Segmented Rolling Floor for Gantry Nozzle Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for safe, accurate, and precise imaging and treatment of tumors using charged particles in cancer therapy, as existing systems face challenges in rapid and reliable positioning and targeting of ion beams.
Innovation Solution
A segmented rolling floor apparatus and method for use in charged particle cancer therapy systems, combined with fiducial marker detectors and a tomography system, enable precise determination of tumor position and orientation without relying on an isocenter point, using a gantry and rotating sections to maintain a stable nozzle system and beam transport line, allowing for accurate imaging and treatment with positively charged particles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a gantry system with rotating nozzle is used for charged particle therapy, then treatment accuracy and positioning precision are improved, but mechanical complexity and potential for positioning errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fiducial markers as simplified copies or references of the tumor position. Instead of relying on complex mechanical positioning systems to directly locate the tumor, the system places detectable markers (such as radiopaque markers or RFID tags) near the tumor site, and uses imaging or detection systems to track these markers. This replaces complex mechanical positioning with a simpler optical/electromagnetic detection approach, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining or improving positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical positioning systems with optical or electromagnetic detection systems. Instead of relying solely on the mechanical precision of the gantry rotation and nozzle positioning, the system uses imaging systems (such as X-ray, CT, or MRI integrated with the gantry) and fiducial marker detection to determine tumor position. This replacement of mechanical measurement with optical/electromagnetic measurement reduces the burden on mechanical precision and allows for real-time position verification and correction.
2Productivity
If rapid gantry rotation and nozzle movement are implemented, then treatment speed and productivity are improved, but mechanical stability and positioning reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback systems using integrated imaging and fiducial marker detection. During gantry rotation and nozzle movement, the system continuously tracks the position of fiducial markers relative to the beam path. If deviations from the planned trajectory are detected, the system can provide feedback to the control system to make real-time corrections, ensuring positioning reliability even during rapid movements. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows high-speed operation without sacrificing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary positioning and verification steps before treatment begins. Fiducial markers are placed and verified in advance, and the system performs pre-treatment imaging and position verification to establish accurate baseline coordinates. This preliminary action ensures that even if rapid movements occur during treatment, the starting position is precisely known, and any deviations can be detected and corrected relative to this established reference frame.
3Measurement precision
If fiducial marker detectors and tomography systems are added, then imaging precision and tumor targeting accuracy are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into unified system components. The gantry system serves both as the radiation delivery mechanism and as the mounting structure for imaging systems (such as X-ray sources and detectors). The same rotational mechanism that positions the treatment nozzle also positions the imaging components, allowing them to share motors, control systems, and mechanical structures. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate, dedicated imaging and treatment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the treatment and imaging systems into a single integrated platform. The fiducial marker detection capabilities are combined with the treatment delivery system, allowing simultaneous or sequential operation without requiring separate equipment. The control systems for both treatment and imaging are integrated, sharing common processors, software platforms, and user interfaces. This consolidation reduces the number of independent subsystems and interconnections, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining enhanced imaging and targeting capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention comprises a segmented rolling floor apparatus and method of use thereof, such as for use in a charged particle cancer therapy system. The segmented rolling floor comprises a first spool and a second spool, attached to opposite ends of the rolling floor, which cooperatively wind and unwind the rolling floor. The segmented rolling floor circumferentially surrounds a nozzle system penetrating through an aperture in the segmented rolling floor, where the nozzle system is used to deliver charged particles, from an accelerator, to a tumor of a patient. The rolling floor and nozzle systems move at respective rates maintaining the nozzle system in the aperture allowing for a safe/walkable floor while allowing treatment of the tumor as a gantry rotates the nozzle system and delivers protons to the tumor from positions above and below the floor.