Charged-particle beam irradiation method and system

• US 6,433,349 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Akiyama, Hiroshi, Matsuda, Koji, Hiramoto, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Bruce
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wells, Nikita
• Application Number:
  US09/850,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 250/505.1, 250/492.3, 315/503, 315/501, 315/507, 313/359.1
• US Class Current: 250/505.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1095 Elements inserted into the radiation path within the system, e.g. filters or wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1043 Scanning the radiation beam, e.g. spot scanning or raster scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1045 using a multi-leaf collimator, e.g. for intensity modulated radiation therapy or IMRT
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/04 with beam-forming means

Abstract

A charged-particle beam irradiation system for an affected part in which while a charged-particle beam ejected from an accelerator is scanned by an electromagnet onto the affected part, each layer of the affected part resulting from division of the affected part into a plurality of layers in a direction of progression of said charged-particle beam is irradiated with the charged-particle beam. The system includes a changer for changing an energy of said charged-particle beam in accordance with a layer of the plurality of layers to be irradiated with the charged-particle beam and an intensity controller for controlling an intensity of the charged-particle beam.

Claims

1. A charged-particle beam irradiation system for an affected part in which while a charged-particle beam ejected from an accelerator is scanned by an electromagnet onto the affected part, each layer of the affected part resulting from division of the affected part into a plurality of layers in a direction of progression of said charged-particle beam is irradiated with the charged-particle beam, the system comprising:

changing means for changing an energy of said charged-particle beam in accordance with a layer of the plurality of layers to be irradiated with said charged-particle beam; and

intensity control means for controlling an intensity of the charged-particle beam.

2. A charged-particle beam irradiation system including:

an accelerator;

an irradiation apparatus having an electromagnet for maneuvering a charged-particle beam ejected from said accelerator, and irradiating said charged-particle beam at each layer of a plurality of divided affected parts in a direction of propagation of said charged-particle beam;

a beam energy changing apparatus for changing energy of said charged-particle beam; and

an intensity changing apparatus for changing intensity of said charged-particle beam.

3. A charged-particle beam irradiation system according to claim 2, wherein said beam energy changing apparatus includes an energy control apparatus for controlling an accelerating cavity so that a charged-particle circulating accelerating cavity provided in said accelerator and an inside of said accelerator becomes a desired energy.

4. A charged-particle beam irradiation system according to claim 3, wherein said intensity changing apparatus includes a high frequency electrode provided at said accelerator for applying a high frequency electromagnetic field to said charged-particle beam when said charged-particle beam is ejected from said accelerator, and an intensity controller for one of controlling an electric power value of high frequency electric power applied to said high frequency electrode and controlling a frequency of a high frequency wave.

5. A charged-particle beam irradiation system according to claim 4, wherein said intensity charging apparatus changes an intensity of said charged-particle beam by controlling an amount of ions which are incident into said accelerator.

6. A charged-particle beam irradiation system according to claim 2, wherein said beam energy changing apparatus is disposed on an orbit of said charged-particle beam, and further includes a degrader for changing energy of said charged-particle beam.

7. A charged-particle beam irradiation system according to claim 3, wherein said intensity changing apparatus includes a high frequency electrode provided at said accelerator for applying a high frequency electromagnetic field to said charged-particle beam when said charged-particle beam is ejected from said accelerator, and an intensity controller for one of controlling an electric power value of high frequency electric power applied to said high frequency electrode and controlling a frequency of a high frequency wave.