Pixel Detector System Optimized for Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Therapy

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This patent describes a novel particle beam detector system optimized for pencil beam scanning proton therapy, a form of highly precise cancer treatment. The invention uses a unique arrangement of detector pixels—both large and small (or strips)—on both sides of a printed circuit board (PCB). This spatially modulated layout allows for accurate position measurement of proton beams while minimizing the number of electronic readout channels required. The system can also be implemented in three dimensions by stacking multiple detector layers, enabling full 3D dose profiling.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Quality assurance and monitoring of beam position in pencil beam scanning proton therapy for cancer treatments.
• Beam diagnostics and calibration in proton or heavy ion therapy centers.
• Real-time monitoring of dose deposition to ensure patient safety and treatment efficacy.
• Research facilities studying particle beam characteristics and dosimetry.
• Integration in control systems of medical accelerators for precise beam delivery.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Improved spatial resolution for detecting and localizing proton beams.
• Efficient readout with a reduced number of electronic channels, lowering system complexity and cost.
• Fast detector response suitable for high-speed beam scanning therapies.
• Enhanced ability to reconstruct 2D and 3D dose distributions, supporting precise and adaptive treatments.
• Compact and scalable design using standard PCB technology, facilitating easier manufacturing and integration.
• Greater treatment safety and quality assurance through detailed, real-time monitoring of beam delivery.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The present invention discloses a particle beam detector having spatially modulated resolution, comprising: a) a PCB bearing on both sides a plurality of individual particle detector pixels thereby offering a detector active area, wherein a first number of particle detector strips are disposed on one side of the PCB and a second number of particle detector strips are disposed on the other side of the PCB wherein the two groups particle detector strips are being oriented perpendicular to each other, wherein a third number of individual particle detector pixels are disposed on one side or both sides of the PCB between the particle detector strips, wherein the dimension of the individual particle detector pixels is significantly smaller than the smaller dimension of the particle detector strips and wherein the particle detector pixels are disposed in arrays of small detector pixels fields; and wherein each crossing point of the two groups of particle detector stripes is assigned to one of the small detectors pixel fields; b) a data multiplexer being controlled to link the output of the individual particle detector strips and/or particle detector pixels to a data evaluation instance; said data evaluation instance being enabled to control the data multiplexer in order to readout the outputs of the particle detector strips and to readout the outputs of the particle detector pixels wherein the outputs of the particle detector pixels that are being located at the same position in all small detector pixel fields are electrically connected to form one pixel group output channel thereby generating a number of pixel group output channels that equals the number of small particle detector pixel contained in one small detector pixel field; and c) the data evaluation instance being further enabled to determine the position of the incoming particle beam by the analysis of the signals in the output channels of the particle detector strips and by the analysis of the signals of the pixel group output channels of the particle detector pixels thereby being enabled to determine the position of an incoming particle beam.