Dynamic Non-Photon Radiation Effect Estimation Using Dose-Weighted Averages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating the biological effect of mixed non-photon radiation fields are computationally inefficient and require significant processing resources, especially when the combination is varied during navigation, necessitating a more efficient approach for dynamic estimation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving dose-weighted averaging of biological effect multipliers for each radiation contribution, allowing for dynamic estimation of the biological effect by reusing intermediate results, thus reducing computational burden and enabling more iterations in a given time frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional methods are used to evaluate the biological effect of mixed non-photon radiation fields, then measurement precision is maintained, but productivity deteriorates due to significant computational resources and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores dose-weighted average biological effect multipliers for each radiation contribution during the treatment planning stage. These pre-computed values are then reused during navigation and evaluation iterations, eliminating the need to recalculate from scratch and enabling rapid re-evaluation when treatment parameters are adjusted.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the mixed radiation field into discrete contributions from different radiation types and energies. Each contribution is evaluated separately using its own dose-weighted average biological effect multiplier, allowing independent computation and storage of intermediate results that can be efficiently combined during iterations.
2Measurement precision
If full biological effect recalculation is performed during navigation iterations, then measurement precision is maintained, but loss of time increases due to repeated computational processing
Solution Approach 1:
The dose-weighted average biological effect multipliers are computed in advance during treatment planning and stored for reuse. During navigation iterations, only the combination of pre-computed values needs to be updated, dramatically reducing the time required for each iteration while preserving accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards redundant full recalculations during iterations and instead recovers and reuses the pre-computed dose-weighted average biological effect multipliers. This selective reuse of intermediate results eliminates unnecessary computational overhead while maintaining evaluation accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If detailed biological effect modeling is used for each radiation contribution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple particle types and energies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex mixed radiation field into discrete contributions from different particle types and energies. Each segment is assigned its own dose-weighted average biological effect multiplier, allowing detailed modeling to be performed once during planning and then efficiently reused without increasing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal computational framework where dose-weighted average biological effect multipliers serve multiple functions: they characterize each radiation contribution's biological effectiveness, enable rapid combination during iterations, and support various navigation scenarios without requiring separate complex models for each case.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for dynamically estimating a biological effect of a variable combination of non-photon radiation in accordance with a relative biological effectiveness, RBE, model including at least one biological effect multiplier δ(T, E) which depends on particle type T and/or particle energy E, the method comprising: obtaining one or more non-photon radiation contributions D(i)(T, E), 1 ≤ i ≤ N, at least one of said contributions including multiple particle types and/or multiple particle energies; storing per-contribution dose-weighted averages δ(i), 1 ≤ i ≤ N, of said at least one biological effect multiplier with respect to each of the one or more contributions; and in response to obtaining an assignment Π of the combination, the assignment being in terms of non-negative coefficients k1, k2, ..., kN ≥ 0 to be applied to the one or more contributions, determining a biological effect of the combination, including computing a combined dose-weighted average δΠ of said at least one biological effect multiplier on the basis of the stored per-contribution dose-weighted averages.