Modular Proton Therapy Beam Line with Integrated Energy Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing proton therapy treatment systems are costly and have a large footprint due to the complexity of separate achromatic beam lines, requiring significant installation time, large magnets, and long wait times for energy level adjustments, which negatively impact patient experience.
Innovation Solution
A reduced-complexity beam transfer line system that eliminates the need for a separate energy selection system, using quadrupole and steerer magnets, a degrader positioned between the bend section and treatment rooms, and gantries for energy selection functionality, reducing the number of components, installation time, and cooling requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate achromatic beam line with energy degrader and beam energy analyzer is used, then energy selection functionality is achieved, but system complexity and footprint increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the energy degrader and beam energy analyzer into a single integrated beam line component, eliminating the need for separate achromatic beam line systems. This merging reduces the number of discrete components while maintaining the dual functionality of energy degradation and energy selection, directly addressing the contradiction between achieving energy selection versatility and reducing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated beam line is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it acts as both an energy degrader and a beam energy analyzer. This multi-functional design allows the system to achieve energy selection functionality without requiring separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate achromatic beam line with moveable slit system is used, then energy selection is achieved, but installation time and commissioning time increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the energy degrader and beam energy analyzer into one integrated component, the patent eliminates the need for complex separate systems with moveable slit mechanisms. This integration significantly reduces the number of components that require installation and alignment, thereby reducing both installation time and commissioning time while preserving energy selection capability
3Reliability
If large magnets with water cooling systems are used, then beam focusing and steering are achieved, but footprint and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the focusing and steering functions into the same beam line components, eliminating the need for separate large magnets with water cooling systems. This merging allows for more compact magnet designs that can achieve the same beam control functionality with reduced footprint and without requiring extensive water cooling infrastructure
4Adaptability or versatility
If energy level switching is performed in traditional systems, then different treatment energies are provided, but patient wait time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the energy degrader and beam energy analyzer into a single integrated system, the patent enables faster energy level switching. The integrated design allows for rapid reconfiguration between different treatment energies without requiring sequential adjustment of separate systems, thereby reducing patient wait time while maintaining the capability to provide multiple energy levels
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 solution significantly reduces the cost and footprint of proton therapy systems, allows for rapid switching between treatment rooms, and improves patient experience by minimizing wait times, while using fewer and lighter magnets that can be air-cooled, eliminating the need for large water cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
a beam line including quadrupole and steerer magnets operable to align and focus the particle beam
Implementation Method 2
a beam line including quadrupole and steerer magnets operable to align and focus the particle beam
Implementation Method 3
a degrader disposed between the bend section and the treatment room, where the particle beam is focused on the degrader to modulate an energy of the particle beam
Implementation Method 4
a gantry disposed in the treatment room and operable to receive the particle beam downstream from the degrader, where the gantry provides energy selection functionality for the treatment room
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention describe systems and methods for providing proton therapy treatment using a beam line where the ESS is reduced or eliminated. For multi-room configurations, a beam line is included having quadrupole and steerer magnets to align and focus a particle beam extracted by an accelerator and guided by a bend section. A degrader is disposed between the bend section and the treatment room, and the energy analyzing functionality is performed by the gantry.