Radiosurgery Collimation Using Nested Waveguide Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiosurgery technologies, particularly those using conical collimators, face challenges in achieving adequate dose gradient and uniformity, leading to potential damage to healthy tissue due to blurring of radiation distribution and scattering of secondary electrons and photons, which complicates precise targeting in treatments like stereotactic radiosurgery.
Innovation Solution
A system and method employing a channel waveguide assembly with nestable cylinders and concentric spacers to optimize the radiation beam's fluence distribution, achieving a 'top-hat' dose distribution by adjusting the fluence and design of a solid compensator to enhance dose gradient and uniformity within the target area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conical collimator is used to shape the radiation beam, then the beam can be directed to the target, but the dose gradient is insufficient and healthy tissue is damaged due to beam scattering
Solution Approach 1:
The collimator is divided into multiple segments: a conical collimator for basic beam shaping and additional compensating elements (such as compensators or modulators) that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows separate optimization of beam shaping and dose gradient control, enabling precise dose delivery while protecting healthy tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces compensating elements with locally varying properties (different densities, thicknesses, or materials) at different positions within the collimator. These local variations compensate for beam scattering effects in specific regions, creating steeper dose gradients at the target while maintaining lower doses in surrounding healthy tissue areas.
2Manufacturing precision
If the radiation beam is delivered to achieve adequate dose gradient, then target precision is improved, but secondary electrons and photons scatter causing blurring of radiation distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces compensating elements as intermediary components between the conical collimator and the target. These intermediaries absorb or scatter secondary electrons and photons that would otherwise cause beam blurring, thereby preserving the sharpness of the radiation distribution and maintaining target precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a multileaf collimator is used for complex lesions, then beam shaping flexibility is improved, but the penumbra is shallower and dose falloff is more gradual
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the advantages of both conical and multileaf collimators by integrating a conical collimator structure with multileaf or compensating elements. This hybrid approach merges the steep dose falloff capability of conical collimators with the beam shaping flexibility of multileaf collimators, achieving both complex lesion coverage and sharp dose gradients.
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
The solution significantly improves dose gradient and uniformity, reducing spillage to healthy tissue and enhancing the accuracy of treatment plans by sharpening the radiation beam and optimizing dose delivery, thereby improving patient care in radiosurgery.
Implementation Method 1
A system and method employing a channel waveguide assembly with nestable cylinders and concentric spacers to optimize the radiation beam's fluence distribution, achieving a 'top-hat' dose distribution
Implementation Method 2
A channel waveguide assembly comprising nestable cylinders configured to be mounted relative to the conical collimator
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is provided for radiation system collimation and design. A plurality of channel waveguide assemblies are provided to be operatively associated with respective beam collimators having varying longitudinal bore diameters. The plurality of channel waveguide assemblies includes a plurality of guides and concentric spacers. The plurality of guides and concentric spacers include varying inner diameters that are configured to be securably nested together by decreasing inner diameters and secured within the longitudinal bores of the respective beam collimators.