Radiation Source Shaping for Ocular Tissue Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiation sources lack the ability to tailor radiation dose distribution to the unique volumetric configurations of treatment areas, such as the posterior portion of the eye globe, and are not adaptable to individual patient or condition variability.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a radioactive source is enclosed in a container with a geometry and hole/slot pattern that allows for controlled spatial modulation of radiation doses, using materials like 9Sr and 192Ir, and encapsulated for protection and tailored emission control, enabling customized dose delivery based on the specific therapeutic needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional radiation sources are used, then the radiation source can be mass produced with simple geometry, but the radiation dose distribution cannot be tailored to the unique volumetric configuration of treatment areas
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation source is designed with spatially varying properties including non-uniform radionuclide distribution, variable thickness regions, and localized holes or slots in the container wall. These local variations enable different parts of the source to deliver different radiation doses, tailoring the dose distribution to match the specific volumetric configuration of the treatment area while maintaining a relatively simple overall source structure that can be manufactured using standard techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The container wall is segmented with holes or slots at specific locations and orientations to control radiation emission directions. The radionuclide distribution is also segmented into regions of varying concentration. This segmentation allows independent control of radiation delivery to different anatomical structures within the treatment volume, achieving customized dose distribution without requiring complete geometric complexity throughout the entire source.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional radiation sources are used, then the source can be produced with uniform geometry, but it cannot accommodate variability from one patient or condition to another
Solution Approach 1:
The source design incorporates variable parameters including radionuclide concentration gradients, thickness variations, and configurable hole/slot patterns that can be adjusted to match different patient anatomies and treatment conditions. These parameter variations are integrated into the manufacturing process through techniques such as selective deposition, variable thickness fabrication, and programmed hole formation, allowing customization without requiring entirely different manufacturing approaches for each patient.
3Manufacturing precision
If the radiation source geometry is tailored to match treatment area geometry, then the dose distribution uniformity improves, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than creating completely custom geometric shapes for each treatment area, the invention applies partial customization through selective modifications such as holes, slots, and thickness variations in standardized container designs. This partial action approach achieves sufficient dose distribution uniformity for clinical needs while avoiding the excessive manufacturing complexity that would result from fully custom geometric tailoring for each patient.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system may include a therapeutic agent having a radioactive source enclosed by a container. The container may be placed within a cavity of a medical device for treating animal tissue. The method and system allows a radioactive source to be manufactured in such a manner so as to control and spatially modulate the delivery of radiation doses to a treatment area of animal tissue, such as for tissue of humans. From the container, radiation doses and/or a radiation field are produced by the radiation source. The geometry and size of the radiation doses are controlled by the geometry of the container and the geometry of the radiation source as well as the type, number, and geometry of holes/slots in either the source material and/or a surface of the container.