Multisource Scanning X-Ray Tube for Tumor Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for lung cancer faces challenges in accurately tracking tumor motion during radiotherapy, leading to excessive exposure of healthy tissue due to unpredictable lung tumor motion and limitations in radiation dose metrics, which restricts the number of eligible patients and increases normal tissue toxicity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a multisource scanning X-ray tube with multiple focal spots to emit X-rays at different locations on a target without moving the X-ray tube or target, allowing for real-time imaging and construction of three-dimensional images through interleaving treatment and imaging pulses, enabling precise tumor tracking and reduction of healthy tissue exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SBRT is used to treat lung tumors, then local control rates are improved (80-90%), but normal tissue toxicity increases due to unpredictable tumor motion during treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary imaging actions before and during radiation treatment to establish baseline tumor position and detect motion. By capturing images at multiple time points before treatment begins, the system proactively identifies tumor motion patterns, allowing treatment planning to account for these movements and reduce normal tissue exposure while maintaining high local control rates.
2Reliability
If clinical safety margins are added to account for tumor motion, then treatment safety is improved, but the treated volume exceeds the safely treatable limit
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static treatment planning to dynamic adaptation by continuously imaging tumor position during treatment and adjusting radiation beam targeting in real-time. This dynamic approach allows the treatment volume to adapt to actual tumor motion rather than relying on fixed safety margins, reducing the overall treated volume while maintaining treatment safety through active tracking and adjustment.
3Measurement precision
If multiple X-ray tubes are used to enable real-time tumor tracking, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the imaging function into multiple independent X-ray tubes, each responsible for specific imaging tasks. This segmentation allows parallel operation of multiple imaging sources to achieve comprehensive tumor tracking from different angles simultaneously, improving measurement precision through multi-perspective data while managing complexity by modularizing the imaging system into discrete, independently controllable units.
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 approach enables real-time adjustments to the radiation beam to conform to the tumor's outline, reducing the volume of healthy tissue exposed to radiation, improving treatment accuracy, and potentially increasing the number of eligible patients by minimizing normal tissue toxicity.
Implementation Method 1
emitting an eBeam to a plurality of focal spots on an X-ray tube to emit X-rays in a plurality of different locations on a target
Implementation Method 2
detecting signals from the X-rays at the target
Data Source
AI summary
A system for tracking tumors during radiotherapy for interleaving treatment pulses with imaging pulses is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of multisource scanning eBeam X-ray tubes, each having multiple focal spots. The X-ray tubes are configured to emit X-rays in a plurality of different locations on a target by sequentially emitting the X-rays to the focal spots in the different focal spots. This is done such that the X-rays can be emitted to the plurality of different locations without substantially moving the X-ray tube or the target. The system further includes multiple imager panels configured to act as targets and configured to receive the X-rays from the focal spots of the X-ray tube. The system further includes a tomosynthesis reconstruction module configured to process outputs from the imager panels to construct a unified three-dimensional image that takes information from each of the different imager panels.