Rotatable Pelvic Platform for Radiotherapy Immobilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current immobilization devices for radiotherapy, particularly in stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), fail to provide precise and repeatable patient immobilization, especially for breast cancer treatments, due to limitations in reproducibility across different machines and patient mobility issues, leading to suboptimal radiation targeting and increased radiation exposure to surrounding tissues.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable pelvic supporting platform with a truncated inclined plane and integral arm restraining system, featuring a vertically projecting protuberance for perineal support, V-shaped side sub-plates for trunk immobilization, and adjustable arm restraining mechanisms, enhances patient positioning reproducibility and comfort, allowing easier patient alignment and reducing the need for extensive patient collaboration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional immobilisation devices with fixed platforms are used, then device structure is simple, but patient positioning reproducibility is insufficient for SABR
Solution Approach 1:
The lower platform is made rotatable to allow dynamic adjustment of patient positioning. The platform can rotate to align the patient's body with different orientations (e.g., 45 degrees relative to the treatment machine), enabling precise and repeatable positioning for SABR treatments while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
2Productivity
If high radiation doses are applied in SABR, then treatment efficiency is improved, but radiation exposure to surrounding tissues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The immobilisation device performs preliminary positioning of the patient before radiation treatment. By using a rotatable platform and adjustable arm restraining elements, the device establishes precise initial positioning that ensures accurate targeting of the tumor volume, thereby enabling high radiation doses to be delivered safely with minimal exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.
3Manufacturing precision
If arm restraining elements are added to immobilise arms, then patient immobilisation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arm restraining elements are merged with the existing inclined plate structure. The restraining elements are integrated into the upper end of the inclined plate, combining multiple functions (support and restraint) into a single structural component, thereby improving patient immobilisation without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If rotatable platform is implemented, then patient positioning flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lower platform incorporates a rotation mechanism that allows dynamic repositioning of the patient. This dynamic feature enables the platform to be oriented at different angles (e.g., 45 degrees) to accommodate various treatment requirements and patient positions, providing enhanced positioning flexibility while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure through the use of a single rotational degree of freedom.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4a~5b
AI summary
The invention describes an immobilisation device (1) for radiotherapy comprising: an inclined plate (2) for supporting the back of a patient, wherein said plate (2) is inclined in a longitudinal direction and has a lower end (21) and an upper end (2u); and a lower platform (3) for supporting the buttocks of the patient, wherein said lower platform (3) can be coupled to the lower end (21) of the inclined plate (2), wherein the lower platform (3) is rotatable to make it easier to place the patient on the device (1). The lower platform can also comprise a protuberance (4) for supporting the perineum of the patient and plates (5) for immobilising their hips.