Continuous Unidirectional Rotation Radiotherapy Gantry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radiotherapy systems are limited by a rotating gantry that can only rotate 360 degrees, necessitating segmented or round-trip arc radiotherapy, which increases treatment duration and reduces efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A radiotherapy system and method that enable the radiation source to continuously rotate more than 360 degrees around the patient's longitudinal direction, allowing for uninterrupted arc radiotherapy without the need for reverse rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the radiation source rotates 360 degrees around the patient, then the radiation can be delivered to the tumor from multiple angles, but the treatment must be segmented or performed as round-trip arc radiotherapy, increasing treatment duration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiotherapy efficiencyVSAvoidtreatment duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous unidirectional rotation of the radiation source beyond 360 degrees, eliminating the need to stop and reverse direction. The radiation source rotates continuously in one direction through multiple full circles, maintaining uninterrupted radiation delivery to the tumor from varying angles, thus achieving continuous useful action without segmentation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The radiation source performs periodic rotation through multiple 360-degree cycles in a continuous unidirectional manner. Each rotation cycle delivers radiation from different angular positions, and the periodic nature of these rotations ensures comprehensive tumor coverage while maintaining continuous motion without reversal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Ease of operation

If the radiation source rotates in segmented arcs or round-trip manner, then the rotation is limited by the gantry's mechanical constraints, but this segmentation increases treatment time and reduces efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidradiotherapy efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the conventional approach where the gantry rotates back and forth in limited arcs, the patent inverts the operation by implementing continuous unidirectional rotation beyond 360 degrees. The radiation source rotates continuously in one direction without reversal, fundamentally changing the operational pattern from segmented bidirectional motion to continuous unidirectional motion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Manufacturing precision

If the multi-leaf collimator leaves move continuously during radiation delivery, then the beam shaping adapts to the rotating radiation source, but this requires precise coordination with the rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam shaping precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system implements feedback mechanisms to continuously monitor the radiation source's rotational position and speed, and accordingly adjusts the multi-leaf collimator leaf positions in real-time. This feedback loop ensures precise coordination between the rotating radiation source and the beam-shaping collimator, maintaining accurate beam shaping throughout the continuous rotation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250128094A1Radiotherapy system and method for controlling the same

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 OUR UNITED CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a radiotherapy system, including: a radiation source configured to emit therapeutic rays; a treatment couch configured to carry a patient, the radiation source being capable of rotating around a longitudinal direction of the patient; and a processor configured to control the radiation source to continuously rotate for a radian of greater than 360 degrees in a first direction from a first position around the longitudinal direction of the patient to a second position.