Laser-accelerated proton therapy units and superconducting electromagnet systems for same

• US 7,755,068 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Institute for Cancer Research (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
• Original Assignee: Fox Chase Cancer Center
• Inventors: Luo, Wei, Ma, Chang Ming, Li, Jinsheng, Fourkal, Eugene S
• Primary Examiner(s): Berman; Jack I
• Assistant Examiner(s): IPPOLITO, NICOLE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US11/720,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20090050819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 250/396.R, 250/398, 250/400, 250/396.ML, 250/491.1, 250/492.1, 250/492.3, 250/423.R, 250/424, 250/423.P, 600/1, 600/2, 315/111.81
• US Class Current: 250/492.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1088 generated by laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/093 by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/04 with beam-forming means
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 15/00 Methods or devices for acceleration of charged particles not otherwise provided for , e.g. wakefield accelerators

Abstract

Compact particle selection and collimation devices are disclosed for delivering beams of ions with desired energy spectra. These devices are useful with laser-accelerated ion therapy systems, in which the initial ions have broad energy and angular distributions. Superconducting electromagnet systems produce a desired magnetic field configuration to spread the ions with different energies and emitting angles for particle selection. The simulation of ion transport in the presence of the magnetic field shows that the selected ions are successfully refocused on the beam axis after passing through the magnetic field. Dose distributions are also provided using Monte Carlo simulations of the laser-accelerated ion beams for radiation therapy applications.

Claims

1. A method of treating a patient with a laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion therapy system, comprising:

identifying the position of a targeted region in a patient;

determining the treatment strategy of the targeted region, said treatment strategy comprising determining the dose distributions of a plurality of therapeutically suitable high energy polyenergetic positive ion beams for irradiating the targeted region;

forming said plurality of therapeutically suitable high energy polyenergetic positive ion beams from a plurality of high energy polyenergetic positive ions, that are spatially separated based on energy level using one or more superconducting electromagnets each capable of providing a magnetic field of between about 0.1 and about 30 Tesla; and

delivering the plurality of therapeutically suitable polyenergetic positive ion beams to the targeted region according to the treatment strategy.

2. The method of treating a patient with a laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion therapy system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is between about 0.2 and about 20 Tesla.

3. The method of treating a patient with a laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion therapy system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is between about 0.5 and about 10 Tesla.

4. The method of treating a patient with a laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion therapy system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is between about 0.8 and about 5 Tesla.

5. The method of treating a patient according to claim 1, wherein determining the dose distributions comprises determining the energy distribution, intensity and direction of a plurality of therapeutically suitable high energy polyenergetic positive ion beams.

6. The method of treating a patient according to claim 1, wherein said therapeutically suitable polyenergetic positive ion beams are prepared by:

forming a laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic ion beam comprising high energy polyenergetic positive ions;

collimating said laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic ion beam using at least one collimation device;

spatially separating said high energy polyenergetic positive ions according to their energy levels using a first magnetic field provided by one of the superconducting electromagnets;

modulating the spatially separated high energy polyenergetic positive ions using an aperture; and

recombining the modulated high energy polyenergetic positive ions using a second magnetic field provided by a superconducting electromagnet different than the one used for providing the first magnetic field.

7. The method of treating a patient according to claim 6, wherein the modulated high energy polyenergetic positive ions have energy levels in the range of from about 50 MeV to about 250 MeV.

8. The method of treating a patient according to claim 6, wherein the high energy polyenergetic positive ions include light ions including protons, lithium, boron, beryllium, or carbon, or any combination thereof.

9. The method of treating a patient according to claim 6, wherein the trajectories of the high energy polyenergetic positive ions are bent away from a beam axis of said laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic ion beam using said first magnetic field.

10. The method of treating a patient according to claim 9, wherein the trajectories of the spatially separated high energy polyenergetic positive ions are bent towards the aperture using a third magnetic field.

11. The method of treating a patient according to claim 10, wherein the spatially separated high energy polyenergetic positive ions are modulated by energy level using a plurality of controllable openings in said aperture.

12. The method of treating a patient according to claim 11, wherein the trajectories of the modulated high energy polyenergetic positive ions are further bent towards the second magnetic field using said third magnetic field.

13. The method of treating a patient according to claim 12, wherein the trajectories of the modulated high energy polyenergetic positive ions are bent towards a direction parallel to the direction of a beam axis of the laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic ion beam using said second magnetic field.

14. The method of treating a patient according to claim 6, wherein a portion of the recombined high energy polyenergetic positive ions are fluidically communicated through a secondary collimation device.

15. The method of treating a patient according to claim 14, wherein the beam shape of the recombined high energy polyenergetic positive ions is modulated by the secondary collimation device.

16. A laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center, comprising:

a location for securing a patient; and

a laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion therapy system capable of delivering a therapeutically suitable high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam to a patient at said location, the ion therapy system comprising;

a laser-targeting system, said laser-targeting system comprising a laser and a target assembly capable of producing a high energy polyenergetic ion beam, comprising high energy polyenergetic positive ions having energy levels of at least about 50 MeV;

an ion selection system capable of producing a therapeutically suitable high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam using said high energy polyenergetic positive ions, the high energy polyenergetic positive ions being spatially separated based on energy level using superconducting electromagnets each capable of providing a magnetic field of between about 0.1 and about 30 Tesla; and

a monitoring and control system for said therapeutically suitable high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam.

17. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 16, wherein the magnetic field is between about 0.2 and about 20 Tesla.

18. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 16, wherein the magnetic field is between about 0.5 and about 10 Tesla.

19. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 16, wherein the magnetic field is between about 0.8 and about 5 Tesla.

20. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 16, wherein the ion selection system comprises:

a collimation device capable of collimating said high energy polyenergetic ion beam;

a first magnetic field source capable of spatially separating said high energy polyenergetic positive ions according to their energy levels, said first magnetic field source provided by one of the superconducting electromagnets;

an aperture capable of modulating the spatially separated high energy polyenergetic positive ions; and

a second magnetic field source capable of recombining the modulated high energy polyenergetic positive ions into said therapeutically suitable high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam, the second magnetic field provided by a superconducting electromagnet different than the one that provides the first magnetic field.

21. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 20, wherein the modulated high energy polyenergetic positive ions are characterized as having energy levels in the range of from about 50 MeV to about 250 MeV.

22. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 20, wherein the high energy polyenergetic positive ions include light ions including protons, lithium, boron, beryllium, or carbon, or any combination thereof.

23. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 20, wherein said first magnetic field source is capable of bending the trajectories of the high energy polyenergetic positive ions away from a beam axis of said laser-accelerated polyenergetic ion beam entering the first magnetic field.

24. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 23, wherein the ion selection system further comprises a third magnetic field source capable of bending the trajectories of the spatially separated high energy polyenergetic positive ions towards the aperture.

25. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 24, wherein the aperture is placed outside of the magnetic field of said third magnetic field.

26. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 24, wherein the magnetic field of said third magnetic field source is capable of bending the trajectories of the modulated high energy positive ions towards the second magnetic field source.

27. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 26, wherein the second magnetic field source is capable of bending the trajectories of the modulated high energy polyenergetic positive ions towards a direction parallel to a beam axis of the laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic ion beam.

28. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 23, further comprising a secondary collimation device capable of fluidically communicating a portion of the recombined high energy polyenergetic positive ions therethrough.

29. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 20, wherein said aperture comprises a plurality of openings, each of the openings capable of fluidically communicating ion beamlets therethrough.

30. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 16, wherein the target assembly and the ion selection system are placed on a rotating gantry.

31. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 16, wherein a laser beam of said laser is reflectively transported to the target assembly using a plurality of mirrors.

32. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 31, wherein the ion selection system is robotically mounted to give permit scanning of the therapeutically suitable high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam.

33. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 31, further comprising at least one beam splitter to split the laser beam to each of at least two target assemblies.

34. The laser-accelerated high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam treatment center of claim 16, wherein the laser-targeting system comprises a plurality of target assemblies, each of said target assemblies capable of producing a high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam, said high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam comprising high energy polyenergetic positive ions comprising energy levels of at least about 50 MeV;

a plurality of ion selection systems each capable of individually producing a therapeutically suitable high energy polyenergetic positive ion beam from each of said individual high energy polyenergetic positive ion beams; and

an individual polyenergetic ion beam monitoring and control system for each of said therapeutically suitable high energy polyenergetic positive ion beams.