PLC-Controlled Dynamic Phantom for Radiologic Treatment Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiologic treatment systems face challenges in quality control and compliance with radiation plans due to patient movements, which introduce misalignment and deviations, and the complex interaction between imaging devices and radiation systems, particularly in systems with automatic beam adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A test system comprising an anthropomorphic phantom with flexible components, actuators, and a control device using a programmable logic controller and real-time bus interface to simulate human body motion and control the phantom, allowing for realistic testing of radiologic treatment systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If phantoms are used for quality control and beam positioning, then alignment accuracy is improved, but the system cannot simulate complex patient movements and deformations
Solution Approach 1:
The phantom transitions from a static structure to a dynamic system with movable and deformable components. The phantom includes movable parts that can be actuated to simulate patient movements and deformations during radiation treatment, allowing the same phantom to serve both positioning and motion simulation functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom is divided into multiple independent components and modules that can move and deform separately. This segmentation allows specific regions of the phantom to simulate different body parts' movements independently, providing realistic motion simulation while maintaining overall structural integrity for positioning.
2Device complexity
If static phantoms are used for testing, then system simplicity is maintained, but testing under realistic motion conditions becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The phantom incorporates dynamic elements such as movable joints, deformable tissues, and actuated components that enable it to change configuration during testing. This allows the phantom to replicate real patient motion conditions while remaining a controlled test artifact, improving testing reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom's physical parameters such as position, shape, and deformation are可变 (variable) rather than fixed. The phantom can change its geometric parameters in response to actuation, allowing it to simulate various motion states and provide reliable testing across different operational conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex motion simulation is implemented, then testing realism is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into independent controllers for each phantom component or module. Each controller manages the motion and deformation of its specific phantom part, allowing complex overall motion simulation to be achieved through coordinated simple controls rather than a single complex control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom control system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the actual motion and deformation of phantom components and adjust the actuation accordingly. This feedback control simplifies the overall system by allowing automatic coordination of multiple components based on real-time position and configuration data.
Data Source
AI summary
A test system (124) for testing a system (110) for radiologic treatment. The test system (124) comprises: A • at least one anthropomorphic phantom (118) for simulating motion of at least one part of a human body (116); and B • a control device (122) for controlling the phantom (118), comprising •• a programmable logic controller (160), •• a plurality of controller nodes (162), •• a plurality of device controllers (164) configured for controlling the actuators (140), and •• at least one real-time bus interface (166) connecting the controller nodes (162) to the programmable logic controller (160) and to the device controllers (164). The programmable logic controller (160) is configured to act as a master device with respect to the controller nodes (162), specifically with respect to each of the controller nodes (162). The controller nodes (162) are configured to act as master devices with respect to the device controllers (164).