Particle Beam Irradiation Apparatus with Dual Dosimeter Interlock
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current particle beam irradiation systems face challenges in accurately measuring doses and detecting leakage doses due to momentary beam emission, leading to potential excessive irradiation and inefficiencies, especially during respiration-synchronized treatments.
Innovation Solution
A particle beam irradiation apparatus with a control method that utilizes two dosimeters to measure dose rates, perform abnormality determination, and output interlock signals for terminating beam emission when abnormalities are detected, incorporating first and second planned dose values and sectional dose measurement values to ensure reliable and sensitive leakage dose detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beam emission is immediately terminated when abnormality is detected, then treatment safety is improved, but beam intensity reduction is required which increases treatment time
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors beam emission status and dose accumulation in real-time, comparing actual values against predetermined thresholds. When abnormalities are detected (such as unexpected beam emission or dose exceedance), the feedback mechanism triggers immediate termination through interlock signals while maintaining the ability to resume normal operation after correction, thus balancing safety with treatment efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If two dosimeters are used to improve measurement reliability, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary control unit that receives signals from multiple dosimeters and processes their outputs. This intermediary layer consolidates the measurement data from several dosimeters, performs cross-validation to ensure reliability, and presents unified control decisions to the beam emission control apparatus, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If beam emission control is tightened to prevent leakage dose, then radiation safety is improved, but operational flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The beam emission control system dynamically adjusts its stringency based on real-time conditions. During normal operation, the system maintains flexible operation with standard monitoring. When anomalies are detected (such as dosimeter failures or unexpected beam behavior), the system automatically transitions to a more restrictive control mode with enhanced monitoring and immediate termination capabilities, thus adapting the balance between safety and flexibility to current operational context.
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 highly reliable measurement of beam doses and sensitive detection of leakage doses, preventing excessive irradiation and improving treatment precision and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a particle beam irradiation apparatus that directs a particle beam to an affected area of a patient
Implementation Method 2
the control portion accumulates the dose rate output from the first dosimeter for each of irradiation positions of the particle beam to calculate a first beam dose measurement value
Implementation Method 3
the abnormality determination portion outputs, to the emission control portion, an interlock signal for terminating the emission of the particle beam when determining that there is an abnormality
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a particle beam irradiation apparatus capable of highly reliable measurement of a dose of each beam and capable of highly sensitive measurement of a leakage dose caused by momentary beam emission. The particle beam irradiation apparatus according to the present invention includes: an emission control portion that controls emission and termination of a particle beam; a control portion that sequentially changes an irradiation position of the particle beam relative to an affected area; first and second dosimeters that measure dose rates of the particle beam directed to the affected area; and an abnormality determination portion that accumulates the dose rates output from the first and second dosimeters for each of predetermined determination periods to calculate first and second sectional dose measurement values and that performs second abnormality determination of determining that there is an abnormality and outputs an interlock signal for terminating the emission of the particle beam in at least one of a case in which the first sectional dose measurement value exceeds a predetermined first reference range and a case in which the second sectional dose measurement value exceeds a predetermined second reference range.