Gamma Knife Sector Aggregation for Treatment Time Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation therapy systems, such as the Leksell Gamma Knife, face challenges in optimizing treatment plans to minimize treatment time, leading to long irradiation times that are uncomfortable for patients and may have adverse biological effects due to low average dose rates.
Innovation Solution
The method involves grouping sectors with different states for simultaneous delivery of radiation, maximizing the beam-on time for composite shots to reduce total treatment time, and aggregating sectors for simultaneous delivery of radiation during a predetermined period, using a sector planning module to optimize treatment planning and minimize the number of isocenters and beam-on times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the treatment plan delivers radiation with each sector in each state for every isocenter, then the dose distribution to the target volume is optimized, but the total treatment time becomes very long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sector states into composite shots where multiple sectors deliver radiation simultaneously to the same isocenter. This merging of previously sequential operations into parallel composite shots reduces the total number of beam-on events while maintaining the optimized dose distribution, directly resolving the contradiction between treatment precision and treatment time
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment planning system performs preliminary aggregation of sectors into composite shots before treatment delivery. By pre-grouping sectors that will deliver radiation simultaneously to the same isocenter, the system prepares an optimized treatment plan that minimizes beam-on events in advance, reducing treatment time without compromising dose distribution quality
2Reliability
If the beam-on time is extended to deliver sufficient dose to the target volume, then the radiation dose to normal tissues can be minimized, but the treatment time increases leading to patient discomfort and low patient flow
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple sector contributions into simultaneous composite shots, the system delivers the required radiation dose more efficiently. This reduces the overall beam-on time while maintaining adequate dose delivery to the target, thereby improving patient comfort and throughput without sacrificing treatment reliability
3Manufacturing precision
If the treatment plan includes irradiation with each sector in each state of each isocenter, then the spatial dose distribution is optimized, but the average doserate decreases due to long treatment times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sector states into composite shots that deliver radiation simultaneously, increasing the average doserate by reducing the total treatment time. The spatial dose distribution remains optimized because the composite shots are designed to deliver the same cumulative dose as the original detailed plan, but in a more time-efficient manner
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temporal parameter of dose delivery by delivering radiation in concentrated simultaneous bursts rather than extended sequential periods. This parameter change increases the average doserate while maintaining the spatial dose distribution optimization through careful planning of composite shot configurations
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 significantly reduces treatment time, improving patient comfort and potentially enhancing radiobiological response by maximizing beam-on time and aggregating sectors for simultaneous delivery, while maintaining treatment quality.
Implementation Method 1
The collimator comprises a number of sectors where each sector may be set in a number of different states or collimator passage diameters... The collimator body (4) is provided with collimator passages or channels... directing radiation beams with three different diameters, toward the focus
Implementation Method 2
The radiation is emitted from a large number of fixed radioactive sources and is focused by means of collimators... The source carrier arrangement (2) comprises six segments (6) distributed along the annular circumference of the collimator body (4)... containing cobalt sources
Data Source
AI summary
A method for planning a treatment session of a patient and optimizing the treatment time for a treatment using a radiation therapy system includes a radiation therapy unit having a fixed radiation focus point. During an optimization of a treatment plan for a patient, a set of shots to be delivered to a plurality of isocenter positions within a target volume of a patient during a treatment session are determined and a beam-on time for each respective sector and state for each isocenter during which radiation is to be delivered are determined based on the treatment plan. For each isocenter position, sectors and states of respective sector are grouped in accordance predetermined rules with respect to beam-on times for respective state of the sectors, wherein sectors and respective states are aggregated for simultaneous delivery of radiation during a predetermined period of time.