Movable Primary Collimator Channel Groups for Radiation Field Size Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radiation treatment devices lack flexibility in adjusting field sizes and dose rates, leading to inefficient treatment of tumors of varying sizes, with large fields causing unnecessary radiation exposure to normal tissues and small fields resulting in reduced effective dose rates.

Innovation Solution

A radiation treatment head with a primary collimator featuring multiple movable primary collimation channel groups and a secondary collimator assembly, including a multi-leaf collimator, allowing for the formation of various field sizes and dose rates by adjusting the beam path through different collimation channels, enabling precise targeting of tumors with reduced exposure to normal tissues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single fixed primary collimation channel is used, then the device structure is simple, but the flexibility in adjusting field sizes and dose rates is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in adjusting field sizes and dose ratesVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The primary collimator is divided into multiple independent collimation channel groups, where each group contains one or more collimation channels with different aperture sizes. This segmentation allows the system to select different channels based on tumor size requirements, providing flexibility in field size adjustment without requiring a completely different device for each tumor size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements movable collimation channel groups that can be adjusted between different positions and orientations. The collimation channels are designed to be movable relative to the radiation source, enabling dynamic adjustment of the beam path and field size. This dynamic capability allows the same device to adapt to various treatment scenarios including different tumor sizes and locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a large field size is used for all tumors, then the device can cover all tumor sizes, but normal tissues receive unnecessary radiation exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiation exposure to normal tissuesVSAvoidfield size matching capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Different collimation channels are designed with different aperture sizes and characteristics to match specific tumor size requirements. Small tumor channels provide concentrated beams for precise targeting, while large tumor channels provide broader coverage. This local optimization ensures that each channel delivers appropriate radiation dosage characteristics for its intended application, minimizing exposure to surrounding normal tissues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If a small field size is used for all tumors, then radiation exposure to normal tissues is reduced, but the effective dose rate decreases for larger tumors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffective dose rateVSAvoidfield size coverage capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The primary collimator is designed as a multi-functional component that can serve different treatment needs through its multiple collimation channel groups. By selecting appropriate channels based on tumor size, the same device can optimize dose rates for both small and large tumors, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices while maintaining high productivity across different treatment scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple collimation channel groups with different configurations are added, then field size and dose rate flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield size and dose rate adjustment capabilityVSAvoidcollimator structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple collimation channel groups are integrated into a single primary collimator structure, combining what would otherwise be separate devices into one unified component. The different channel groups are arranged in a compact configuration that allows them to share common support structures and mounting mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the flexibility benefits of having multiple channel options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11975216B2Radiation treatment head and radiation treatment device

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 OUR UNITED CORP

AI summary

A radiation treatment head can include: a radiation source and a primary collimator, wherein the radiation source is configured to emit a radioactive beam; wherein the primary collimator is provided with a plurality of primary collimation channel groups; each of the primary collimation channel groups includes at least one primary collimation channel; and the radiation source and the primary collimator are movable relative to each other, so that the beam emitted from the radiation source is permissible to pass through any one of the primary collimation channels; and wherein the beam emitted from the radiation source, after passing through primary collimation channels of different primary collimation channel groups, forms fields with different sizes of areas on a reference plane.