Imaging Ring Rotation for Non-Coplanar Radiotherapy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiotherapy apparatuses with rotatable gantries lack the mechanical degrees of freedom necessary for effective imaging of patients whose longitudinal axis is not coaxial with the gantry axis, particularly in non-coplanar configurations, leading to cumbersome setups and safety risks due to complex articulated systems and limited imaging capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A radiotherapy apparatus featuring a rotatable imaging ring mechanically coupled to the gantry, allowing rotation about two axes, including the central beam axis and a second axis perpendicular to it, enabling imaging at the isocenter for any gantry position, with movable imaging devices and a beamline channel for the energetic beam, reducing collision risks and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If imaging devices are rigidly mounted to the gantry or coupled to rotate independently about an axis coaxial with the gantry axis, then the imaging system can be mechanically simple and well-integrated, but it cannot properly image patients in non-coplanar configurations whose longitudinal axis is not coaxial with the gantry axis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second rotation axis (Y2) perpendicular to the central beam axis (Z2), adding a dimensional degree of freedom that enables the imaging ring to orient its bore axis along the patient's longitudinal axis in non-coplanar configurations. This additional rotational dimension allows the imaging system to adapt to patients positioned at various orientations without requiring complex articulated mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If independent robotized articulated systems are used for moving imaging sources and detectors, then the system can image patients in any configuration, but the control becomes complex and collision risks with the gantry or patient increase
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging ring is mechanically coupled to the gantry, merging the imaging system with the beam delivery system's frame of reference. This integration ensures that the imaging devices move synchronously with the gantry rotation, eliminating independent motion that could cause collisions. The coupled design maintains safe spacing while providing comprehensive imaging coverage through coordinated movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging ring acts as an intermediary structure between the gantry and the imaging devices. It provides a stable, gantry-synchronized platform that carries the imaging sources and detectors, mediating their motion to follow the gantry's rotational path while maintaining proper orientation for imaging patients in various configurations without collision risks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple beam members forming a cage-like structure are used to mount imaging sources and detectors, then non-coplanar radiotherapy can be achieved, but the system becomes cumbersome and cannot be applied to particle beam apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging ring serves multiple functions: it supports imaging devices for coplanar and non-coplanar configurations, provides a mechanical coupling to the gantry for synchronized motion, and offers a compact alternative to cage-like structures. Its versatile design accommodates different beam types (photons and particles) and patient orientations without requiring complex articulated mechanisms or multiple beam members.
Data Source
AI summary
A radiotherapy apparatus for the delivery of an energetic beam to a target tissue in a treatment zone, including: a rotatable gantry for rotating the end of a beam delivery system about a circle centered on an isocentre and normal to an axis of rotation Z1 of the gantry, the path between the end of the beam delivery system and the isocentre defining a central beam axis Z2 at every rotation angle of the gantry about the axis of rotation Z1; an imaging ring having a central bore and an imaging system for acquiring images of a patient in an imaging zone of the imaging system, wherein the imaging ring is located in the radiotherapy apparatus such that its imaging zone intersects the axis of rotation Z1 of the gantry, and wherein the imaging ring is mechanically coupled to the rotatable gantry through a mechanical structure.