Thermal Cooling Ring for Radiation Therapy Gantry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiation therapy systems, particularly those with high-speed gantries, face challenges in temperature management due to heat generation from components like radiation sources and detectors, which can lead to elevated temperatures affecting patient comfort and system reliability, and existing solutions are often costly, noisy, and unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A temperature management system comprising a stationary frame and a thermal ring with a thermally-conductive substrate, fluid conduits, and a heat exchanger that circulates fluid to efficiently transfer heat away from heat-generating components, maintaining temperatures within a safe and comfortable range while reducing noise and mechanical complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed gantry rotation is used to deliver radiation therapy, then treatment efficiency and productivity are improved, but heat generation from radiation sources and detectors increases, causing temperature to rise and affecting patient comfort and system reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat-generating components (radiation source and detectors) from the rotating gantry structure and places them on a separate, stationary cooling ring. This allows the gantry to rotate at high speeds for efficient treatment delivery while the cooling system independently manages the temperature of the extracted heat-generating components, resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a thermally-conductive substrate as an intermediary between the heat-generating components and the cooling fluid conduits. This substrate efficiently transfers heat from the radiation source and detectors to the cooling fluid, enabling effective temperature management without interfering with the high-speed rotation of the gantry, thus maintaining both productivity and temperature control.
2Temperature
If traditional cooling systems are used to manage heat from gantry components, then temperature control is achieved, but the systems become costly, noisy, and mechanically complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function directly into the gantry structure by integrating thermally-conductive substrates and cooling fluid conduits within the gantry itself. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate, complex external cooling systems, reducing mechanical complexity, cost, and noise while maintaining effective temperature control of the heat-generating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The gantry structure serves its own cooling needs through the integrated thermally-conductive substrates and cooling fluid conduits. The system is self-sufficient in managing its heat generation, eliminating the need for external cooling equipment and reducing overall system complexity and noise.
3Productivity
If heat-generating components are mounted on a rotating gantry, then radiation therapy delivery is enabled, but temperature management becomes difficult and patient comfort is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat-generating components from the rotating gantry and places them on a stationary cooling ring. This separation allows the gantry to rotate for radiation delivery while the stationary cooling system continuously manages the temperature of the heat-generating components, preventing heat transfer to the patient area and maintaining patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermally-conductive substrates as intermediaries between the heat-generating components and the cooling fluid. These substrates efficiently conduct heat away from the radiation source and detectors before it can affect the patient, while allowing the gantry to rotate freely for radiation therapy delivery.
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
The system effectively manages heat transfer, maintaining component temperatures between 35°C to 40°C and patient area temperatures close to ambient, enhancing patient comfort, reducing noise, and improving system reliability and longevity by minimizing mechanical components.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal ring may include a thermally-conductive substrate configured to be in thermal contact with a heat-generating component. Heat from the heat-generating component may be transferred to the stationary frame via the enclosure.
Implementation Method 2
The fluid conduit may include a sidewall that defines a lumen, wherein at least a portion of the sidewall is in thermal contact with the thermally-conductive substrate.
Implementation Method 3
The stationary frame may include a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the enclosure, the heat exchanger configured to deliver air to the enclosure.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a stationary frame and a thermal ring. The thermal ring may be rotatably coupled to the stationary frame and disposed relative to the stationary frame such that the thermal ring and the stationary frame define an enclosure. The thermal ring may include a thermally-conductive substrate configured to be in thermal contact with a heat-generating component. Heat from the heat-generating component may be transferred to the stationary frame via the enclosure.