Curved-Motion Irradiation Nozzle for Compact Particle Beam Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiotherapy systems require a retraction space on the beam axis for nozzle retraction, leading to increased treatment room size and cost, and result in decreased dose distribution accuracy due to increased penumbrae and beam size.
Innovation Solution
An irradiation nozzle design that allows the nozzle tip to move in a predetermined direction, enabling separate positions for beam irradiation and imaging without moving the treatment target, thus allowing precise alignment of isocenters and reducing the need for a large treatment room.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large number of nozzles are arranged in a matrix pattern for irradiating multiple radiation treatment fields, then irradiation efficiency and treatment speed are improved, but the device structure becomes complex and the number of required components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single nozzle that can irradiate multiple radiation treatment fields (at least three different fields) through multi-angle irradiation capabilities. This allows one nozzle to perform the function of multiple nozzles, reducing the total number of nozzles required while maintaining the ability to treat multiple fields efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the irradiation function into multiple angles within a single nozzle structure. Instead of using separate nozzles for each angle, the nozzle is segmented to provide irradiation paths at different angles (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°), thereby reducing component count while achieving multi-field coverage.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple nozzles are arranged to irradiate multiple radiation treatment fields, then treatment coverage is improved, but the distance from the nozzle to the skin increases, reducing irradiation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by introducing angular dimension to the irradiation approach. Instead of increasing the distance (one-dimensional solution) to cover multiple fields, the nozzle is designed to irradiate at multiple angles (adding angular dimension), allowing close proximity to the skin while covering multiple treatment fields through multi-directional beams.
3Productivity
If a large number of nozzles are used for multi-field irradiation, then treatment speed is improved, but maintenance difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a single multi-functional nozzle that can irradiate multiple treatment fields. This reduces the total number of nozzles from many separate nozzles to a smaller number of multi-capable nozzles, thereby reducing maintenance complexity and cost while maintaining high treatment speed through efficient multi-field coverage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If nozzles are arranged in a matrix pattern for multiple radiation treatment fields, then the number of irradiation angles increases, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by reversing the conventional approach: instead of arranging multiple nozzles at different angles to achieve multi-angle irradiation, a single nozzle is designed to provide multi-angle irradiation capabilities. This inverts the relationship between number of nozzles and irradiation angles, achieving the same angular coverage with reduced structural complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1(1)~1(2)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
To implement downsizing of an apparatus and highly accurate beam irradiation. An irradiation nozzle 4 that irradiates a target object Pt with a radiotherapy beam includes: a nozzle base part 42 fixed on a beam axis 40 through which the radiotherapy beam passes; and a nozzle tip part that irradiates the target object with the radiotherapy beam that has passed through the nozzle base part, in which the nozzle tip part is fixed at a first position when the target object is irradiated with the radiotherapy beam and is fixed at a second position when the target object is imaged, and a curved movement path in which the nozzle tip part is movable between the first position and the second position is provided.