Non-continuous Particle Beam Control for Precise Tumor Irradiation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current charged particle therapy methods using non-continuous particle beams face challenges in delivering precise doses to tumors while minimizing neutron exposure and reducing treatment times, often requiring large and costly accelerators and complex patient-specific equipment.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that control the location and intensity of a non-continuous particle beam by synchronizing the setting of location controlling elements, such as energy degraders and scanning magnets, with the repetition cycle of the accelerator, allowing for precise dose delivery and flexible treatment planning using a synchrocyclotron or other accelerators, and actively adjusting the number of charged particles per bunch to optimize dose conformation and treatment time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a non-continuous particle beam is used for irradiation, then treatment time is reduced and neutron exposure is minimized, but dose delivery precision and beam control become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-positioning the beam parameters (energy, angle, intensity) for each bunch based on the treatment plan. The control system prepares the beam delivery parameters in advance before each bunch arrives, allowing precise dose delivery without continuous beam adjustment. This enables the use of pulsed beams while maintaining dosimetric precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through a control system that monitors beam parameters (position, energy, intensity) and adjusts them bunch-by-bunch based on real-time measurements and pre-calculated treatment plans. The system uses feedback from beam diagnostics and treatment plan requirements to optimize each bunch's delivery, ensuring precise dose accumulation even with intermittent beam delivery.
2Manufacturing precision
If location controlling elements are adjusted continuously during beam delivery, then beam position precision is improved, but treatment time increases and synchronization with pulsed beam becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating the optimal beam position for each bunch based on the treatment plan and patient anatomy. The location controlling elements (scanning magnets, collimators) are positioned in advance before each bunch arrives, eliminating the need for continuous adjustment during beam delivery. This approach maintains position precision while minimizing treatment time by synchronizing element positioning with the pulsed beam structure.
3Device complexity
If accelerator size is reduced to lower cost, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but beam control flexibility and dose conformation capability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical beam control systems with a sophisticated software-based control system that operates on a simpler accelerator. The control system uses algorithms to calculate optimal beam parameters for each bunch and coordinates the timing and positioning of location controlling elements, substituting mechanical complexity with computational intelligence. This enables small accelerators to achieve the beam control flexibility needed for precise dose conformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves beam control flexibility through dynamic parameter changes of the pulsed beam itself. By varying bunch intensity, energy, and timing parameters controlled by software, the system compensates for the reduced physical complexity of the accelerator. The control system modulates beam parameters bunch-by-bunch to achieve the same dose conformation capability as larger, more complex accelerators.
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
Enables precise and efficient delivery of doses to tumors with reduced neutron exposure and shorter treatment times, utilizing smaller and more cost-effective accelerators, while maintaining high dose conformation and flexibility in beam control.
Implementation Method 1
Particles are accelerated in a cyclotron by applying an alternating radio frequency (RF) voltage to one or more electrodes, called 'dees'. The RF voltage generates an electric filed across the gap between the adjacent dees.
Implementation Method 2
A particle accelerated in a cyclotron moves on a spiral path with increasing radius in the plane normal to the magnetic field.
Implementation Method 3
The RF frequency of the acceleration is changed (modulated) in a cycle, starting at the highest or 'injection' frequency and decreasing over time to the lowest frequency or 'extraction' frequency.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus are disclosed for treating a non-continuous particle beam produced by an accelerator in order to irradiate a target volume, wherein an irradiation spot located in the target volume is formed from this beam, and wherein the location of the irradiation spot is controlled by location controlling elements. The setting of the location controlling elements may take place in between subsequent particle bunches of the beam, for example.