Fixed Cover Irradiation Nozzle for Particle Beam Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current particle beam treatment systems have complex mechanisms that complicate maintenance and increase downtime due to the need for deformable moving floors to accommodate movable irradiation nozzles, which are necessary for precise particle beam irradiation but result in intricate structures.
Innovation Solution
A particle beam treatment system with a simplified mechanism, featuring a fixed cover member between irradiation ports and a movable irradiation nozzle, eliminating the need for a deformable moving floor and reducing the complexity of drive systems, allowing for easier maintenance and reduced costs by sharing the irradiation nozzle across multiple ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a deformable moving floor is installed to accommodate the movable irradiation nozzle, then the access floor can function as a cover for concealing the drive structure, but the mechanism becomes complicated and maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the irradiation nozzle from the cover structure. The irradiation nozzle is movable between multiple irradiation ports while the cover structure remains fixed, eliminating the need for a deformable moving floor. This segmentation allows the cover to be a simple fixed structure rather than a complex deformable one.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed cover structure serves multiple functions: it conceals the drive structure for moving the irradiation nozzle, provides structural support, and maintains the treatment room environment. By making the cover fixed rather than movable, it becomes a universal structure that performs these functions without requiring complex deformation mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a deformable moving floor is installed to accommodate the movable irradiation nozzle, then the access floor can follow the nozzle movement, but maintenance work takes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cover structure into a fixed cover that remains stationary and a movable irradiation nozzle that moves independently. This segmentation allows the cover to maintain its fixed, simple structure while still accommodating nozzle movement through the fixed irradiation ports, greatly simplifying maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed irradiation ports serve as intermediaries between the movable nozzle and the fixed cover structure. The nozzle moves to align with different ports, and the ports provide the interface through which the beam passes, eliminating the need for the cover itself to move or deform.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple irradiation ports are provided with shared irradiation nozzle, then cost is reduced, but the mechanism for moving the nozzle becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A single irradiation nozzle is designed to serve multiple irradiation ports by moving between them. The nozzle is a universal component that can be positioned at any of the multiple ports, eliminating the need for separate nozzles for each port and reducing overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having multiple complete irradiation nozzle assemblies, the system uses one nozzle that is copied in position across multiple ports. The nozzle is moved to different locations to serve multiple functions, reducing the number of expensive components needed while maintaining full functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a particle beam treatment system which has a simple mechanism and which is excellent in maintainability. Irradiation devices 10a and 10b respectively have a plurality of irradiation ports 102a, 102b, and 102c for irradiating a target with a particle beam in a plurality of directions. In addition, an irradiation nozzle unit 105 of the irradiation devices 10a and 10b is movable between the plurality of irradiation ports 102a, 102b, and 102c. A fixed cover structure 107 is disposed between the plurality of irradiation ports 102a, 102b, and 102c and the irradiation nozzle unit 105. In addition, the cover structure 107 has a slit 110 for allowing the irradiation nozzle unit 105 to move therethrough.