Particle Therapy Dose Distribution Evaluation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current particle therapy systems, particularly those using the scanning irradiation method, face challenges in accurately visualizing and managing the irradiation accuracy effect and interaction effect during treatment, leading to potential high and low dose regions in the integrated dose distribution due to positional discrepancies and target movement, which complicates therapeutic decision-making for medical staff.
Innovation Solution
A particle therapy system incorporating an irradiation control system, dose calculation system, and display system that measures and calculates the actual dose distribution in real-time, allowing for the visualization of dose distribution and intervention during irradiation, enabling medical staff to make timely and informed decisions regarding treatment adjustments or discontinuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the scanning irradiation method is used to concentrate dose on the target, then the dose conformity to the target volume is improved, but the irradiation accuracy deteriorates due to positional discrepancies between planned and actual spot positions
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures the actual spot positions during irradiation and feeds back this information to calculate and display the actual dose distribution, enabling real-time verification and correction of irradiation accuracy while maintaining dose conformity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical measurement methods with optical measurement systems (cameras, markers) to track spot positions, and uses computational methods to calculate dose distribution, improving both measurement precision and calculation efficiency
2Shape
If the scanning irradiation method is used with sequential spot formation, then the dose can be concentrated on the target, but the interaction effect occurs when the target moves during irradiation
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors target position during irradiation using optical markers and cameras, providing real-time feedback to detect and account for target movement, thereby maintaining irradiation reliability despite sequential spot formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic tracking of target position throughout the irradiation process, allowing the system to adapt to target movement by updating spot position calculations in real-time, ensuring accurate dose delivery even when the target moves
3Measurement precision
If real-time measurement and calculation of actual dose distribution is implemented, then the irradiation accuracy effect and interaction effect can be visualized, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into a unified platform: optical markers are used for both target identification and position tracking, the same measurement system serves both spot position verification and target movement detection, and the calculation system handles both irradiation accuracy effect and interaction effect analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines measurement devices (cameras, markers), calculation systems, and display interfaces into an integrated system that simultaneously performs spot position measurement, target position tracking, dose distribution calculation, and real-time visualization, reducing overall system complexity through functional integration
Data Source
AI summary
A proton beam therapy system 1 includes an irradiation nozzle 25 for irradiating a target 31A with a particle beam, a proton beam irradiation control system 41 that controls the irradiation nozzle 25, a dose monitor 27B that measures an irradiation amount of the particle beam emitted to the target 31A, a position monitor 27A that measures a position of the particle beam emitted to the target 31A, and a dose distribution evaluation system during irradiation 55 that calculates a dose distribution of the particle beam emitted to the target 31A during irradiation. This system supports a medical staff to quickly and appropriately make an intervention determination for treatment such as discontinuation of particle therapy, a change in conditions thereof, or the like in the process of particle irradiation.