Radiotransparent Patient Platform Sag Measurement for Beam Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiation therapy patient platforms sag due to patient weight, introducing errors into beam treatment plans and providing uncomfortable, flat surfaces, which is exacerbated by longer treatment durations, necessitating improved systems for patient platform control and measurement.
Innovation Solution
A radiotransparent patient platform with a radiopaque elongate element and optical markers, coupled with detectors and controllers, measures platform sag and adjusts to patient weight, ensuring accurate radiation delivery and patient comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a radiotransparent patient platform is used to provide rigid support, then the platform must be long enough to support the patient, but the platform will sag due to patient weight and platform length, introducing errors into beam treatment plans
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates detectors that measure the actual position of the patient platform during treatment, providing feedback to the control system. This feedback loop allows the system to detect and compensate for platform sag, maintaining positioning accuracy despite the platform's length and the patient's weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts treatment parameters based on measured platform sag. By changing the positioning parameters in real-time according to actual platform deflection, the system maintains accurate beam delivery despite physical platform limitations.
2Reliability
If a flat or slightly curved carbon fiber patient platform is used, then the platform provides radiotransparency and structural support, but the platform surface is uncomfortable for patients to lie on during long treatment sessions
Solution Approach 1:
The patient platform incorporates different surface characteristics in different regions. The top surface includes cushioning elements or adjustable positioning features that provide local comfort variations, allowing the platform to maintain overall radiotransparency while offering localized comfort zones for patient contact areas.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the patient platform is cantilevered into and out of the bore of the gantry, then the system enables rotating radiotherapy treatment delivery, but the platform length required for patient support exacerbates sagging and positioning errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses detectors to continuously monitor platform position during rotation and treatment delivery, providing real-time feedback that allows the control system to compensate for sagging effects, maintaining beam accuracy despite the long cantilevered platform configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system may incorporate counterbalancing mechanisms or computational compensation that offset the gravitational effects on the long platform, reducing sagging during rotation and treatment delivery while maintaining the necessary platform length for patient support.
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
Accurate radiation delivery to tumor regions while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue, enhanced patient comfort, and improved treatment compliance through precise platform positioning and adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
Some radiotherapy systems deliver a beam of photons to a tumor using a radiation source or linear accelerator (linac) system
Implementation Method 2
A first location of the elongate element (e.g., when the platform is unweighted in the absence of a patient) may be determined using the detector
Data Source
AI summary
Described here are systems, devices, and methods for imaging and radiotherapy procedures. Generally, a radiotherapy system may include a radiotransparent patient platform, a radiation source coupled to a multi-leaf collimator, and a detector facing the collimator. The radiation source may be configured to emit a first beam through the collimator to provide treatment to a patient on the patient platform. A controller may be configured to control the radiotherapy system.