Radiation Therapy System with Dynamic Fluoroscopy Frequency Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation therapy systems face challenges in reducing treatment time and the load on fluoroscopic radiation photographing apparatuses, particularly when target movement is high or when structures similar to the target are misrecognized, leading to inaccurate detection and increased treatment time.
Innovation Solution
A radiation therapy system that uses multiple fluoroscopic radiation photographing apparatuses to capture images from different directions, computes the three-dimensional position of the target, and controls therapeutic radiation irradiation based on these positions to ensure accurate targeting and adjust fluoroscopic radiation frequencies accordingly, thereby reducing the load on the apparatuses and preventing false target recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fluoroscopic radiation photographing frequency is increased to improve target position detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but the load on fluoroscopic radiation photographing apparatus increases and treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the fluoroscopic radiation photographing frequency variable rather than fixed. The control apparatus dynamically adjusts the photographing frequency based on real-time target movement speed: when movement speed exceeds a threshold, frequency increases to maintain detection accuracy; when movement speed is low, frequency decreases to reduce apparatus load and treatment time. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining high measurement precision and minimizing treatment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of fluoroscopic radiation photographing frequency based on target movement conditions. By monitoring target movement speed and adjusting the photographing frequency parameter accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between detection accuracy and treatment efficiency. This parameter change approach allows the system to adapt to varying clinical scenarios without being constrained by a fixed photographing schedule.
2Measurement precision
If fluoroscopic radiation photographing frequency is increased to track fast-moving targets, then measurement precision is improved, but the load on fluoroscopic radiation photographing apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts photographing frequency based on target movement speed, increasing frequency only when necessary to track fast-moving targets. This prevents unnecessary high-frequency photographing during periods of low target mobility, thereby reducing apparatus load while maintaining adequate tracking accuracy. The dynamic control ensures the apparatus operates at optimal capacity rather than sustained maximum capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by providing fluoroscopic radiation photographing at varying frequencies rather than continuous maximum frequency. When target movement speed is low, the system reduces photographing frequency to the minimum necessary level, avoiding excessive action. This partial action approach maintains sufficient measurement precision for slow-moving targets while significantly reducing apparatus load and improving overall productivity.
3Productivity
If single-direction fluoroscopic radiation photographing is used to reduce apparatus load, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to false target recognition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional single-direction photographing to three-dimensional multi-directional position computation. By combining images from multiple directions and computing three-dimensional target position, the system achieves accurate target recognition that distinguishes the actual target from similar-looking structures. This dimensional enhancement resolves the limitation of single-direction photographing while maintaining reasonable apparatus load through intelligent frequency control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a position computation apparatus as an intermediary that processes images from multiple fluoroscopic radiation photographing apparatuses. This intermediary computes three-dimensional target position by synthesizing information from different directions, enabling accurate target identification even when individual two-dimensional images are ambiguous. The intermediary processing layer resolves the contradiction by extracting precise positional information that would be unavailable from single-direction imaging alone.
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
This approach allows for more accurate and efficient radiation therapy by reducing the frequency of fluoroscopic radiation and maintaining high detection accuracy, thereby shortening treatment time and decreasing the load on fluoroscopic radiation apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of fluoroscopic radiation photographing apparatuses (4A, 4B) to photograph simultaneously from a plurality of directions by fluoroscopic radiation
Implementation Method 2
a diseased part (target) such as a cancer is irradiated with a charged particle beam such as an electron beam, a proton beam, or a carbon beam or a therapeutic radiation such as X-rays or γ-rays
Implementation Method 3
a diseased part (target) such as a cancer is irradiated with a charged particle beam such as an electron beam, a proton beam, or a carbon beam
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention makes it possible to provide a radiation therapy system capable of not only inhibiting treatment time from increasing more effectively than before but also reducing the loads of fluoroscopic radiation photographing apparatuses. The radiation therapy system has: a therapeutic radiation irradiation apparatus to irradiate a target with therapeutic radiation; two fluoroscopic radiation photographing apparatuses to photograph the target simultaneously from two directions; a target position computation apparatus to compute a three-dimensional position of the target on the basis of photographed fluoroscopic images; a therapeutic radiation irradiation control apparatus to control the irradiation of the therapeutic radiation on the basis of the computed three-dimensional position of the target; and a fluoroscopic radiation photographing control apparatus to control irradiation quantities per unit time of the fluoroscopic radiation photographing apparatuses on the basis of the three-dimensional position of the target.