Flexible Radiation Shielding Jig for BNCT Neutron Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation shielding materials, such as LiF-containing polyethylene resin, face challenges including lack of fluidity and flexibility, insufficient shielding performance against low-energy neutrons, and non-uniform particle distribution, leading to radiation leakage and poor positioning accuracy in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT).
Innovation Solution
A radiation shielding jig composed of sintered particles and resin particles with adjustable mixing ratios and particle sizes, filled into a flexible tare structure, providing excellent fluidity and deformation capabilities to fit the patient's affected area and absorb leaked radiation, while ensuring effective shielding across a wide neutron energy range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional radiation shielding materials like LiF-containing polyethylene resin are used, then shielding performance against fast neutrons is improved, but fluidity and flexibility are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the shielding material from solid resin to liquid droplets suspended in a carrier fluid. This parameter change allows the material to maintain radiation shielding capabilities while gaining fluidity and flexibility for easy application and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system combining radiation shielding material (LiF-containing polyethylene resin droplets) with a carrier fluid. This composite structure allows the shielding material to be delivered and positioned flexibly while maintaining its radiation shielding function when in contact with the radiation beam.
2Ease of manufacture
If uniform mixing ratio of shielding materials is used throughout, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but shielding performance against low-energy neutrons in the latter part becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the concentration of shielding material droplets along the radiation beam path. The mixing ratio is increased in the downstream region where low-energy neutrons are more prevalent, providing enhanced shielding performance where needed while maintaining simpler composition in upstream regions.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid shielding structure is used, then structural stability is improved, but positioning accuracy and adaptability to patient shape are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a rigid shielding structure to a dynamic liquid-based system. The liquid shielding material can flow and adapt to the patient's body shape and positioning requirements, providing both structural stability through sufficient material presence and positioning accuracy through fluid adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a carrier fluid as an intermediary medium that delivers the shielding material droplets to the desired location. This intermediary allows the shielding material to be positioned accurately while maintaining structural integrity through the combined system of carrier fluid and shielding droplets.
4Ease of operation
If shielding material particles are aggregated, then ease of handling is improved, but uniform particle distribution and shielding effectiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydraulic principles by suspending shielding material droplets in a carrier fluid. This fluid-based system allows the shielding material to be easily handled, pumped, and delivered to the treatment site while maintaining uniform distribution through fluid dynamics, preventing aggregation issues.
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 solution enhances positioning accuracy, reduces radiation leakage, and improves shielding performance, allowing for comfortable patient positioning and efficient treatment by adapting to the patient's shape and energy spectrum of the neutron beam.
Implementation Method 1
Fast neutrons are absorbed and slowed down by body fluids (the main components are water (H2O) and nitrogen (N)), which are the main components of the body, and gradually transformed into epithermal neutron.
Implementation Method 2
The thermal neutrons generated in the absorption and moderation process react with 10B in the boron compound administered to the affected area to destroy the cancer cells, the so-called neutron capture reaction.
Implementation Method 3
A radiation shielding jig composed of sintered particles and resin particles with adjustable mixing ratios and particle sizes, filled into a flexible tare structure, providing excellent fluidity and deformation capabilities to fit the patient's affected area and absorb leaked radiation
Data Source
AI summary
The purpose is to prevent the irradiation beam from leaking between the beam irradiation port of the radiation therapy device and the patient affected area that is the target of the emitted irradiation beam, a radiation shielding jig comprising a tare filled with shielding material particles; the tare is made of a resin fabric and has a hollow three-dimensional shape with a radiation pathway portion, the shielding material particles comprising a mixture of sintered particles having a predetermined particle diameter with radiation shielding performance and resin particles having a predetermined particle diameter.