Compact Particle Beam Therapy System with Integrated Shielding Magnet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional particle beam therapy systems face challenges in reducing beam blocking time and size, leading to inefficiencies and high costs due to the need for large and expensive shielding magnets and power supplies, which complicates beam transportation and accuracy in spot scanning methods.

Innovation Solution

A compact particle beam therapy system design incorporating a beam transport system with a bending magnet, a beam shielding magnet on the upstream side, and a beam dump on the downstream side, along with a quadrupole magnet, allows for efficient beam interruption and reduced system size, enabling high-accuracy and cost-effective spot scanning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a large shielding magnet and beam dump are used to block the beam quickly, then beam blocking speed is improved, but system size and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam blocking speedVSAvoidshielding magnet size
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the shielding magnet and beam dump into a compact integrated arrangement within the beam transport system. The shielding magnet is positioned upstream of the bending magnet, and the beam dump is positioned downstream, creating a streamlined beam interruption path that reduces system size while maintaining fast blocking capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the spatial arrangement within the beam transport system by positioning the shielding magnet and beam dump at different locations along the beam path (upstream and downstream of the bending magnet). This three-dimensional arrangement allows for compact integration without compromising blocking speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of stationary object

If the beam transport system is made compact, then system size is reduced, but beam transportation adjustment difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem sizeVSAvoidbeam transportation adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The beam transport system is divided into distinct functional segments: the shielding magnet section for beam interruption, the bending magnet section for beam direction control, and the beam dump section for beam absorption. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall compactness and adjustability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs electromagnets for the shielding magnet and bending magnet, which allow for dynamic adjustment of beam path through electrical control. This enables flexible beam transportation adjustment in the compact system without mechanical complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If beam blocking time is reduced, then irradiation accuracy is improved, but beam transport complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam blocking timeVSAvoidbeam transport system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding magnet is positioned upstream of the bending magnet to block the beam before it reaches the irradiation target. This preliminary blocking action prevents delayed irradiation and ensures accurate dose delivery without requiring complex post-blocking mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The beam dump serves as an intermediary component that safely absorbs the blocked beam. By providing a dedicated beam absorption location downstream of the bending magnet, the system manages beam blocking in a controlled manner without increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This configuration enables rapid beam blocking, reduces the size and cost of the system, and improves beam transportation adjustments, achieving high-precision irradiation with reduced delay and increased efficiency in spot scanning.

Implementation Method 1

a bending magnet and adapted to introduce the charged particle beam extracted from the accelerator into the irradiation device, the bending magnet being adapted to bend the charged particle beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLorentz force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 2

the beam interrupting device includes a beam shielding magnet and a beam dump, the beam shielding magnet being located on an upstream side of the bending magnet with respect to the direction of flow of the charged particle beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLorentz force: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 3

the beam dump being located on a downstream side of the bending magnet with respect to the direction of the flow of the charged particle beam or located in the bending magnet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon beam absorption: Ion Beam

Data Source

PatentEP2124511B1Particle beam therapy system
Publication Date: 2012.05.23 HITACHI LTD
  • EP2124511B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2124511B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2124511B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A particle beam therapy system that is capable of irradiating a target area with an irradiation beam suitable for a particle beam therapy using a spot scanning method and that can be constructed in a small size, with low cost and of being easily adjusted, includes a synchrotron, a beam transport system and an irradiation device. The beam transport system is provided with a beam interrupting device adapted to block supply of a charged particle beam to the irradiation device. The beam interrupting device has a beam shielding magnet, an exciting power supply for the beam shielding magnet and a beam dump. The beam transport system has a bending magnet. The beam shielding magnet is provided on an inlet side of the bending magnet. The beam dump is provided on an outlet side of the bending magnet. A controller controls the exciting power supply to control the timing of an operation of the beam shielding magnet.