Hadron Therapy QA Phantom with SOBP Wedge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hadron therapy facilities face inefficiencies in quality assurance processes due to lengthy verification routines, requiring significant time and manual operations to verify beam characteristics, which reduces treatment facility efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A phantom and method for quality assurance in hadron therapy apparatuses, utilizing a frame structure with energy wedges and a 2D detector, made from high-density materials like polyvinylidene fluoride, allowing for rapid verification of Spread-Out Bragg Peak compliance by reconstructing the actual SOBP from modulated beam images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate measurement devices and manual operations are used for verifying beam characteristics, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but verification time and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate measurement devices (range verification, spot position, spot size, deposited dose, SOBP compliance) into a single integrated phantom assembly. This consolidation allows all measurements to be performed simultaneously using one device rather than requiring multiple separate devices and manual operations, thereby reducing verification time while maintaining measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom assembly is designed as a universal measurement tool that can perform multiple verification functions simultaneously: range verification, spot position measurement, spot size measurement, deposited dose measurement, and SOBP compliance verification. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized devices and reduces the overall verification time.
2Measurement precision
If multiple separate measurement devices and manual operations are used for verifying beam characteristics, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manual operations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple measurement functions into a single integrated phantom assembly with standardized components and measurement protocols. This consolidation reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple separate devices while maintaining measurement precision through carefully designed measurement geometries and calibration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom incorporates standardized measurement parameters and geometries that optimize measurement precision across all verification types. By establishing standardized parameters for range, spot position, spot size, and SOBP measurements, the system achieves high precision without requiring complex individual measurement setups.
3Measurement precision
If multiple separate measurement devices are used for verifying beam characteristics, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity and treatment facility efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated phantom assembly enables all beam characteristic verifications to be performed in a single setup rather than requiring multiple separate measurement procedures. This dramatically reduces the time required for quality assurance while maintaining measurement precision, thereby increasing treatment facility productivity and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom allows for continuous verification of all beam characteristics in a single uninterrupted measurement sequence. By eliminating the need to reposition or更换 multiple devices, the system maintains continuous measurement action, reducing total verification time and improving treatment facility throughput.
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
Enables fast and reliable verification of hadron therapy apparatuses, reducing daily quality assurance time from 30-60 minutes to less than 10 minutes, thereby increasing treatment facility efficiency and reducing manual operations.
Implementation Method 1
an array of ionization chambers or a scintillator screen equipped with a CCD camera
Implementation Method 2
a scintillator screen equipped with a CCD camera
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a phantom and method for quality assurance of a hadron therapy apparatus used in the intensity modulated particle therapy mode. The phantom comprises a frame structure comprising a base plate, one or more energy wedges, an energy wedge first face inclined with respect to said base plate and an energy wedge second face perpendicular to said base plate, said one or more energy wedges being mounted on said base plate, a 2D detector; said one or more wedges, and 2D detector being in known fixed positions in relation to said frame structure. Said phantom comprises in addition a Spread-Out Bragg Peak wedge, said SOBP wedge having an SOBP wedge first face inclined with respect to said base plate, and a SOBP wedge second face, perpendicular to said base plate, said SOBP wedge being made of a material having a relative density higher than 1.3 preferably 1.5, more preferably 1.7, the distance between the SOBP wedge first face and SOBP second face varying between the penetration depth of a beam having an energy between the high and low limit energy of the beam of said hadron therapy apparatus. The disclosure also provides a method for determining the compliance of the planned SOBP with the actual SOBP.