Dynamic Electron Beam Shaping via Magnetic Field Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electron radiotherapy systems face challenges in precisely focusing the radiotherapy beam on target locations, leading to increased collateral radiation damage and quality of life effects due to the need to irradiate larger tissue volumes to ensure complete cell death.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that apply a magnetic field to control the spatial distribution of electrons in an electron beam, allowing for dynamic shifting and redirection of the beam to deliver a high energy dose to a small internal target location within the body, using an electron beam generator and a magnetic field generator synchronized by a controller, with options for multiple dipoles and multileaf collimators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the irradiated area is increased to include additional tissue volume and the dosage is increased to ensure complete cell death in the target location, then the reliability of cell death in target location is improved, but the collateral radiation damage to surrounding tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a transverse magnetic field specifically at the target region to create localized electron spiraling and dose concentration. This provides non-uniform field distribution where the magnetic field is applied only where needed (at the tumor site) rather than uniformly across the entire beam path, thereby concentrating radiation dose in the target while minimizing collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the electron beam by introducing a magnetic field that alters electron trajectory and depth-dose distribution. The magnetic field strength, orientation, and spatial distribution are adjusted to optimize dose concentration at the target depth while reducing dose to superficial and deeper tissues, effectively changing the radiation delivery parameters to achieve better therapeutic ratio.
2Manufacturing precision
If a transverse magnetic field is introduced to cause electrons to spiral and produce an effective peak in depth-dose distribution, then the therapeutic dose distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the magnetic field system with the existing linear accelerator infrastructure, where the magnetic field generator serves multiple purposes: shaping the electron beam, controlling depth-dose distribution, and enabling retargeting capabilities. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices and minimizes overall system complexity despite the addition of magnetic field components.
3Measurement precision
If the beam is dynamically shifted and the magnetic field is dynamically redirected synchronously, then the precision of target delivery is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements synchronous control where the magnetic field redirection is coordinated with beam shifting to maintain precise target delivery. The control system monitors beam position and adjusts magnetic field orientation accordingly, creating a feedback mechanism that compensates for positioning variations and maintains accurate dose delivery to the moving target.
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 achieves therapeutic efficiency comparable to ion beam therapy while being significantly less expensive and can be integrated with existing electron beam systems, delivering a higher energy dose to a small internal target with reduced collateral damage.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
apply a magnetic field such as to control the spatial distribution of the electrons in an electron beam
Data Source
AI summary
A radiotherapy system is disclosed. The radiotherapy system comprises an electron beam generator for generating an electron beam and a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field. In some embodiments of the present invention, the system further comprises a controller for controlling the electron beam and the magnetic field generators such that the electron beam is dynamically shifted and the magnetic field is dynamically redirected synchronously with the shifting.