Ring-Gantry Radiotherapy Imaging for Atrial Fibrillation Target Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiotherapy systems for atrial fibrillation fail to acquire a complete image of the heart due to limitations in movement and imaging capabilities, leading to inadequate targeting and treatment.
Innovation Solution
A radiotherapy system incorporating a robotic arm, a chamber, a placement part for patient posture adjustment, a detection part with arc-shaped X-ray tubes and detectors, a tracking part for body surface movement, and a treatment part with a rotating ring and radiation source, enabling precise three-dimensional imaging and treatment without high-speed patient rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a C-arm structure is used where the patient rotates 360 degrees, then the irradiation space is enlarged, but the C-arm support cannot move dynamically to track the irradiation target area
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the patient 360 degrees as in conventional C-arm systems, the patent inverts the approach by keeping the patient stationary and rotating the radiation source and detection array around the patient. This allows dynamic tracking of the target area while maintaining a fixed patient position, resolving the contradiction between enlarged irradiation space and dynamic tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic movement of the radiation source and detection array through a rotating support structure that can adjust its position and orientation in real-time. This dynamic system tracks the irradiation target area continuously during treatment, enabling both large irradiation space coverage and precise target tracking simultaneously.
2Device complexity
If an X-ray tube is fixed to the ceiling and a flat panel is fixed to the floor, then the device structure is simplified, but only a small range of images at a 45-degree angle can be captured, making volume imaging impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional fixed-angle imaging system to a three-dimensional volumetric imaging system by arranging multiple X-ray tubes and detectors in a circular array around the patient. This multi-dimensional configuration enables complete volume imaging of the heart while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging system is divided into multiple independent X-ray tube-detector pairs arranged segmentally around the patient. Each pair captures images from a specific angle, and the segmented data is reconstructed into a complete three-dimensional volume, achieving comprehensive imaging without requiring a single complex fixed structure.
3Productivity
If high-speed patient rotation is used to construct three-dimensional images, then imaging speed is improved, but patient comfort and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by keeping the patient stationary and rotating the imaging equipment instead. This eliminates the harmful effects of patient rotation while maintaining fast three-dimensional imaging capability through the rapid rotation of the radiation source and detection array around the fixed patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating support structure acts as an intermediary between the stationary patient and the moving radiation source-detector system. This mediator enables fast volumetric imaging by rotating around the patient without requiring the patient themselves to rotate, thus achieving high imaging speed while preserving patient comfort and safety.
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
Enables comfortable, safe, and precise radiotherapy by constructing a complete three-dimensional image without patient rotation, ensuring accurate targeting and treatment, while maintaining patient comfort and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a detection part configured to detect an atrial fibrillation target area, the detection part includes a ring gantry, a plurality of X-ray tubes, and a plurality of X-ray detectors
Implementation Method 2
a treatment part configured to perform radiotherapy on the atrial fibrillation target area, wherein a treatment end of the treatment part is fixedly mounted at the end of the ring gantry away from the placement part
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a radiotherapy system for atrial fibrillation, including: a chamber; a support mounted in the chamber; a placement part located in the chamber and fixedly connected to the bottom of the chamber, wherein the placement part is used for adjusting the patient's posture; a detection part configured to detect an atrial fibrillation target area, wherein the detection part includes a ring gantry, a plurality of X-ray tubes, and a plurality of X-ray detectors, the ring gantry is rotatably mounted at the top of the support around the axis of the ring gantry, at least some of the plurality of X-ray detectors are arranged in an arc shape on the inner side of the ring gantry, and at least some of the plurality of X-ray tubes are arranged in an arc shape on the inner side of the ring gantry; and a treatment part configured to perform radiotherapy on the atrial fibrillation target area, wherein a treatment end of the treatment part is fixedly mounted at the end of the ring gantry away from the placement part, and a driving end of the treatment part is fixedly connected to the support. The problem that a complete image of the heart of a patient cannot be acquired because a traditional treatment device cannot move to track an irradiation target area and cannot achieve volume imaging is solved.