Rotating Patient Support for Irradiation Isocenter Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current teletherapy systems are limited in patient positioning flexibility due to fixed irradiation sources, which restricts comfort and treatment effectiveness, especially when the irradiation source has a fixed position and is not movable, making it difficult to precisely align the isocenter with the target growth for optimal energy delivery.
Innovation Solution
A patient support system that can be rotated about three orthogonal axes, combined with imaging and control circuitry to determine and adjust irradiation treatment plans based on allowable rotation ranges and treatment prescriptions, allowing for multiple rotation angles and adjustments to ensure precise alignment of the isocenter with the target growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the irradiation source is fixed in position, then the system structure is simplified, but the patient positioning flexibility and isocenter alignment precision are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patient support member is designed to be rotatable about three orthogonal axes, transforming a static positioning system into a dynamic one. This allows the patient to be positioned at multiple orientations while the irradiation source remains fixed, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and positioning flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces rotational degrees of freedom about three orthogonal axes, adding dimensional flexibility to patient positioning. This multi-axis rotation capability enables precise isocenter alignment from various angles without requiring the irradiation source to move.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the patient support member is made rotatable about three orthogonal axes, then patient positioning flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation mechanism is divided into three independent orthogonal axes, each capable of independent rotation. This segmentation allows for controlled, precise positioning while simplifying the control of each individual axis compared to a complex single-degree-of-freedom mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient support member with three-axis rotation capability serves multiple functions: it enables patient positioning for various treatment angles, facilitates isocenter alignment, and accommodates different patient anatomies. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by eliminating the need for multiple separate positioning devices.
3Measurement precision
If multiple rotation angles are evaluated to determine treatment plans, then the precision of isocenter alignment is improved, but the treatment planning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines multiple candidate rotation angles and evaluates treatment plans for each angle before finalizing the treatment plan. This preliminary evaluation of multiple options allows for optimized isocenter alignment while providing a structured approach to selecting the best treatment configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment planning system evaluates multiple rotation angles and uses feedback from this evaluation to select the optimal angle that achieves precise isocenter alignment. The system iteratively assesses different configurations and refines the treatment plan based on the evaluation results, balancing precision with planning efficiency.
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 solution enhances the precision and effectiveness of teletherapy by allowing for flexible patient positioning and adjustment of irradiation treatment plans, improving the alignment of the isocenter with the target growth, thereby optimizing energy delivery and minimizing harm to surrounding tissues.
Implementation Method 1
a patient support member arranged to support a patient, the patient support member arranged to be rotated about three orthogonal axes
Implementation Method 2
control the imager to image the patient
Implementation Method 3
determine a first irradiation treatment plan, wherein the control circuitry is further arranged, in the event that the determined first irradiation treatment plan meets the patient treatment prescriptions, to output the determined first irradiation treatment plan
Implementation Method 4
maximize biological effectiveness the isocenter must be precisely collocated with the target growth
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
AI summary
An irradiation treatment planning method constituted of: controlling a patient support member to rotate about a first axis by an initial rotation angle; imaging the patient; receiving treatment prescriptions; and responsive to the patient image, the treatment prescriptions and allowable ranges of rotation about at least two orthogonal axes, determining an irradiation treatment plan, wherein in the event that the irradiation treatment plan does not meet the treatment prescriptions, the method further comprises: responsive to the patient image, the treatment prescriptions and the allowable rotation ranges, determining rotation angles of the patient support member about the first axis; for each rotation angle, controlling the patient support member to rotate about the first axis by the rotation angle and imaging the patient; and for each rotation angle, determining an irradiation treatment plan portion responsive to the patient image, the treatment prescriptions and the allowable rotation ranges.