Rapid Range Stacking for Particle Beam Therapy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering particle beam radiation therapy, such as IMPT, face challenges in precisely targeting deep-seated tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue, particularly in achieving dynamic delivery of Spread Out Bragg Peaks, which requires numerous pencil beams and extensive scanning, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
The Rapid Range Stacking (RRS) method employs a position and tracking module, scanning routine module, and beam delivery module to rapidly deliver a longitudinal column of dose to tumor depths by controlling horizontal and vertical magnets, allowing for precise targeting and adaptive treatment planning, enabling the delivery of a uniform Spread Out Bragg Peak in a single transverse scanning cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional IMPT methods are used to deliver particle beam radiation therapy, then the radiation dose can be deposited at a specific depth in the tumor, but the delivery process requires numerous pencil beams and extensive scanning, resulting in scanning latency and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple pencil beams with different energies into a single integrated beam delivery process. By merging the delivery of multiple depth layers simultaneously through a single transverse scan, the system eliminates the sequential scanning required by conventional IMPT, thereby maintaining precise depth targeting while dramatically improving delivery efficiency and reducing scanning latency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by delivering radiation in a three-dimensional volume simultaneously rather than scanning through two-dimensional slices sequentially. The rapid range stacking method enables the beam to populate the entire tumor volume across multiple depths in a single transverse passing, transforming the delivery from a sequential 2D slice-by-slice process to a parallel 3D volumetric process
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple pencil beams are used to create a uniform Spread Out Bragg Peak, then the dose distribution conformality to tumor shape is improved, but the scanning time and latency increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuous useful action by delivering radiation across the entire tumor volume in a single uninterrupted transverse scan. The beam continuously populates multiple depth layers simultaneously as it passes through the patient, eliminating the stop-and-go sequential scanning of conventional methods. This continuous delivery process maintains precise dose conformality while reducing total scanning time and latency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-positioning the beam parameters for multiple depth layers before the actual delivery. The treatment planning system prepares the rapid range stacking parameters in advance, allowing the beam delivery system to execute the complex multi-depth population without real-time computational delays during the actual scanning process
3Quantity of substance
If sequential layer-by-layer delivery is used, then the dose can be deposited at multiple depths, but the treatment time is extended and patient motion becomes a greater concern
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by delivering the radiation beam in a single rapid oscillating pass through the tumor volume. The beam rapidly scans across the transverse plane while modulating its energy to deposit dose at multiple depths during this single periodic cycle, rather than requiring multiple sequential passes. This periodic delivery achieves comprehensive depth coverage in one treatment cycle, minimizing treatment time and reducing patient motion concerns
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 reduces scanning latency and delivers a uniform dose to the tumor volume efficiently, minimizing exposure to healthy tissue and enhancing precision by stacking multiple pencil beams with varying energies, thereby improving the conformity of the radiation dose to the tumor shape.
Implementation Method 1
controlling a power supply for a horizontal magnet and a vertical magnet
Implementation Method 2
charged particle beams of various species generated from a Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS)
Implementation Method 3
the charged particles damage the DNA within the cells, reducing the reproduction of the cell
Implementation Method 4
higher linear energy transfer (LET) in causing more effective biological damage
Implementation Method 5
Delivered to the tissue is a maximum deposition of energy just over the last few millimeters of the particles range called the Bragg peak
Data Source
AI summary
A rapid range stacking for particle beam therapy includes a position and tracking module used for a patient position and locating a region of interest, and a scanning routine module used for targeting a target voxel within the region of interest by accessing a treatment plan characterization while providing a prescribed amount of dose to the target voxel. The scanning routine module determines a prescribed amount of dose for the target voxel by incrementing a position location of horizontal indexes on a single vertical index. Further, a beam delivery module used for controlling a beam device delivers ion particles to the target voxel within the region of interest. The beam delivery module controls a power supply for a horizontal magnet and a vertical magnet by retrieving information from the scanning routine module, and also controls a power supply for an accelerator energy selection.