Particle Beam Guiding Layout for Real-Time Radiotherapy Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiotherapy systems face challenges in accurately delivering radiation doses to intended targets due to patient movement during treatment, particularly from breathing and involuntary muscular activity, leading to inefficient therapy and potential damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Innovation Solution
A particle beam guiding system with adjustable energy levels and trajectories, utilizing magnetic fields and movable attenuators and trajectory control disks, combined with real-time imaging and control systems to dynamically adjust beam paths and avoid sensitive tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnetic fields are used to control and curve the particle beam trajectory, then the trajectory can be controlled, but it becomes challenging to change the direction of the particle beam in a fast and flexible manner
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the particle beam control into multiple independent beam guides (first beam guide, second beam guide, third beam guide), each capable of deflecting the beam in different planes. This segmentation allows independent control of horizontal and vertical beam directions, enabling fast and flexible trajectory changes without compromising control accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control of the beam trajectory by allowing the beam guides to be adjusted in real-time. The system can dynamically change the positions and alignments of the beams to track moving targets, making the previously static magnetic control system adaptable and responsive to motion.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If dose constraints are set to account for patient and organ movement uncertainty, then surrounding healthy tissue is protected, but the overall radiation dosage is reduced leading to less efficient therapy
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static dose planning to dynamic dose delivery by continuously tracking patient and organ movements during treatment. The beam trajectory and energy are adjusted in real-time to maintain accurate targeting despite motion, allowing higher dosages to be delivered safely to the moving tumor while protecting surrounding healthy tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time monitoring of patient movement and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust beam parameters. This closed-loop control allows the system to compensate for motion uncertainty, enabling both high dosage delivery to the target and protection of healthy tissues simultaneously.
3Reliability
If multiple proton beams are delivered from multiple directions to treat large tumors, then the radiation coverage is improved, but the system complexity and treatment planning difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex task of treating large tumors into multiple manageable beam directions and energy levels. Each beam guide independently controls one aspect of the trajectory, and the system can selectively activate different beam configurations based on treatment requirements, simplifying the overall system management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal beam control system that can deliver particle beams from multiple directions and at multiple energy levels using the same hardware platform. The beam guides and control unit can be configured for different treatment scenarios, eliminating the need for multiple specialized systems and reducing overall complexity.
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 delivery of radiation to the target while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, allowing for efficient treatment of large tumors and multiple targets with reduced side effects.
Implementation Method 1
an attenuator for adjusting the energy level of the particle beam
Implementation Method 2
a first beam guide positioned downstream of the attenuator, comprising first and second guiding dipoles, each comprising two magnets for creating magnetic fields for deflecting the particle beam from the incoming trajectory into an intermediate trajectory
Implementation Method 3
a beam trajectory monitoring and control unit positioned downstream of the second beam guide and arranged for controlling the intended exit trajectory, wherein the beam trajectory monitoring and control unit comprises first and second beam trajectory control disks of a particle beam attenuating material
Data Source
AI summary
A particle beam guiding system (1a, 1b, 1c) for receiving an incoming particle beam (6a, 6b, 6c) along an incoming trajectory (T1) and controlling an exit energy level and an exit trajectory (T3) of the particle beam, wherein the particle beam guiding system comprises an attenuator (22) for adjusting the energy level of the particle beam; a first beam guide (26) positioned downstream of the attenuator, comprising first and second guiding dipoles, each comprising two magnets for creating magnetic fields for deflecting the particle beam from the incoming trajectory into an intermediate trajectory (T2), wherein the first dipole of the first beam guide is arranged to deflect the particle beam in a first plane, and the second dipole of the first beam guide is arranged to deflect the particle beam in a second plane which is orthogonal to the first plane; and a second beam guide (28) positioned downstream of the first beam guide, comprising first and second guiding dipoles, each comprising two magnets for creating magnetic fields for deflecting the particle beam from the intermediate trajectory into the exit trajectory, wherein the first dipole of the second beam guide is arranged to deflect the particle beam in a first plane and the second dipole of the second beam guide is arranged to deflect the particle beam in a second plane which is orthogonal to the first plane. A radiotherapy system comprising such particle beam guiding systems is also disclosed.