Radiation Treatment Overlap Control for Accurate Wide-Range Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation treatment systems face challenges in achieving wide-range irradiation with high accuracy due to gaps or overlaps in irradiation ranges and difficulties in controlling irradiation amounts, particularly when using methods like sequential irradiation in adjacent ranges or changing the direction of the radiation axis.
Innovation Solution
A radiation treatment system with a couch, radiation source, rotation mechanism, sensor, and control unit that sets an irradiation plan with partially overlapping ranges and adjusts radiation doses based on sensor detection, ensuring accurate dose distribution through the use of a multi-leaf collimator and correction mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If sequential irradiation is performed in adjacent irradiation ranges by tilting the radiation axis, then the irradiation range is widened, but gap regions or overlapping regions are generated between irradiation ranges causing excess or deficiency of irradiation amount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by making irradiation ranges partially overlap and using sensor-based detection to identify regions with excess or deficiency. The MLC performs partial shielding adjustments in overlapping regions to correct dose distribution, rather than attempting to achieve perfect coverage without overlap.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to detect radiation transmitted through the treatment target and comparing actual irradiation amounts with planned doses. The control unit adjusts MLC positions based on detection results to correct excess or deficiency in overlapping regions.
2Area of stationary object
If the direction of the radiation source is changed while emitting radiation to widen the irradiation range, then the irradiation range is expanded, but the control demand for the irradiation axis and MLC at overlapping regions or irradiation end portions becomes severe
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit uses real-time sensor feedback to monitor irradiation amounts and automatically adjusts MLC positions and radiation source directions, reducing the complexity of manual control in overlapping and end regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes parameters including radiation source direction angles, MLC leaf positions, and irradiation intensity based on real-time detection results to optimize dose distribution across the expanded irradiation range.
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 wide-range irradiation with high accuracy by overlapping irradiation ranges and correcting radiation doses in real-time, minimizing errors and ensuring uniform dose distribution, especially around the isocenter.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to detect radiation transmitted through the treatment target
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a radiation treatment system which enables wide irradiation range of radiation to a patient without increasing a load on a structure body. A radiation treatment system includes: a couch that carries a treatment target; a radiation source; a rotation mechanism configured to support the radiation source and to rotate the radiation source around the couch; a sensor configured to detect radiation transmitted through the treatment target; and a control unit configured to control the radiation source and the rotation mechanism, and the control unit sets an irradiation plan in which an irradiation range of first irradiation and an irradiation range of second irradiation are partially overlapped, and controls a radiation dose for an overlapping portion based on a detection result obtained by the sensor.