Synchrotron Multi-Energy Extraction Control for Rapid Dose Rate

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing particle beam irradiation systems face challenges in rapidly changing ion beam energy levels during scanning irradiation methods, leading to prolonged treatment times and reduced dose rates due to the need for updating operating cycles and dealing with beam exhaustion or device troubles, which complicates the shifting from extraction to deceleration control.

Innovation Solution

A particle beam irradiation system with a controller that manages multi-energy extraction control by using pre-stored operating control data for rapid shifting to deceleration control, including acceleration, extraction, and deceleration control data sets, allowing for efficient energy level changes and cycle updates within a short time, even when ion beam irradiation is halted.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If multi-energy extraction control operation is implemented to extract beams of multiple energy levels within one operating cycle, then the beam energy change control time is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to the need for integrated operating control data management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam energy change control timeVSAvoidoperating control data management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The operating control data is segmented into multiple energy level-specific data sets, each corresponding to a specific extraction energy level. This allows the system to pre-organize control parameters for different energy levels, enabling rapid switching between energy levels without requiring complex real-time calculations, thus reducing beam energy change control time while maintaining manageable system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary preparation by pre-storing operating control data for multiple energy levels before actual beam extraction. This advance preparation includes setting up all necessary control parameters, timing sequences, and coordination data for each energy level, allowing the synchrotron to quickly switch between energy levels during operation without complex real-time decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the synchrotron operates with integrated operating control data covering all energy levels, then the operating control is simplified, but the treatment time increases when beam charge is exhausted and cycle update is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchrotron operating controlVSAvoidtreatment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects when beam charge is exhausted and self-manages the transition to the next operating cycle by selecting and loading the appropriate pre-prepared operating control data for the next energy level. This automated cycle management maintains ease of operation while minimizing treatment time delays, as the system can quickly switch between pre-configured energy level data sets without requiring manual intervention or complex real-time coordination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the system extracts all available beam energy levels within one operating cycle, then the dose rate is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to beam exhaustion which requires time-consuming cycle updates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedose rateVSAvoidcontinuous beam irradiation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system ensures continuous beam irradiation by pre-preparing multiple sets of operating control data corresponding to different energy levels and beam charge conditions. When beam charge is exhausted during multi-energy extraction, the system can immediately transition to the next pre-configured energy level data set without interruption to the treatment workflow, maintaining both high dose rate and continuous irradiation reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares backup operating control data sets for multiple energy levels in advance, creating a cushion against beam exhaustion. This preliminary preparation ensures that when beam charge is depleted during multi-energy extraction operation, the system has pre-configured data ready for immediate switching, preventing treatment interruptions and maintaining reliability without sacrificing dose rate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP2687262B1Particle beam irradiation system
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 HITACHI LTD
  • EP2687262B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2687262B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2687262B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A particle beam irradiation system is provided in which in the multi-energy extraction control operation that realizes change control of an extraction beam energy in a synchrotron (13) within a short time, when ion beam irradiation is halted, an operating cycle is updated within a short time and a dose rate is improved. To this end, operating control data (700) for each of devices constituting the synchrotron (13) is constructed by multi-energy extraction control pattern data (70) for controlling extraction of beams of a plurality of energy levels at one operating cycle, and a plurality of sets of deceleration control data (73a, 73b, 73c) that correspond to the extraction control of the beam of the plurality of energy levels. The devices are controlled by using the operating control data (700) to conduct the extraction control of the beam of the plurality of energy levels, and the plurality of sets of deceleration control data (73a, 73b, 73c) corresponding to the extraction control of the beam of the plurality of energy levels are provided to enable rapid shifting to deceleration control from any extraction energy level.