Robotic IORT Capsule for Precise Tumor Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intraoperative radiation therapy methods are ineffective in precisely targeting small cancerous lesions due to limitations in visualization, organ motion tracking, and dose restriction, leading to collateral damage to healthy tissues and poor treatment outcomes, especially in abdominal cancers.
Innovation Solution
A robotic intraoperative radiation therapy device that integrates a capsule with a radioactive source and a surgical robot, allowing for precise placement and control of radiation delivery under real-time imaging guidance, enabling targeted radiation therapy while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional intraoperative radiation therapy methods are used, then radiation can be delivered to treat cancer, but the radiation cannot precisely target small cancerous lesions leading to collateral damage to healthy tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation delivery system is segmented into a small capsule containing the radioactive source that can be independently positioned and manipulated by robotic arms, allowing precise targeting of small lesions while segregating the radiation source from healthy tissues
Solution Approach 2:
A robotic manipulation system serves as an intermediary between the physician and the radiation capsule, enabling precise positioning and control of the capsule to deliver radiation exactly to the target while avoiding healthy tissues
2Measurement precision
If a robotic manipulation device is integrated with a radiation capsule, then precise targeting of tumors is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic manipulation device is designed to perform multiple functions including positioning the radiation capsule, manipulating it during treatment, and integrating with imaging systems, thereby consolidating multiple functions into a single system to manage complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The radiation capsule is integrated within the robotic manipulation device structure, with the capsule nested within the robotic arms and control systems, creating a compact integrated system that reduces overall complexity
3Measurement precision
If real-time imaging guidance is used to guide radiation delivery, then precise targeting is achieved, but the treatment time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Imaging guidance and target positioning are performed preliminarily before radiation delivery begins, and the robotic system maintains precise positioning throughout treatment, allowing continuous monitoring without interrupting the radiation delivery process
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic manipulation device maintains continuous control of the radiation capsule throughout the treatment process, allowing real-time imaging guidance without interrupting the radiation delivery, thereby maintaining continuous therapeutic action
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 precise and localized radiation delivery to cancerous tissues, reducing collateral damage and improving treatment outcomes by allowing real-time adjustment and precise targeting of tumors, even in sensitive areas previously inaccessible to conventional radiation therapy.
Implementation Method 1
a radioactive source (which can be any particle emitter, including neutron, x-ray, alpha, beta or gamma emitter)
Implementation Method 2
deliver therapeutic radiation doses to tissue, while avoiding exposure to personnel
Data Source
AI summary
This invention proposes a robotic applicator device to be deployed internally to a patient having a capsule (also referred to as a cassette) and aperture with a means of alternately occluding and exposing a radioactive source through the aperture. The capsule and aperture will be integrated with a surgical robot to create a robotic IORT (intra-operative radiation therapy) applicator device as more fully described below. The capsule, radiation source, and IORT applicator arm would be integrated to enable a physician, physicist or technician to interactively internally view and select tissue for exposure to ionizing radiation in sufficient quantities to deliver therapeutic radiation doses to tissue. Via the robotic manipulation device, the physician and physicist would remotely apply radiation to not only the tissue to be exposed, but also control the length of time of the exposure. Control means would be added to identify and calculate margin and depth of tissue to be treated and the proper radiation source or radioactive isotope (which can be any particle emitter, including neutron, x-ray, alpha, beta or gamma emitter) to obtain the desired therapeutic effects. The invention enables stereotactical surgery and close confines radiation therapy adjacent to radiosensitive tissue.