Pivotable Carrier-Mounted Particle Accelerator for Proton Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-station proton therapy systems are costly, require large spaces, and necessitate synchronized treatment plans across stations, leading to inefficiencies and delays if one station experiences issues.
Innovation Solution
A compact irradiation device with a pivotable carrier-mounted particle accelerator and swivelling gantry frame that allows for independent operation of each treatment station, eliminating the need for external beam coupling and enabling isocentric irradiation with adjustable particle energy and beam direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a multi-station system is used to distribute accelerator costs, then investment costs per station are reduced, but total facility costs and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the particle accelerator and beam guidance system into a single integrated gantry unit that can rotate around the treatment room. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate accelerators and their associated infrastructure, reducing both the number of treatment stations needed and the overall facility space while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable gantry design allows a single accelerator to serve multiple treatment angles and positions, making the system universally applicable for various treatment plans without requiring separate dedicated accelerators for each station. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of facilities needed.
2Productivity
If multiple treatment stations are operated simultaneously, then treatment throughput increases, but coordination complexity and delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gantry is designed to be dynamically rotatable during treatment, allowing the beam direction to change continuously around the patient. This dynamic capability enables a single station to perform what previously required multiple fixed stations, simplifying coordination while maintaining high treatment throughput through flexible positioning.
3Ease of manufacture
If a stationary beam guidance system is used, then beam coupling is simplified, but system compactness and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable gantry acts as an intermediary between the stationary accelerator and the treatment target. It carries the beam guidance components and rotates to position the beam correctly, simplifying the coupling at each treatment angle while maintaining system compactness through integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an irradiation device for irradiating an irradiation object with heavy charged particles at an irradiation station, comprising a particle accelerator for providing a particle beam and a swivelling device for swivelling the particle beam impinging on the irradiation object, wherein the swivelling device comprises a carrier pivotable about an axis. In accordance with the invention, the irradiation device is characterized in that the particle accelerator is mounted on the pivotable carrier.