Flash Proton Therapy Beam Positioning With Post-Patient Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current charged particle cancer therapy systems face challenges in achieving safe, accurate, precise, and rapid imaging and treatment of tumors using charged particles.
Innovation Solution
A charged particle beam therapy system that includes a method and apparatus for treating tumors with positively charged particles, using a beam transport system, nozzle, and detectors for precise positioning and imaging, along with fiducial markers for dynamic determination of treatment room objects' positions, enabling isocenterless treatment and adaptive radiation planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional charged particle therapy systems are used, then treatment can be delivered, but mechanical errors and positioning inaccuracies occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical positioning systems with a vision-based optical system. Cameras and fiducial markers are used to detect and track tumor position, eliminating reliance on mechanical gantry positioning. The system uses image processing to calculate beam angles and positions, substituting mechanical measurement with optical measurement to achieve sub-millimeter accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the treatment geometry through fiducial markers attached to the patient. These markers serve as optical replicas that can be detected by cameras, allowing the system to determine actual treatment positions without relying on mechanical positioning. The markers are imaged and their positions are used to calculate the correct beam delivery parameters.
2Productivity
If mechanical positioning systems are used, then beam delivery is possible, but speed and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic imaging during treatment delivery, where cameras capture images of fiducial markers at regular intervals. This allows the system to continuously monitor tumor position and make real-time adjustments to beam delivery. The periodic nature of the imaging enables both speed (rapid sequential imaging) and adaptability (real-time position correction).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where tumor position is continuously measured using fiducial markers and cameras, and this information is fed back to adjust beam delivery parameters in real-time. The system calculates the difference between planned and actual positions and compensates by adjusting beam angles and intensities, enabling adaptive treatment that responds to patient movement.
3Measurement precision
If imaging is performed during treatment, then positioning accuracy improves, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the imaging function and treatment delivery function into a single integrated process. Instead of performing imaging separately before treatment, the system uses fiducial markers that are imaged continuously during beam delivery. The same optical system that images the markers also guides the beam, combining measurement and treatment into one simultaneous operation to eliminate time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous useful action by performing imaging and treatment simultaneously rather than sequentially. The fiducial markers are imaged continuously throughout the treatment process, allowing real-time position verification without interrupting beam delivery. This continuous imaging approach ensures positioning accuracy is maintained throughout treatment without adding time overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor of a patient with positively charged particles, comprising the steps of: (1) transporting the positively charged particles sequentially from an accelerator, through a beam transport line, through a nozzle, and toward a position of the tumor; (2) treating the tumor with first particles, of the positively charged particles, where at least fifty percent of the first particles pass through a patient position, from the nozzle, to a post-patient position; and (3) detecting a beam position of the first particles in the post-patient position with a detector. The flash treatment preferably delivers the first particles at a rate exceeding one MHz.