Ridge Filter Damping Members for Charged Particle Beam Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
In charged particle beam therapy apparatuses, the scattering of charged particle beams due to support members within the ridge filter can lead to undesired dose distribution, making it challenging to achieve precise treatment.
Innovation Solution
A ridge filter design featuring damping members with changing cross-sectional areas and interlocking side surfaces, arranged in a two-dimensional array, which supports each other without the need for a separate support member, allowing for a pass-through portion that prevents beam scattering and maintains structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If support members are added to hold the ridge filter, then structural integrity is improved, but charged particle beam scattering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is merged into the ridge filter structure itself by making damping members interlock with each other through bonded side surfaces. This eliminates the need for separate support members that would cause beam scattering, while still providing the necessary structural support to hold the ridge filter in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful support members are extracted/removed from the system. Instead of using separate support members to hold the ridge filter, the invention uses the interlocking damping members themselves to provide support, thereby eliminating the source of beam scattering.
2Area of stationary object
If damping members are arranged closely to form the ridge filter, then filter compactness is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ridge filter is segmented into multiple individual damping members that are arranged in a two-dimensional array. Each damping member maintains its individual integrity while contributing to the overall filter structure, allowing compact arrangement without compromising stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping members are nested together through interlocking side surfaces, where each member's side surface bonds to the side surface of adjacent members. This creates a stable, integrated structure from compactly arranged individual elements.
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 configuration ensures that the charged particle beam travels without scattering, achieving a uniform and precise dose distribution, similar to traditional systems, while eliminating the need for additional support members.
Implementation Method 1
Energy of charged particles configuring a charged particle beam is degraded in accordance with the thickness of the damping portion to passthrough
Data Source
AI summary
A charged particle beam therapy apparatus includes an accelerator accelerating a charged particle and emitting a charged particle beam, an irradiation unit irradiating an irradiation subject with the charged particle beam, and a ridge filter provided in the irradiation unit and generating a spread out Bragg peak of the charged particle beam. The ridge filter includes multiple damping members reducing energy of the incident charged particle beam, in an intersecting direction intersecting an irradiating direction of the charged particle beam. The damping member has a cross-sectional area changing along the irradiating direction and has a side surface of when being seen in the intersecting direction, being bonded to a side surface of another damping member. A pass-through portion passing through the ridge filter in the irradiating direction is formed at a position different from a position of the damping member of when being seen in the irradiating direction.