Ion-induced nuclear radiotherapy
First Claim
1. An apparatus for ion-induced atomic and nuclear reaction-based radiotherapy comprising:
- means for introducing an ion beam into a conduit means;
conduit means for guiding the ion beam and containing the beam therewithin;
transmission window means at the end of said conduit means distal to the means for introducing an ion beam, said transmission window means containing the beam with the conduit means;
target material nuclei means inside said conduit means; and
means for exposing the target material nuclei means to the ion beam for producing a nuclear reaction product for exposure to a predetermined volume external to the conduit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Ion-induced Nuclear Radiotherapy (INRT) is a technique for conducting radiosurgery and radiotherapy with a very high degree of control over the spatial extent of the irradiated volume and the delivered dose. Based upon the concept that low energy, ion induced atomic and nuclear reactions can be used to produce highly energetic reaction products at the site of a tumor, the INRT technique is implemented through the use of a conduit-needle or tube which conducts a low energy ion beam to a position above or within the intended treatment area. At the end of the conduit-needle or tube is a specially fabricated target which, only when struck by the ion beam, acts as a source of energetic radiation products. The inherent limitations in the energy, and therefore range, of the resulting reaction products limits the spatial extent of irradiation to a pre-defined volume about the point of reaction. Furthermore, since no damage is done to tissue outside this irradiated volume, the delivered dose may be made arbitrarily large. INRT may be used both as a point-source of radiation at the site of a small tumor, or as a topical bath of radiation to broad areas of diseased tissue.
40 Citations
61 Claims
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1. An apparatus for ion-induced atomic and nuclear reaction-based radiotherapy comprising:
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means for introducing an ion beam into a conduit means; conduit means for guiding the ion beam and containing the beam therewithin; transmission window means at the end of said conduit means distal to the means for introducing an ion beam, said transmission window means containing the beam with the conduit means; target material nuclei means inside said conduit means; and means for exposing the target material nuclei means to the ion beam for producing a nuclear reaction product for exposure to a predetermined volume external to the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 61)
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31. A method for ion induced atomic and nuclear reaction-based radiotherapy, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an ion beam into one end of a conduit; b) providing a transmission window means at the other end of the conduit for terminating a vacuum and confining the ion beam within the conduit and transmission window means; c) providing target material nuclei within the conduit; d) exposing the target material nuclei within the conduit; e) producing a nuclear reaction product from exposure of the target material nuclei to the ion beam; and f) exposing a predetermined volume to the transmitted reaction product external to the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification