Globe Gantry Radiation Source Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation therapy systems, such as linear accelerators with C-arm gantries, limit the range of beam directions due to single plane rotation, restricting the ability to deliver intensity-modulated radiation from a broad solid angle, which hampers the sparing of normal tissues and uniform dose distribution within the target volume.
Innovation Solution
A globe gantry system that allows for longitudinal and latitudinal rotations of the radiation source, enabling delivery of intensity-modulated photon beams from a vast number of directions, including highly non-coplanar angles, by rotating the external source of radiation around a central axis and simultaneously or sequentially translating it along a circular trajectory, thereby increasing the degrees of freedom in beam delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a C-arm gantry with single plane rotation is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the range of beam directions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-plane rotation to dual-plane rotation, adding a second dimension of motion. The radiation source can now rotate around the patient's longitudinal axis (azimuthal angle) and also tilt relative to the transverse plane (elevation angle), enabling beams from vastly more directions including highly non-coplanar angles
2Object-affected harmful factors
If intensity-modulated radiation is delivered from limited directions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to spare normal tissues deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By adding the elevation angle dimension to the traditional azimuthal rotation, the system can now deliver radiation from above and below the patient's transverse plane, providing superior access to tumors while avoiding overlying critical structures that would be in the path of coplanar beams
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements intensity modulation across the radiation field, allowing different regions of the beam to have different intensities. This enables selective enhancement of dose to tumor regions while reducing dose to adjacent normal tissues, with the dual-plane rotation providing additional geometric freedom for optimization
3Manufacturing precision
If coplanar beam directions are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the uniformity of dose distribution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The addition of elevation angle control allows the radiation source to approach the target from superior and inferior directions, enabling more uniform dose distribution by distributing beams more evenly across the target volume and avoiding concentration in a single plane
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of irradiating a target in a patient comprising directing a beam of radiation from an external source of radiation 24 at the target in the patient from numerous directions in a broad solid angle by longitudinally rotating the external source of radiation 24 around a central axis and simultaneously or sequentially, in either order, latitudinally rotating the external source of radiation 24; a globe gantry 21 comprising (i) a front opening ring 22 with its origin on the central axis of the globe gantry 21, (ii) at least one arc-shaped, gantry support arm 23, which has a front end and a rear end and is part of a circle, (iii) an external source of radiation 24, which is mounted on at least one arc-shaped, gantry support arm 23 and is movable along the gantry support arm to vary the latitude of the beam angle, (iv) a rear rotational axle 25 with an axis along the central axis of the globe gantry 21, (v) a support base 27, and (vi) a rear housing 26 comprising a source of power, mechanisms for moving components of the globe gantry 21, and controllers for controlling the movement of the components of the globe gantry 21 and the irradiation of the target in the patient; a system 20 comprising the globe gantry 21; and a method of irradiating a target in a patient using the system.