Positioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation therapy systems for head and neck cancer struggle with positional uncertainties due to cervical vertebrae flexure and shoulder misalignments, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes and increased side effects.
Innovation Solution
A patient positioning system featuring a support plate with an inflatable headrest assembly and bladders that adjust the patient's head, neck, and shoulders to accurately align with reference imaging, using pneumatic control to minimize deformation and ensure precise positioning for image-guided radiotherapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conservative large fields are used in 3DCRT to account for positioning uncertainties, then coverage of planning target volumes is improved, but toxicity to normal tissues and organs at risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an integrated imaging and repositioning system that provides feedback on patient positioning accuracy using surface imaging and anatomical landmark detection. This feedback mechanism allows for real-time verification of head, neck, and shoulder positioning, and enables corrective adjustments to be made before treatment delivery. By providing this feedback loop, the system achieves reliable PTV coverage through precise positioning rather than relying on conservative margin expansion, thereby reducing toxicity to surrounding normal tissues and organs at risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of using large geometric margins to ensure target coverage with an imaging-based positioning and verification system. Instead of relying on fixed margin expansions that expose healthy tissue to unnecessary radiation, the system uses surface imaging, anatomical landmark detection, and integrated imaging to achieve precise positioning. This substitution of mechanical margin-based coverage with imaging-guided precision positioning reduces the radiation dose to normal tissues while maintaining reliable target coverage
2Object-affected harmful factors
If IMRT or VMAT is used to reduce side effects and spare organs at risk, then toxicity to normal tissues is reduced, but positioning precision requirements increase due to tightly shaped radiation doses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary positioning adjustments using the adjustable headrest assembly, shoulder support assembly, and head frame before the actual treatment session. Surface imaging and anatomical landmark detection are conducted in advance to establish baseline positioning parameters. The inflatable bladders and adjustable head frame components are configured to pre-compensate for anticipated positioning variations. This preliminary action ensures that when IMRT or VMAT treatment begins, the patient is already in the optimal position, meeting the stringent positioning precision requirements without requiring complex real-time adjustments during treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs integrated imaging systems that provide continuous feedback on patient positioning during IMRT or VMAT treatment. Surface imaging and anatomical landmark detection monitor positioning accuracy in real-time, and the system can trigger alerts or pause treatment if positioning deviations exceed predetermined thresholds. This feedback mechanism ensures that the tightly shaped radiation doses required by IMRT/VMAT are delivered with the necessary precision, maintaining reduced toxicity to normal tissues while meeting stringent positioning requirements through active monitoring and verification
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 system effectively reduces positional uncertainties, enabling better cancer targeting and sparing of organs at risk, thereby improving treatment accuracy and reducing side effects.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of inflatable bladders for adjusting a position of the patient's head, neck and shoulders
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a system for positioning a patient on a medical device. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a system for aligning a patient's head, spine, and shoulders for providing radiation treatment to a head and neck area of the patient.