Ion Beam Delivery Equipment Real-Time SOBP Width Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ion beam delivery equipment lacks a real-time method to confirm whether the spread-out Bragg peak width (SOBP) is at the prescribed value during irradiation, which is crucial for ensuring treatment safety and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The equipment includes a first dose monitor upstream and a second dose monitor downstream of the range modulation wheel (RMW), with a computing unit to determine the SOBP width based on ionization charges measured by both monitors, allowing for real-time confirmation and adjustment of the ion beam delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time SOBP width measurement is implemented using two dose monitors, then treatment safety and effectiveness are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement system consisting of two dose monitors that indirectly measure SOBP width by detecting ionization charges at different positions. This intermediary approach allows real-time verification of SOBP width without directly measuring the complex radiation dose distribution in the tumor, thus improving reliability while controlling complexity through indirect measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or direct physical measurement methods with an electrical measurement approach using dose monitors that detect ionization charges. This substitution simplifies the measurement system by using electrical signal detection rather than direct mechanical measurement of the radiation field, resolving the contradiction between measurement capability and device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If SOBP width is confirmed in real-time during irradiation, then treatment precision is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement task into two separate, simple measurements taken at different positions (upstream and downstream of the RMW) rather than attempting a single complex direct measurement of SOBP width. By dividing the measurement into two simpler ionization charge detections, the system achieves precise SOBP width determination while reducing the difficulty of each individual measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified measurement model by taking ionization charge readings at two positions that represent different points in the beam path. These readings serve as proxies or copies that can be used to calculate SOBP width without directly measuring the complex three-dimensional dose distribution, thus improving treatment precision while reducing measurement difficulty.
3Measurement precision
If the computing unit calculates SOBP width based on ionization charges from both dose monitors, then measurement accuracy is improved, but information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the computing unit continuously calculates SOBP width based on real-time ionization charge readings from both dose monitors. This feedback loop provides accurate, up-to-date SOBP width information that can be used to verify treatment parameters, improving measurement precision while managing information processing through systematic calculation based on established relationships between the measurements.
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
This approach enables accurate and timely confirmation of the SOBP width during treatment, ensuring that the ion beam is delivered with the intended spread, thereby enhancing treatment safety and efficiency by preventing excessive ion beam delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a first value (ionization charge) counted by a first dose monitor installed upstream of a range modulation wheel (RMW)... a second value (ionization charge) counted by a second dose monitor installed downstream of the RMW
Implementation Method 2
the RMW having a thickness varied in the direction of travel of the ion beam to change energy of the ion beam passing the RMW, thereby forming a spread-out Bragg peak width in an irradiation target
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is intended to confirm whether the SOBP (spread-out Bragg peak) width is a desired value in real time during beam irradiation, and to improve safety in treatment. Ion beam delivery equipment comprises a beam generator including a synchrotron, an RMW (range modulation wheel) device for forming an SOBP width of an ion beam extracted from the beam generator, a beam delivery nozzle including a reference dose monitor and a main dose monitor which are installed respectively upstream and downstream of the RMW device in the direction of travel of the ion beam, and an SOBP width computing unit for computing the SOBP width of the ion beam, which is formed by the RMW device, based on values detected by both the reference dose monitor and the main dose monitor.