Clearance Check Device for Linac Collision Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices with moving gantries, such as linear accelerators, face challenges in predicting collisions between the gantry and patient/couch during radiation therapy, leading to safety risks and reduced clinical efficiency due to cumbersome software-based collision detection systems.
Innovation Solution
A clearance check device with a frame segment and clearance member that simulates the orbital path of medical device components, allowing for alignment with lasers and adjustable positioning to indicate potential collisions without the need for actual device movement, facilitating collision-free setup and improving treatment planning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If software-based collision detection systems are used, then collision prediction capability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to cumbersome implementation and difficult routine use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a physical copy or replica of the gantry's orbital path using a clearance check device with a frame segment that follows the same trajectory. This physical model allows clinicians to detect potential collisions by observing whether the frame segment intersects with the patient or couch, eliminating the need for complex software calculations while maintaining collision prediction accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The clearance check device acts as an intermediary between the actual medical device and the patient/couch. By placing this physical guide structure in the treatment room, it provides a tangible reference that mediates the collision detection process, making the abstract software calculations visible and intuitive through physical alignment checks.
2Reliability
If software-based collision detection systems are used, then collision prediction capability is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to awkward and cumbersome routine use
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a physical replica of the gantry path, the system transforms complex software operations into simple visual alignment checks. Clinicians can easily determine collision risk by observing whether the frame segment contacts the patient or couch, making the process intuitive and straightforward during routine setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The clearance check device is divided into modular components including a frame segment, upright support, and base that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows the system to be easily assembled, configured for different treatment scenarios, and operated without requiring complex software navigation or programming.
3Measurement precision
If actual device movement is used for collision detection, then measurement accuracy is improved, but loss of time increases due to delays in treatment setup
Solution Approach 1:
The clearance check device is set up in advance during the treatment planning and setup phase, allowing collision detection to be performed before actual treatment begins. The frame segment is positioned to match the planned gantry orbit, enabling pre-treatment verification of collision-free paths without requiring actual movement of the heavy medical device during treatment delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
By using a physical model that replicates the gantry's orbital path, the system achieves accurate collision detection measurements without the time penalty of moving the actual medical device. The frame segment serves as a lightweight surrogate that can be quickly positioned and adjusted to verify clearance before treatment commences.
Data Source
AI summary
Clearance check devices, systems, and methods that can be used to indicate whether a proposed treatment plan will cause a collision between a patient/couch and a medical device, such as a linac, are described herein. Some devices and/or systems include an adjustable clearance member to account for the rotation of the medical device and a rotatable frame segment to account for the rotation of the patient or couch. Others include a frame segment that has an inner surface defining an arc that has a radius that is substantially equal to or less than an orbital radius of a centermost portion of a medical equipment component. Still others are disclosed.