Kilovoltage Radiation Therapy System with Scanning Electron Beam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiation therapy systems for cancer treatment are expensive, complex, and limited in distribution, especially in developing countries, and high-energy radiation can damage surrounding healthy tissues, while kilo-voltage (kV) X-rays are underutilized due to difficulty in distributing dose over large areas and overheating issues with existing X-ray tubes.
Innovation Solution
A kV radiation therapy system using a scanning electron beam with water-cooled anodes and a gantry-mounted collimator to distribute X-ray dose over a large volume while maximizing the dose to the target lesion, employing a magnetically steered and intensity-modulated electron beam to prevent overheating and improve dose distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional MV linac systems are used for radiation therapy, then effective cancer treatment is achieved, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a compact, lower-cost kV X-ray generation system with simplified components compared to conventional MV linac systems. The system uses a focused electron beam source and simple collimator assembly that can be delivered at fraction of the cost of traditional radiation therapy systems, making therapy accessible in resource-limited settings while maintaining treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and isolates only the essential components needed for effective radiation therapy: a focused electron beam source, simple collimator, and basic detection system. By removing unnecessary complex subsystems present in conventional linacs, the system achieves cost reduction while preserving core therapeutic functionality
2Volume of moving object
If high-energy MV radiation is used to treat deep lesions, then deep target coverage is achieved, but damage to surrounding healthy tissues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a collimator with variable aperture sizes and adjustable geometry that can be optimized for each specific treatment scenario. The collimator shapes the X-ray beam to match the precise dimensions and location of the target lesion, delivering high dose locally to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues through geometric shielding
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes adjustable electron beam parameters (energy, current, focal spot size) and collimator settings to optimize the X-ray beam characteristics for each treatment. By varying these parameters, the system can achieve deep lesion coverage with controlled dose fall-off, reducing damage to healthy tissues through precise parameter optimization
3Power
If kV X-ray tube operates at high power to deliver sufficient dose, then treatment effectiveness improves, but anode overheating occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pulsed electron beam operation where the beam is delivered in periodic pulses rather than continuous operation. This allows the anode to cool between pulses, preventing overheating while maintaining sufficient average power output for effective treatment. The pulse duration and repetition rate are optimized to balance thermal management with therapeutic dose delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the electron beam delivery into discrete focal spots on the anode surface. By scanning or stepping the electron beam across multiple locations rather than concentrating all power on a single spot, the thermal load is distributed across the anode, preventing localized overheating while maintaining total X-ray output power
4Device complexity
If conventional X-ray tubes are used for kV therapy, then system cost is reduced, but ability to distribute dose over large areas is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic collimator system that can change aperture size, shape, and position during treatment. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to distribute dose over varying areas - from small focal spots to large fields - using the same compact kV X-ray tube, overcoming the area limitation of conventional tubes while maintaining cost-effectiveness
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
The system reduces costs by up to 80% compared to conventional MV linac systems, effectively delivers precise and controlled kV X-rays to deep lesions with minimal damage to healthy tissues, and enables real-time imaging and tracking for precise targeting.
Implementation Method 1
a treatment anode configured to receive electron beams and output the kV X-rays
Implementation Method 2
one or more magnets configured to steer and scan the electron beams along the treatment anode
Implementation Method 3
the treatment anode that is water-cooled to prevent overheating of the treatment anode
Implementation Method 4
water-cooled to prevent overheating
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods to deliver kV X-rays toward a target lesion within a body including: a treatment anode configured to receive electron beams and output the kV X-rays through a specially-designed collimator; an electron beam source configured to generate and direct the electron beams toward the treatment anode; and at least one magnet configured to steer and scan the electron beams along the treatment anode to prevent overheating of the treatment anode. The components are mounted on a gantry that rotates about the target lesion to distribute the dose delivered over a large volume of healthy tissue while substantially maximizing the dose delivered to the target lesion.