Method and apparatus for laser-controlled proton beam radiology
First Claim
1. A proton beam radiology system comprising:
- an accelerator for accelerating H- ions to a desired energy level to produce an H- beam having a first cross-sectional area;
a laser source for generating a scanning laser beam;
a photodetachment module, located proximate to and extending along a predefined peripheral portion of said accelerator, for projecting said scanning laser beam onto a subsection of said cross-sectional area of said H- beam within a photodetachment region of said H- beam, said scanning laser beam causing photodetachment within said subsection to form a neutral beam in said subsection of said cross-sectional area, said photodetachment module producing a proton beam from said neutral beam, said photodetachment module emitting said proton beam along an extraction trajectory corresponding to a position of said neutral beam within said H- beam;
a conveyance segment for transporting said proton beam along a trajectory to a patient treatment facility which delivers said proton beam to a target location upon a patient; and
a laser scanner, operative with said photodetachment module, for moving said scanning laser beam along a transverse scanning pattern within said H- beam, in order to adjust said extraction trajectory of said proton beam and to vary correspondingly a target location of said proton beam at said patient treatment facility.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A proton beam radiology system provides cancer treatment and proton radiography. The system includes an accelerator for producing an H- beam and a laser source for generating a laser beam. A photodetachment module is located proximate the periphery of the accelerator. The photodetachment module combines the H- beam and laser beam to produce a neutral beam therefrom within a subsection of the H- beam. The photodetachment module emits the neutral beam along a trajectory defined by the laser beam. The photodetachment module includes a stripping foil which forms a proton beam from the neutral beam. The proton beam is delivered to a conveyance segment which transports the proton beam to a patient treatment station. The photodetachment module further includes a laser scanner which moves the laser beam along a path transverse to the cross-section of the H- beam in order to form the neutral beam in subsections of the H- beam. As the scanning laser moves across the H- beam, it similarly varies the trajectory of the proton beam emitted from the photodetachment module and in turn varies the target location of the proton beam upon the patient. Intensity modulation of the proton beam can also be achieved by controlling the output of the laser.
262 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A proton beam radiology system comprising:
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an accelerator for accelerating H- ions to a desired energy level to produce an H- beam having a first cross-sectional area; a laser source for generating a scanning laser beam; a photodetachment module, located proximate to and extending along a predefined peripheral portion of said accelerator, for projecting said scanning laser beam onto a subsection of said cross-sectional area of said H- beam within a photodetachment region of said H- beam, said scanning laser beam causing photodetachment within said subsection to form a neutral beam in said subsection of said cross-sectional area, said photodetachment module producing a proton beam from said neutral beam, said photodetachment module emitting said proton beam along an extraction trajectory corresponding to a position of said neutral beam within said H- beam; a conveyance segment for transporting said proton beam along a trajectory to a patient treatment facility which delivers said proton beam to a target location upon a patient; and a laser scanner, operative with said photodetachment module, for moving said scanning laser beam along a transverse scanning pattern within said H- beam, in order to adjust said extraction trajectory of said proton beam and to vary correspondingly a target location of said proton beam at said patient treatment facility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A proton beam radiology method comprising the steps of:
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producing an H- beam having a desired energy level and a first cross-sectional area; generating a scanning laser beam; projecting said scanning laser beam onto a subsection of said cross-sectional area of said H- beam, said scanning laser beam causing photodetachment within said subsection to form a neutral beam therein; producing a proton beam from said neutral beam, said proton beam extending along an extraction trajectory corresponding to a position of said neutral beam within said H- beam; transporting said proton beam along a trajectory to a patient treatment station and delivering said proton beam to a target location upon a patient; moving said scanning laser beam along a scanning pattern within said H- beam, in order to adjust said extraction trajectory of said proton beam and to vary correspondingly said target location of said proton beam at said patient station. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification