Dynamic Anthropomorphic Phantom Control for Radiologic Treatment Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiologic treatment systems face challenges in quality control and compliance with radiation plans due to complex patient movements, which can lead to misalignment and deviation from intended treatment, especially when imaging devices are integrated for online adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A test system comprising an anthropomorphic phantom with flexible components and actuators, controlled by a programmable logic controller, simulates human body motions to test radiologic treatment systems, ensuring realistic conditions and effective interaction with imaging devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fixed phantoms are used for quality control, then the testing process is simple and fast, but the simulation of realistic patient movements is insufficient leading to misalignment risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the traditional fixed phantom into a dynamic phantom system that can simulate realistic patient movements. The phantom includes movable components with degrees of freedom that allow simulation of respiratory motion, cardiac motion, and other physiological movements. This dynamic capability enables the phantom to realistically represent moving target positions and organ deformations during treatment, thereby improving quality control reliability without excessive complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the phantom into multiple independent movable components, each with specific degrees of freedom. The phantom body is segmented into movable segments that can simulate different types of motions (respiratory, cardiac, peristalsis) independently. This segmentation allows complex movements to be broken down into manageable components, making the system controllable and testable while maintaining realistic motion simulation.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex patient movements are simulated to improve treatment accuracy, then the testing realism increases, but the system complexity and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic phantom system implements realistic patient movements through multiple movable components with defined degrees of freedom. Each component can simulate specific physiological motions (respiratory, cardiac, peristalsis) with controlled amplitudes and frequencies. This dynamic approach achieves high treatment alignment precision by accurately representing target position variations and organ deformations that occur during actual treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes parameter changes to control the motion characteristics of the phantom. By adjusting parameters such as motion amplitude, frequency, phase, and type (respiratory, cardiac, peristalsis), the system can simulate various patient-specific movement patterns. This parameter-based control allows flexible adjustment of motion characteristics to match different treatment scenarios without requiring complex mechanical reconfiguration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple actuators and controllers are added to simulate realistic motions, then the motion simulation capability improves, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various motion types through a unified control architecture. The same controller can manage different actuator types (motors, pneumatic devices) and implement different motion patterns (respiratory, cardiac, peristalsis) by changing control parameters. This universal approach allows the system to achieve high motion simulation versatility without proportionally increasing control system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces intermediate control elements that mediate between the control signals and the actuators. These intermediaries (such as motion profiles, trajectory generators, and coordination controllers) simplify the control task by pre-processing motion requirements and translating them into actuator-specific commands. This intermediary layer reduces the overall control system complexity by abstracting the complexity of coordinating multiple actuators.
4Reliability
If the phantom components are made flexible and movable to simulate organ deformations, then the realism of treatment simulation improves, but the manufacturing and assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phantom is divided into multiple separable components that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. Each component (body segments, organs, actuators) can be produced using standard manufacturing techniques, and the modular design facilitates easy assembly and disassembly. This segmentation approach maintains treatment simulation reliability by preserving the functional relationships between components while significantly improving ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom incorporates flexible shells and thin film structures to simulate soft tissue deformations and organ movements. These flexible components can be manufactured using elastomeric materials and molding techniques, allowing realistic deformation behavior while maintaining structural integrity. The use of flexible materials enables the phantom to accurately represent tissue mechanics and organ dynamics without requiring complex rigid mechanical structures.
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 allows for realistic simulation of human body motions, improving quality control and reducing the risk of misalignment during treatment, enabling safer and more precise radiologic treatments by simulating complex organ movements and deformations.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of actuators configured for at least one of deforming and moving the flexible components within the receptacle
Data Source
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AI summary
A test system (124) for testing a system (110) for radiologic treatment. The test system (124) comprises: • A. at least one anthropomorphic phantom (118) for simulating motion of at least one part of a human body (116); and • B. a control device (122) for controlling the phantom (118), comprising • • a programmable logic controller (160), • • a plurality of controller nodes (162), • • a plurality of device controllers (164) configured for controlling the actuators (140), and • • at least one real-time bus interface (166) connecting the controller nodes (162) to the programmable logic controller (160) and to the device controllers (164). The programmable logic controller (160) is configured to act as a master device with respect to the controller nodes (162), specifically with respect to each of the controller nodes (162). The controller nodes (162) are configured to act as master devices with respect to the device controllers (164).