Rotating gantry of particle beam therapy system

• US 7,372,053 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2006
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Setsubi Engineering Co. Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Setsubi Engineering Co. Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Muramatsu, Yutaka, Saga, Hiroshi, Yamashita, Tsutomu, Kaneko, Shigeji
• Primary Examiner(s): Wells; Nikita
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, JOHNNIE L
• Application Number:
  US11/359,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20060192072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 250/492.3, 250/398, 250/397, 600/1, 378/132, 378/19, 378/17
• US Class Current: 250/492.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1081 Rotating beam systems with a specific mechanical construction, e.g. gantries
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/12 for releasing a normally applied brake, the type of actuator being irrelevant or not provided for in groups F16D2121/04 - F16D2121/10
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/40 actuated by a fluid-pressure device arranged in or one the brake

Abstract

A rotating gantry includes a link frame for supporting a plurality of rollers which rotatably support the rotating gantry, a brake for releasing a braking force applied to at least one of the rollers upon supply of air and applying the braking force to the one roller upon discharge of air, and a solenoid valve for sealing the supplied air in the brake when closed, and discharging the air from the brake when opened. The solenoid valve is supported by a solenoid valve support member mounted to the link frame such that the solenoid valve is positioned just near the brake. The rotating gantry can be more quickly braked and stopped while maintaining high irradiation accuracy.

Claims

1. A rotating gantry of a particle beam therapy system, said gantry comprising:

a gantry barrel;

ring members provided respectively at axial opposite ends of said gantry barrel;

a plurality of rollers rotatably supporting said ring members;

a roller support member for supporting said plurality of rollers;

a brake connected to at least one of said plurality of rollers, said brake releasing a braking force applied to said one roller upon supply of air and applying the braking force to said one roller upon discharge of air;

a solenoid valve for sealing the supplied air in said brake when closed, and discharging the air from said brake when opened; and

a solenoid valve support member mounted to said roller support member and supporting said solenoid valve.

2. The rotating gantry of the particle beam therapy system according to claim 1, wherein said solenoid valve support member comprises a cover member attached to said roller support member and covering said brake, and a support for supporting said solenoid valve.

3. The rotating gantry of the particle beam therapy system according to claim 2, wherein said cover member comprises a sound-insulating material disposed to cover said brake, and a reinforcing member surrounding said sound-insulating material, said support being fixed to said reinforcing member.

4. The rotating gantry of the particle beam therapy system according to claim 1, wherein said roller support member includes a link frame comprising a parent link member rotatably mounted to a bracket fixed to a pedestal and two child link members rotatably mounted to said parent link member, and said solenoid valve support member is mounted to said child link member.

5. The rotating gantry of the particle beam therapy system according to claim 1, wherein said brake comprises a gear member for applying a braking force to a roller shaft of said at least one roller when pressed, a spring for pressing said gear member, and an airbag for releasing a pressing force applied from said spring to said gear member when air is supplied to said airbag.

6. The rotating gantry of the particle beam therapy system according to claim 5, wherein said airbag is made of a contractible material.

7. The rotating gantry of the particle beam therapy system according to claim 1, wherein said brake and said solenoid valve are connected to each other without any valve device interposed therebetween.

8. The rotating gantry of the particle beam therapy system according to claim 7, wherein said brake and said solenoid valve are connected to each other by a line made of a flexible material.

11. The rotating gantry of the particle beam therapy system according to claim 1, wherein said solenoid valve is connected to said brake through a line having a length equal to or less than 1.0 m.

12. The rotating gantry of the particle beam therapy system according to claim 3, wherein said brake is connected to each of rollers selected from said plurality of rollers, and said cover member is provided to each of said rollers to which said brake is connected.

9. A rotating gantry of a particle beam therapy system including a treatment cage in which a charged particle beam is irradiated, said gantry comprising:

a gantry barrel;

ring members provided respectively at axial opposite ends of said gantry barrel;

a plurality of rollers rotatably supporting said ring members;

a roller support member for supporting said plurality of rollers;

a brake connected to at least one of said plurality of rollers, said brake releasing a braking force applied to said one roller upon supply of air and applying the braking force to said one roller upon discharge of air;

a solenoid valve for sealing the supplied air in said brake when closed, and discharging the air from said brake when opened; and

a solenoid valve support member mounted to said roller support member and supporting said solenoid valve.

10. A rotating gantry of a particle beam therapy system, comprising:

a gantry barrel;

ring members provided at axial opposite ends of said gantry barrel;

a plurality of rollers rotatably supporting said ring members;

a roller support member for supporting said plurality of rollers;

a brake connected to at least one of said plurality of rollers, said brake releasing a braking force applied to said one roller upon supply of air and applying the braking force to said one roller upon discharge of air; and

a solenoid valve disposed near said brake, sealing the supplied air in said brake when closed, and discharging the air from said brake when opened.