Particle Therapy Beam Positioning for Automated Multi-Projection Treatment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional particle therapy systems require manual intervention by a radiation therapist for multiple projections, making them time-consuming and affecting treatment quality, especially in areas where projections overlap.

Innovation Solution

A particle therapy system with automated control over movable devices and a treatment couch to position and reposition particle beams for multiple beam fields, allowing for automated treatment without isocentric constraints, using components like scanning magnets and a control system to manage beam intensity and overlap.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual intervention by radiation therapist is used for multiple projections, then treatment quality can be monitored and adjusted, but treatment time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment qualityVSAvoidtreatment efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated treatment delivery where the particle beam output device and treatment couch automatically position and reposition themselves for multiple projections without requiring manual intervention by radiation therapists between projections, thereby improving productivity while maintaining treatment quality through automated control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment plan is pre-calculated by the treatment planning system with optimal projection selection and parameters determined in advance, allowing the automated system to execute the plan efficiently without real-time manual adjustments, resolving the contradiction between automated speed and quality control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a large number of projections are implemented to enhance therapy quality, then treatment effectiveness improves, but treatment time increases and manual intervention becomes more burdensome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapy qualityVSAvoidtreatment duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The automated control system manages multiple projections sequentially without requiring radiation therapist intervention between each projection, allowing the system to efficiently deliver a large number of projections (e.g., 10-20 or more) that enhance therapy quality while minimizing treatment time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous automated operation between projections, with the particle beam output device and treatment couch automatically repositioning without interruption or manual intervention, enabling seamless delivery of multiple projections to maximize therapy quality within reduced time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If manual repositioning is required between projections, then positioning accuracy can be verified, but system complexity and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsystem operational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical repositioning operations with automated control systems that precisely position the particle beam output device and treatment couch according to pre-calculated parameters, eliminating the need for radiation therapists to manually adjust positioning while maintaining accuracy through automated feedback and control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 flexible and efficient treatment of irradiation targets with reduced reliance on manual intervention, improving treatment quality and reducing system size and complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a particle accelerator to direct output of a particle beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectParticle acceleration:

Implementation Method 2

a movable device on which the particle beam output device is mounted for movement relative to the treatment couch; a treatment couch to support a patient containing an irradiation target, with the treatment couch being configured for movement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical movement:

Data Source

PatentEP3585481B1Automated treatment in particle therapy

Publication Date: 2025.11.05 MEVION MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

An example particle therapy system includes a particle beam output device to direct output of a particle beam; a treatment couch to support a patient containing an irradiation target, with the treatment couch being configured for movement; a movable device on which the particle beam output device is mounted for movement relative to the treatment couch; and a control system to provide automated control of at least one of the movable device or the treatment couch to position at least one of the particle beam or the irradiation target for treatment of the irradiation target with the particle beam and, following the treatment of the irradiation target with the particle beam, to provide automated control of at least one of the movable device or the treatment couch to reposition at least one of the particle beam or the irradiation target for additional treatment of the irradiation target with the particle beam.