VHEE Linear Accelerator with Electromagnetic Beam Steering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radiation therapy systems face challenges in delivering precise and accurate treatments due to patient, target, and organ motion during treatment delivery, leading to prolonged treatment times and increased normal tissue toxicity, despite advancements in technologies like IMRT and SABR.

Innovation Solution

A compact high-gradient, very high energy electron (VHEE) linear accelerator system with electromagnetic or radiofrequency deflection steering, capable of delivering high-dose radiation therapy in less than a second, allowing for rapid beam steering from multiple directions to freeze physiologic motion and improve dose conformity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional radiation therapy delivery methods are used, then dose conformity and spatial accuracy are improved, but treatment time is prolonged (15-90 minutes per fraction)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedose conformityVSAvoidtreatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional mechanical gantry system with electromagnetic beam steering using quadrupole and sextupole magnets. This substitution enables rapid beam direction changes without mechanical rotation, reducing treatment time from 15-90 minutes to potentially seconds while maintaining dose conformity through precise magnetic field control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic beam steering where the beam direction is continuously adjusted during treatment delivery using time-varying magnetic fields. This allows the beam to track moving targets and adapt to physiological motion in real-time, maintaining dose accuracy throughout the shortened treatment period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If treatment time is prolonged to achieve precise dose delivery, then dose conformity is improved, but patient and organ motion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial accuracyVSAvoidorgan motion

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms where beam position and intensity are continuously monitored and adjusted based on target position information. This closed-loop control system compensates for organ motion by dynamically modifying beam parameters, maintaining spatial accuracy despite physiological movements during treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary imaging and target localization to establish baseline positions before treatment begins. This pre-positioning information is used to pre-calculate beam steering parameters and motion compensation strategies, enabling the system to anticipate and counteract expected physiological movements during treatment delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If conventional photon therapy is used, then treatment system complexity is reduced, but normal tissue toxicity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidnormal tissue toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs electron beams with locally optimized energy and angular distributions tailored to specific treatment geometries. By adjusting electron beam parameters (energy, spread, angle) independently for each irradiation direction, the system achieves superior dose conformity to complex tumor shapes while minimizing exposure to surrounding normal tissues, reducing toxicity without requiring excessive system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 approach enables faster and more accurate radiation delivery, reducing treatment time, enhancing tumor control efficacy, and minimizing late toxicities and secondary malignancies, while maintaining a compact and cost-effective system comparable to conventional photon therapy.

Implementation Method 1

an accelerator, more preferably a compact high-gradient, very high energy electron (VHEE) linear accelerator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic acceleration: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

together with a delivery system capable of treating patients from multiple beam directions, potentially using all-electromagnetic or radiofrequency deflection steering

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic deflection: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentEP2823501B1Pluridirectional very high electron energy radiation therapy systems

Publication Date: 2019.05.01 THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIV

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Figure 2a~2d
Figure 2e~2f

AI summary

A compact high-gradient, very high energy electron (VHEE) accelerator and delivery system (and related processes) capable of treating patients from multiple beam directions with great speed, using all-electromagnetic or radiofrequency deflection steering is provided, that can deliver an entire dose or fraction of high-dose radiation therapy sufficiently fast to freeze physiologic motion, yet with a better degree of dose conformity or sculpting than conventional photon therapy. In addition to the unique physical advantages of extremely rapid radiation delivery, there may also be radiobiological advantages in terms of greater tumor or other target control efficacy for the same physical radiation dose.