Movable Irrigation Nozzle for Ocular Particle Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current particle therapy apparatus for ocular melanoma are limited in versatility, requiring dedicated equipment and often result in longer treatment times and suboptimal dose conformity due to the use of broad beam techniques, which also leads to unwanted neutron and gamma radiation exposure.

Innovation Solution

A particle therapy apparatus featuring a movable irradiation nozzle, isocentric gantry, pencil beam scanning subsystem, and a movable marker to enable targeted irradiation of the eye with a charged particle beam, allowing for shorter treatment times and reduced radiation exposure, while being adaptable for treating other body parts with minimal hardware changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a dedicated fixed beam line with beam scattering techniques is used for eye treatment, then the treatment is well-suited for ocular melanoma, but the apparatus cannot be used for treating other types of tumors and causes unwanted neutron and gamma ray radiation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveversatility for treating different tumor typesVSAvoidneutron and gamma ray radiation exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a rotating gantry system that can direct the particle beam along multiple axes (three different directions) to treat various tumor types including ocular melanoma and other body tumors with a single apparatus, eliminating the need for dedicated equipment while maintaining treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes beam scattering elements from the beamline and line of sight to eliminate the source of unwanted neutron and gamma ray radiation, while still achieving broad beam coverage through rotating gantry techniques that deliver three coplanar fields without requiring scattering materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a rotating gantry with three different beam directions is used, then the apparatus can treat other tumor types, but the treatment time becomes relatively long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to treat different tumor typesVSAvoidtreatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a wobbling technique that continuously moves the beam spot across the target volume during irradiation, allowing all three beam directions to be delivered in a continuous process without interruptions or repositioning delays, thereby significantly reducing overall treatment time while maintaining the ability to treat various tumor types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If broad beam techniques such as wobbling are used to cover the target volume, then the apparatus can treat various tumor types, but the conformity of the actual received dose with the planned dose is not optimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveversatility for different tumor treatmentsVSAvoiddose conformity accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a small aperture nozzle that focuses the particle beam to a narrow spot, enabling precise local delivery of radiation to the target volume. This spot scanning approach through the rotating gantry system allows for highly conformal dose distribution that accurately matches the planned dose, while still delivering three different beam directions for versatile tumor treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

The apparatus significantly reduces treatment time, enhances dose rate, and minimizes side effects, improving patient comfort and efficiency by enabling more targeted and rapid treatment of ocular melanoma and other conditions with reduced neutron and gamma radiation exposure.

Implementation Method 1

a particle accelerator to generate a charged particle beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic acceleration: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a pencil beam scanning subsystem configured to scan the charged particle beam over the diseased part of the patient's eye

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic deflection: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentEP3332755B1Particle therapy apparatus for eye treatment

Publication Date: 2019.07.03 ION BEAM APPL

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AI summary

A particle therapy apparatus for irradiating a diseased part of a patient's eye (1) with a charged particle beam (2) comprises a particle accelerator (3) to generate the particle beam, a movable irradiation nozzle (4) adapted to direct the particle beam towards the patient's eye (1) according to different beam directions, and a patient support (5) adapted to receive and hold the patient in a treatment position. The apparatus further comprises a pencil beam scanning subsystem (10a, 10b) configured to scan the particle beam over the diseased part of the patient's eye (1), a movable marker (30) arranged in such a way that it is visible by the patient while he is in the treatment position and a controller (40) configured to move said marker (30) to a pre-determined and patient-specific position before starting an irradiation of the eye (1) with the particle beam (2).