Treatment Couch Isocentric Rotation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiotherapy treatment systems are heavy, bulky, and expensive due to the need for complex rotation mechanisms within the radiation field, which interfere with radiation beams and require a turntable for isocentric rotation, limiting flexibility and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A treatment couch design with an offset rotation point and multiple stages (pitch, roll, angular, lateral, and longitudinal) that compensate for rotations and translations outside the radiation field, eliminating the need for a turntable and positioning rotation mechanisms outside the radiation field, allowing for efficient isocentric rotation and tumor motion compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a turntable and complex rotation mechanisms are used within the radiation field for isocentric rotation, then the treatment couch can achieve precise isocentric rotation, but the system becomes heavy, bulky, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rotation mechanism from the radiation field by positioning it outside the treatment area. The couch rotates about a vertical axis located at the rear of the treatment couch, away from the radiation field, eliminating the need for a turntable within the radiation path. This extraction reduces system weight and complexity while maintaining isocentric rotation capability through coordinated movement of the couch top and base.
2Measurement precision
If rotation mechanisms are placed within the radiation field, then isocentric rotation can be achieved, but the mechanisms interfere with radiation beams
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation mechanism is extracted from the radiation field and positioned at the rear of the treatment couch. The vertical axis of rotation is located outside the treatment area, ensuring that no mechanical components interfere with the radiation beams during treatment. The couch top and base coordinate their movements to achieve isocentric rotation without placing mechanisms in the radiation path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from planar rotation within the radiation field to three-dimensional coordinated movement. The couch top can translate laterally and longitudinally while the base rotates about a vertical axis, creating isocentric rotation through spatial coordination rather than simple in-plane rotation. This dimensional approach allows rotation mechanisms to be positioned outside the radiation field.
3Ease of operation
If a turntable is used for isocentric rotation, then rotation can be achieved, but the system becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the turntable component by extracting the rotation function to the couch base, which rotates about a vertical axis at the rear of the treatment couch. This simplifies the overall structure by removing the turntable and its associated mechanisms, reducing system complexity and cost while maintaining isocentric rotation capability through coordinated couch top and base movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The couch base serves multiple functions: it provides the rotating platform, supports the couch top, and houses the rotation mechanism outside the radiation field. The couch top simultaneously provides patient support, translates for positioning, and rotates with the base to achieve isocentric motion. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment system for a patient includes a treatment couch to position the patient. The treatment couch includes a couch top and one or more stages to pitch the couch top about a lateral axis and/or roll the couch top about a longitudinal axis, translate the couch top along lateral directions and/or longitudinal directions, rotate the couch top about a vertical axis, and translate the couch top along vertical directions.