Line Scanning Beam Control Using Position and Stationary Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current line scanning apparatuses face challenges in preventing erroneous or excessive irradiation of charged particle beams, which can compromise the reliability and precision of medical treatments like particle beam therapy.

Innovation Solution

A line scanning apparatus that includes a beam irradiation unit, an irradiation position detection unit, a stationary time measuring unit, and a scanning control unit, which detects the irradiation position and measures the stationary time of the line scanning beam to perform precise scanning control, utilizing interlock control to prevent erroneous irradiation and feedback control for high-precision scanning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If scanning control is performed without detecting irradiation position and stationary time, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of irradiation control deteriorates due to inability to prevent erroneous or excessive irradiation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of irradiation controlVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the irradiation position and measuring the stationary time before completing the irradiation process. The irradiation position detection unit and stationary time measuring unit continuously monitor beam parameters during scanning, enabling early detection of deviations from the planned irradiation pattern. This allows the system to prevent erroneous or excessive irradiation by identifying position errors or abnormal stationary times before they result in harmful effects, thus improving reliability without requiring complex post-irradiation analysis systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control by using the detected irradiation position and measured stationary time to continuously adjust and verify the scanning beam control. The system compares actual irradiation parameters against predetermined standards and provides feedback to the scanning control unit, which can then correct deviations in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures reliable irradiation control by maintaining precise positioning and timing while using relatively simple detection and control components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If scanning control utilizes irradiation position detection and stationary time measurement, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection and measurement units

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of scanning controlVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing the irradiation position detection unit and stationary time measuring unit to serve multiple functions within the scanning control system. These units not only detect position and time parameters but also provide data for verification, control adjustment, and safety monitoring simultaneously. By making these detection units multi-functional, the system achieves high reliability through comprehensive monitoring while avoiding the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies self-service by enabling the irradiation position detection and stationary time measurement to automatically verify and adjust the scanning beam control without requiring external intervention. The detection units continuously monitor beam parameters and feed this information back to the scanning control unit, which autonomously corrects deviations. This self-regulating mechanism improves reliability through continuous verification while keeping the device complexity manageable by eliminating the need for complex external monitoring and control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If continuous monitoring of irradiation position and stationary time is performed, then the manufacturing precision of irradiation control is improved, but the loss of time increases due to continuous measurement and verification processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of irradiation controlVSAvoidtime loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies continuity of useful action by implementing continuous monitoring of irradiation position and stationary time during the scanning beam irradiation process. The irradiation position detection unit and stationary time measuring unit operate continuously throughout irradiation, ensuring that precision verification occurs without interrupting the treatment workflow. This continuous monitoring approach maintains high manufacturing precision of irradiation control while minimizing time loss by integrating measurement functions into the ongoing irradiation process rather than requiring separate verification steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary action by performing position detection and stationary time measurement during the irradiation process itself, rather than requiring post-irradiation verification. The continuous monitoring enables real-time precision verification, allowing the system to detect and correct deviations while the treatment is ongoing. This approach achieves high manufacturing precision without significant time loss because the verification occurs concurrently with treatment delivery rather than sequentially after completion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8890090B2Line scanning apparatus utilizing irradiation position and stationary time for scanning control
Publication Date: 2014.11.18 SUMITOMO HEAVY IND LTD
  • US8890090B2 patent drawing
  • US8890090B2 patent drawing
  • US8890090B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention includes an irradiation nozzle which radiates a line scanning beam, an irradiation position sensor which detects an irradiation position of the line scanning beam, an arithmetic processing circuit unit which measures the stationary time of the line scanning beam at the irradiation position detected by the irradiation position sensor, and an irradiation control unit which performs scanning control of the line scanning beam by utilizing the irradiation position measured by the irradiation position sensor and the stationary time detected by the arithmetic processing circuit unit. According to this line scanning apparatus, scanning control of the line scanning beam is performed by utilizing the irradiation position of the beam and the stationary time corresponding to the irradiation position, so that irradiation of the beam to an erroneous position or excessive irradiation of the line scanning beam can be more reliably prevented, and thereby the reliability of the line scanning apparatus can be improved.