Ripple Filter Settings for Ion Therapy Sub-beams

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Solution Overview

Problem

In ion beam therapy, the narrow Bragg peak requires a large number of energy layers, leading to prolonged treatment times, and existing methods struggle to efficiently manage ripple filter settings to balance treatment time and dose distribution.

Innovation Solution

A method is developed to determine and assign different ripple filter settings for sub-beams, optimizing spot weights to reduce treatment time while maintaining a desired dose distribution, by varying ripple filter settings based on Bragg peak width and user-defined criteria, and optimizing spot weights to improve performance measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the number of energy layers is increased to ensure smooth dose distribution with narrow Bragg peaks, then the dose distribution quality is improved, but the treatment time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedose distribution qualityVSAvoidtreatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of Bragg peak width by introducing ripple filters with different settings. By broadening the Bragg peak width through ripple filter application, the system reduces the number of energy layers needed while maintaining smooth dose distribution, thereby reducing treatment time without sacrificing dose distribution quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically assigns different ripple filter settings to different sub-beams based on their specific requirements. This dynamic adaptation allows each sub-beam to achieve optimal dose distribution with fewer energy layers, reducing the overall number of energy layers and treatment time while maintaining dosimetric quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If uniform ripple filter settings are applied to all sub-beams, then the system complexity is reduced, but the dose distribution optimization is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoiddose distribution optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different ripple filter settings to different sub-beams based on their specific dosimetric requirements. Each sub-beam receives a tailored ripple filter setting that optimizes its contribution to the overall dose distribution, rather than applying a uniform setting across all sub-beams.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the ion beam into multiple sub-beams, each with independently optimized ripple filter settings. This segmentation allows for customized optimization of each sub-beam's dose distribution characteristics while maintaining overall system manageability through automated assignment algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the number of energy layers is reduced to shorten treatment time, then the treatment efficiency is improved, but the smoothness of dose distribution is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficiencyVSAvoidsmoothness of dose distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of Bragg peak width using ripple filters to compensate for the reduction in the number of energy layers. By broadening the Bragg peak, the system maintains smooth dose distribution transitions between layers even with fewer layers, thereby improving treatment efficiency without compromising dose distribution smoothness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 treatment time by minimizing the number of energy layers needed, while ensuring a sharp distal fall-off and maintaining a desired dose distribution, by applying different ripple filter settings to sub-beams and optimizing spot weights within the treatment planning system.

Implementation Method 1

a device that broadens the Bragg peak, referred to as ripple filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRipple filter effect:

Implementation Method 2

Lateral position can be controlled using electromagnets to deflect the beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic deflection: Lorentz Force

Implementation Method 3

The ions penetrate the tissue and deliver a dose of energy to destroy cancer cells

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon beam penetration: Ion Beam

Data Source

PatentUS11446517B2Assigning ripple filter settings to a plurality of sub-beams

Publication Date: 2022.09.20 RAYSEARCH LAB

AI summary

It is provided a method for determining ripple filter settings for an ion therapy beam being capable of providing ions of different energy levels to a target volume. The method is performed in a treatment planning system and comprises the steps of: determining at least one beam direction to use to cover a target volume; and assigning a ripple filter setting to each one of a plurality of sub-beams of each one of the at least one beam direction such that each sub-beam is assigned a different ripple filter setting, wherein each ripple filter setting results in a different effect on a Bragg-peak width in a direction along the ion therapy beam, and each energy level is assigned to one of the plurality of sub-beams. The step of assigning a ripple filter setting comprises optimising based on different filter settings for different sub-beams for each beam direction.