Integrated X-Ray Therapy Gantry for Real-Time Target Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation therapy systems face challenges in efficiently and accurately delivering treatment beams while simultaneously obtaining real-time imaging data, leading to inaccuracies due to patient movement and the need for separate imaging and treatment positions.
Innovation Solution
A radiation system design that integrates a treatment assembly and imaging assembly on a single gantry portion, allowing concurrent or alternating delivery of treatment and imaging beams, with components arranged to minimize the isocentric distance and enable precise tracking of target regions despite patient motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If separate imaging and treatment positions are used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and treatment accuracy deteriorate due to patient movement between positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the imaging system and treatment delivery system into a single integrated radiation therapy apparatus. The imaging radiation source, detectors, and treatment beam delivery components are mounted on the same gantry, allowing simultaneous or alternating imaging and treatment without patient repositioning. This merger eliminates the need to move the patient between separate imaging and treatment positions, thereby maintaining target localization accuracy while achieving precise image-guided radiation therapy.
2Productivity
If concurrent imaging and treatment beam delivery is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to integrated gantry design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the integrated gantry system, allowing the imaging radiation source and treatment beam delivery to operate concurrently or alternately based on treatment requirements. The system can dynamically adjust the rotation speed of the gantry (first speed for imaging, second speed for treatment), enabling flexible switching between imaging and treatment modes without mechanical reconfiguration. This dynamic operation increases treatment productivity while managing the complexity of the integrated design through programmable control.
Solution Approach 2:
The gantry is divided into functionally independent segments: a first gantry portion carrying the treatment head and a second gantry portion carrying the imaging radiation source and detectors. These segments can rotate independently at different speeds and can be positioned at different angular locations, allowing concurrent imaging and treatment operations. This segmentation reduces the complexity of coordinating the entire gantry by treating it as multiple independent rotational systems that can operate simultaneously.
3Measurement precision
If imaging radiation source is positioned close to treatment head, then measurement precision is improved for real-time tracking, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to beam interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by alternating the delivery of imaging beams and treatment beams in a controlled sequence. The imaging radiation source and treatment head are positioned close together on the same gantry, but they operate at different times rather than simultaneously. During imaging phases, the treatment beam is blocked or redirected, and during treatment phases, the imaging source is inactive. This periodic operation allows the imaging source to be positioned close to the treatment head for precise real-time tracking while avoiding beam interference through temporal separation of operations.
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 integration reduces errors from patient movement and enhances the efficiency of imaging and treatment by allowing simultaneous or alternating beam delivery, improving the accuracy and precision of radiation therapy.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging assembly including a first imaging radiation source configured to direct a first imaging beam toward the object
Implementation Method 2
a treatment assembly including a treatment head configured to deliver a treatment beam to an object
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation system may include a treatment head configured to deliver a treatment beam to an object, a first assistance assembly configured to facilitate a delivery of the treatment beam, a first imaging radiation source configured to direct a first imaging beam toward the object, a first detector configured to detect at least a portion of the first imaging beam, and a second assistance assembly configured to facilitate a delivery of the first imaging beam. The gantry may include a first gantry portion having a rotation axis and a second gantry portion located next to the first gantry portion along the rotation axis. The treatment head, the first imaging radiation source, and the first detector may be disposed on the first gantry portion. The first assistance assembly and the second assistance assembly may be housed within the second gantry portion.