The invention comprises a multi-axis charged particle irradiation method and apparatus. The multi-axis controls includes separate or independent control of one or more of horizontal position, vertical position, energy control, and intensity control of the charged particle irradiation beam. Optionally, the charged particle beam is additionally controlled in terms of timing. Timing is coordinated with patient respiration and/or patient rotational positioning. Combined, the system allows multi-axis and multi-field charged particle irradiation of tumors yielding precise and accurate irradiation dosages to a tumor with distribution of harmful proximal distal energy about the tumor.

Multi-field charged particle cancer therapy method and apparatus

The invention comprises a patient positioning and/or repositioning system, such as a laying, semi-vertical, or seated patient positioning, alignment, and/or control method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle radiation therapy. Patient positioning constraints optionally include one or more of: a seat support, a back support, a head support, an arm support, a knee support, and a foot support. One or more of the positioning constraints are preferably movable and/or under computer control for rapid positioning, repositioning, and/or immobilization of the patient. The system optionally uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a proton beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The generated image is usable for: fine tuning body alignment relative to the proton beam path, to control the charged particle beam path to accurately and precisely target the tumor, and/or in system verification and validation.

Charged particle cancer therapy patient positioning method and apparatus

The invention comprises a charged particle beam acceleration and/or extraction method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Novel design features of a synchrotron are described. Particularly, turning magnets, edge focusing magnets, and extraction elements are described that minimize the overall size of the synchrotron, provide a tightly controlled proton beam, directly reduce the size of required magnetic fields, directly reduces required operating power, and allow continual acceleration of protons in a synchrotron even during a process of extracting protons from the synchrotron.

Charged particle beam acceleration and extraction method and apparatus used in conjunction with a charged particle cancer therapy system

The invention comprises an X-ray tomography method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. In various embodiments, 3-D images are generated from a series of 2-D X-rays images; the X-ray source and detector are stationary while the patient rotates; the 2-D X-ray images are generated using an X-ray source proximate a charged particle beam in a charged particle cancer therapy system; and the X-ray tomography system uses an electron source having a geometry that enhances an electron source lifetime, where the electron source is used in generation of X-rays. The X-ray tomography system is optionally used in conjunction with systems used to both move and constrain movement of the patient, such as semi-vertical, sitting, or laying positioning systems. The X-ray images are optionally used in control of a charged particle cancer therapy system.

X-ray tomography method and apparatus used in conjunction with a charged particle cancer therapy system

The invention comprises an X-ray method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The system uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a proton beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The system creates an electron beam that strikes an X-ray generation source where the X-ray generation source is located proximate to the proton beam path. By generating the X-rays near the proton beam path, an X-ray path that is essentially the proton beam path is created. Using the generated X-rays, the system collects X-ray images of a localized body tissue region about a cancerous tumor. The generated image is usable for: fine tuning body alignment relative to the proton beam path, to control the proton beam path to accurately and precisely target the tumor, and/or in system verification and validation.

Charged particle cancer therapy X-ray method and apparatus

A storage ring system and method for high-yield nuclear production of neutrons, isotopes and photons, include a particle supply for generating a beam of projectile or reaction particles, a closed storage ring for containing and recycling the projectile particles, an electron cooling system for stabilizing the projectile particles, and a target for initiating nuclear reactions with the projectile particles so as to generate the desired end-products, with improved efficiency and safety. The invention also provides a plurality of dipoles and/or trim magnets selectively situated around the ring to guide the projectile particles as they circulate within the system. Substantially trapped in the closed storage ring, the particle beam is recirculated inside the storage ring for repeated exposure to the target, until the particles either favorably react with the target or are lost through scattering. As new particles are injected into the storage ring, they merge with previously injected particles circulating the ring, thereby allowing a relatively high intensity beam to develop, even though the input current used to populate the system remains relatively low throughout the operation of the system. Advantageously, the present invention maintains the particle beam within optimal reaction parameters by providing the electron cooling system to stabilize the particle beam.

Storage ring system and method for high-yield nuclear production

Characterizing a cargo container and its contents. A system comprising an emitter to emit radio frequency (RF) energy, a receiver to receive an RF response related to the energy, and a processor operative to compare a plurality of RF responses. A method for characterizing a cargo container and its contents, the method including providing a system as described above, via the system: emitting a RF energy within a container, receiving an RF response of the container and the container contents, emitting a second RF energy within a container, receiving a second RF response of the container and the container contents, and comparing the second RF response with the first RF response.

Characterizing a cargo container

A radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ), which is a combination of the standard 4-vane and 4-rod designs, with a window or windows cut through mid-portions of the normally solid vanes The windows decrease the resonant frequency, minimize undesirable mode coupling in the RFQ and result in a smaller and more easily tuned accelerator

Segmented vane radio-frequency quadrupole linear accelerator

An RFQ linac has been built that accelerates 3He to 105 MeV for production of C, N, O, F isotopes for PET The accelerator produces 70 μs pulses, at 360 Hz, a 25% duty cycle, with a peak current of ∼6 mAe The RFQ delivers ∼100 μAe A recirculating water target has been evaluated for production of 18F and low specific activity 15O Recoil chemistry within the target has been evaluated to improve 15O specific activity Gas targets have also been tested for production of 15O 13N is made from carbon Several target materials have been evaluated for producing 11C, including C, B and Be The challenges of targetry for this high current, low energy machine led us to evaluate large, high aspect ratio windows and grid supports The 3He RFQ is a useful research machine for testing targets for pulsed, high power density, low LET beams

Phillip E. Young

Papers

Storage ring system and method for high-yield nuclear production

Characterizing a cargo container

Segmented vane radio-frequency quadrupole linear accelerator

Production of PET radionuclides using a 10.5 MeV {sup 3}He RFQ accelerator