactured from materials optimized for its specific function, then joined together. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each area's material properties while maintaining overall fin functionality.
3Reliability
If the fin is made of tungsten, then radiation collimation effectiveness is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Tungsten or tungsten compound is used only in the collimation area where radiation attenuation is required, rather than throughout the entire fin. The holding area uses lighter materials such as aluminum alloy, titanium, or steel, reducing the overall weight of the fin while maintaining radiation collimation effectiveness in the critical area.
4Manufacturing precision
If the fin requires high precision adjustment (5 μm or 0.2 μm accuracy), then radiation field positioning accuracy is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The holding area is made from materials that are easier to machine and adjust with high precision, such as steel, copper-nickel compound, or aluminum alloy. These materials allow for precise adjustment mechanisms to be integrated into the holding area without the manufacturing difficulties associated with working tungsten, enabling high positioning accuracy (5 μm or 0.2 μm) while reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
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 design achieves the necessary precision and stability for collimating therapeutic radiation while minimizing material costs and weight, enabling easier handling and integration into magnetic resonance tomography systems, with the fin maintaining structural integrity during manufacturing processes like wire erosion and milling.
Implementation Method 1
the first material is configured to collimate therapeutic radiation
Implementation Method 2
pressed together via hot isostatic pressing with a sintered material to form a stable connection
Data Source
AI summary
One or more example embodiments of the present invention relates to a fin for collimating therapeutic radiation. The fin comprises a collimation area made of a first material and a holding area made of a second material. Herein, the collimation area and the holding area are pressed together. Herein, the first material is formed to collimate therapeutic radiation. Herein, the holding area can be coupled to an adjustment device for adjusting the fin.