High-Dose-Rate Ionizing Radiation Control for FLASH Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radiation therapy techniques struggle to selectively target cancerous tissue while minimizing harm to normal tissue, particularly at higher dose rates, and existing dosimetry systems are inadequate for controlling ionizing radiation in extremely short time frames required by FLASH radiotherapy.

Innovation Solution

The invention employs partial pulse control strategies, dynamic pulse width modulation, and component selection to accurately deliver ionizing radiation doses in short time intervals, using sensors and control systems to monitor and terminate the beam when the target dose is reached, even during individual pulses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional radiation therapy delivers radiation at standard dose rates (1-15 Gy/min), then normal tissue can repair damage between fractions, but treatment time is extended and tumor control may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetumor control efficacyVSAvoidtreatment duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the dose rate parameter from conventional levels (1-15 Gy/min) to ultra-high dose rates (>100 Gy/s, achieving FLASH effects), fundamentally altering the radiation delivery parameters to simultaneously improve tumor control and reduce treatment time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If radiation dose is delivered in extremely short time intervals at high dose rates, then treatment time is reduced and tumor destruction is improved, but dosimetry control becomes inadequate and dose accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment speedVSAvoiddose delivery accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements real-time feedback control systems with sensors that continuously monitor radiation delivery and provide feedback to the control system, enabling closed-loop control that maintains dose accuracy even at ultra-high dose rates and short time intervals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic pulse width modulation and real-time adjustment of radiation delivery parameters, allowing the system to adapt and control dose delivery dynamically during the treatment process despite the extremely short time intervals involved

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If higher dose rates are used to deliver radiation in short time intervals, then treatment efficiency is improved, but normal tissue toxicity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficiencyVSAvoidnormal tissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the FLASH effect where continuous ultra-high dose rate radiation delivery (>100 Gy/s) creates a protective phenomenon that actually reduces normal tissue damage while maintaining treatment efficiency, paradoxically showing that continuous action at extreme rates can be more protective than fractionated delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Device complexity

If conventional dosimetry systems are used to control radiation delivery, then system complexity is manageable, but control accuracy in short time frames is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoiddosimetry control accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical and electronic dosimetry systems with advanced sensor-based detection systems that can operate at ultra-fast time scales, substituting traditional measurement approaches with modern sensing technologies capable of resolving short time intervals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12420116B2Methods and systems for using and controlling higher dose rate ionizing radiation in short time intervals

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 INTRAOP MEDICAL INC

AI summary

The present invention provides strategies to use and control the delivery of ionizing radiation to carry out therapeutic and industrial irradiation treatments. The present invention uses partial pulse control, component selection, and/or component configuration strategies in order to accurately monitor and terminate irradiation. The strategies are particularly useful to control dosing in the high dose rate and short time scales associated with FLASH technology.