Non-Coplanar Radiation Collimator Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiation treatment systems using LINAC heads are inefficient in delivering non-coplanar beams due to the need to rotate or move the entire treatment head, which is mechanically challenging and limits the integration of volumetric imaging, and requires complex setups to correct rotational errors.
Innovation Solution
A radiation treatment system where the gantry rotates around the patient with a radiation source emitting beams transverse to the longitudinal axis, using collimators that move out of the gantry plane to follow the patient's movement, allowing for non-coplanar beam delivery without a gimbal head and correcting rotational setup errors by adjusting gantry, non-coplanar, and collimator angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the entire LINAC head is rotated or moved to deliver non-coplanar beams, then non-coplanar beam delivery is achieved, but the mechanical complexity and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the collimation function into separate components: a fixed first collimator and a movable second collimator. The second collimator can be independently positioned at different angles relative to the gantry rotation plane, allowing non-coplanar beam delivery without moving the entire LINAC head. This segmentation reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining treatment versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The second collimator is positioned at a non-coplanar angle relative to the gantry rotation plane, introducing an additional spatial dimension to the beam delivery system. This allows the radiation beam to be delivered from multiple angular orientations without requiring the LINAC head to physically rotate or move to complex positions, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while expanding treatment capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a gimbal head structure is used to achieve non-coplanar delivery, then beam orientation flexibility is improved, but the system becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex gimbal head structure, the system segments the collimation function into a fixed first collimator and an independently positionable second collimator. The second collimator can be adjusted to different angles relative to the gantry rotation plane, achieving beam orientation flexibility without the mechanical complexity of a gimbal head.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the angular adjustment function from the LINAC head itself and relocates it to the second collimator, which can be independently positioned at non-coplanar angles. This separation allows the LINAC head to remain simple and fixed while the collimator system provides the necessary orientation flexibility, effectively removing the need for a gimbal head structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the LINAC head is made large to accommodate all components, then all functions are integrated, but the integration of volumetric imaging such as CBCT becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the radiation delivery components, with the LINAC head containing only the essential radiation source and a fixed first collimator. The second collimator, which provides angular adjustment capability, is positioned separately at a non-coplanar angle. This segmentation reduces the size and complexity of the LINAC head, creating space and simplifying the integration of volumetric imaging systems such as cone beam CT.
4Measurement precision
If rotational setup errors are corrected by moving the patient on a robotic couch, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the patient on a complex robotic couch to correct setup errors, the system inverts the approach by moving the second collimator to different angular positions. The fixed LINAC head delivers radiation through the angularly adjustable second collimator, allowing setup error correction by adjusting the beam angle rather than repositioning the patient, thereby eliminating the need for a robotic couch.
Data Source
AI summary
A system or method for radiation treatment optimized for non-coplanar delivery, which includes a first collimator affixed to a gantry and a second collimator movably attached to the gantry to provide the second collimator a translation movement out of a gantry rotation plane. The system or method also includes a third collimator configured to collimate the beam in a direction of a target in the patient's body. The beam collimated by the third collimator is configured to follow the target during treatment. A method of performing rotation setup correction by rotating the treatment beam, without rotating the patient.