Radiation Therapy Gantry Control for Couch Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of radiation therapy devices with rotating irradiation axes can result in the couch blocking the path of the irradiation device, preventing the execution of therapy plans due to changes in the angle of the rotation axis relative to the patient's longitudinal direction.
Innovation Solution
A device for controlling radiation therapy devices, including a gantry and a ring that rotate around intersecting axes, with a control unit that sets rotational speed limitations based on stored movement path information and speed limitation maps to maintain a safe path for the irradiation device, ensuring it can move without obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rotation axis angle of the irradiation device is changed to irradiate from various directions, then the irradiation dose to normal tissues is reduced, but the couch may block the path of the irradiation device
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of the movement path before executing the therapy plan. The control device checks whether the couch or other components will block the irradiation device's path at the planned rotation angles, and adjusts the plan in advance to avoid collisions, ensuring reliable path clearance before treatment begins
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the actual positions of the gantry, ring, and couch during operation, and provides feedback to the control device. This real-time feedback allows the system to detect potential path blockages and adjust rotational speeds or angles dynamically to prevent collisions while maintaining effective irradiation
2Productivity
If the rotational speed of the gantry and ring is increased to improve treatment efficiency, then the treatment time is reduced, but the risk of collision with the couch increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotational speeds of the gantry and ring based on real-time positional feedback and pre-calculated safe speed profiles. The control device modifies rotational velocities during treatment to maintain safety margins near the couch while allowing higher speeds in safe zones, optimizing both efficiency and collision avoidance
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters such as rotational speed limits and acceleration rates based on the current therapy plan and detected obstacles. The control device adjusts these parameters dynamically to maximize treatment efficiency while ensuring the irradiation device maintains a safe distance from the couch throughout the treatment process
Data Source
AI summary
This device for controlling a radiation treatment device is provided with a gantry for supporting a radiation emitting device so as to enable rotation thereof about a first axis, and a ring for supporting the gantry so as to enable rotation thereof about a second axis intersecting with the first axis, the device for controlling a radiation treatment device being provided with a movement path information storage unit for storing movement path information set in the radiation emitting device, and a control unit for providing a limit to the rotation speed of the gantry and the rotation speed of the ring while maintaining the ratio of the rotation speed of the gantry and the rotation speed of the ring indicated by the movement path information, on the basis of the rotation angle of the gantry and the rotation angle of the ring.