Hardware Degradation Detection in Radiation Therapy Accelerators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiation therapy systems face challenges in predicting hardware malfunctions, leading to downtime, as existing methods are inefficient in detecting degradation before equipment failure occurs.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for detecting hardware degradation in radiation therapy systems, which includes a measurement unit, normalizer, averaging unit, and comparator to monitor and analyze performance metrics over time, normalizing data to account for historical values and identifying deviations from nominal behavior, thereby detecting imminent malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If preventive maintenance is scheduled at certain time intervals, then hardware malfunction can be prevented, but the maintenance may be performed unnecessarily early or too late
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring hardware components and detecting degradation trends before actual failure occurs. The measurement unit collects data on quantities representative of hardware functioning, and the normalization and averaging units process this data to identify declining trends, enabling maintenance to be scheduled at the optimal time rather than using fixed intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously measuring hardware component performance and comparing it against normalized historical data. The comparator unit generates alerts when measured values deviate from expected ranges, providing real-time feedback on hardware health status. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of maintenance scheduling based on actual component condition rather than predetermined time intervals.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple radiation fields are delivered with different setpoints and parameters, then patient treatment requirements are met, but hardware degradation detection becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system addresses parameter variations by implementing a normalization process that adjusts measured hardware quantities based on the specific treatment parameters being used. The normalization unit receives measured values along with associated treatment parameters and normalizes the measurements to account for expected variations due to different field configurations, setpoints, and treatment requirements. This allows accurate hardware degradation detection across diverse treatment scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the hardware monitoring by creating separate normalization profiles and reference ranges for different hardware components and treatment types. By dividing the monitoring into component-specific and treatment-type-specific segments, the system can accurately detect degradation in each component independently while accommodating the versatility needed for different radiation field deliveries.
Data Source
AI summary
An electron accelerator including a resonant cavity, an electron source, an RF system, and at least one magnet unit is provided. The resonant cavity further includes a hollow closed conductor and the electron source is configured to radially inject a beam of electrons into the cavity. The RF system is configured to generate an electric field to accelerate the electrons along radial trajectories. The at least one magnet unit further-includes a deflecting magnet configured to generate a magnetic field that deflects an electron beam emerging out of the resonant cavity along a first radial trajectory and redirects the electron beam into the resonant cavity along a second radial trajectory. The resonant cavity further includes a first half shell, a second half shell, and a central ring element.