Multi-axis charged particle cancer therapy method and apparatus

• US 9,579,525 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2014
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrey Vladimirovich Balakin, Pavel Vladimirovich Balakin
• Original Assignee: Vladimir Balakin
• Inventors: Balakin, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, David E
• Application Number:
  US14/493,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20150217140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1059 using cameras imaging the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1061 using an x-ray imaging system having a separate imaging source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1074 Details of the control system, e.g. user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1097 Means for immobilizing the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1037 taking into account the movement of the target, e.g. 4D-image based planning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1043 Scanning the radiation beam, e.g. spot scanning or raster scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1067 in real time, i.e. during treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1068 Gating the beam as a function of a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/107 in real time, i.e. during treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1077 Beam delivery systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 13/04 Synchrotrons
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 2007/082 Ion sources, e.g. ECR, duoplasmatron, PIG, laser sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 2007/087 by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 2007/125 by mechanical means, e.g. stripping foils
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 7/001 Arrangements for beam delivery or irradiation irradiation systems per se G21K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 7/08 Arrangements for injecting particles into orbits
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 7/10 Arrangements for ejecting particles from orbits
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 7/12 Arrangements for varying final energy of beam

Abstract

The invention comprises a multi-axis charged particle irradiation method and apparatus. The multi-axis controls includes separate or independent control of one or more of horizontal position, vertical position, energy control, and intensity control of the charged particle irradiation beam. Optionally, the charged particle beam is additionally controlled in terms of timing. Timing is coordinated with patient respiration and/or patient rotational positioning. Combined, the system allows multi-axis and multi-field charged particle irradiation of tumors yielding precise and accurate irradiation dosages to a tumor with distribution of harmful proximal distal energy about the tumor.

Claims

1. An apparatus using charged particles for irradiation of a tumor of a patient, comprising:

an extraction foil; and

a synchrotron comprising multi-axis control, said multi-axis control comprising control of;

an energy, the energy controlled during use through timing of transmission of the charged particles through said extraction foil; and

an intensity, the intensity controlled during use using a current originating from said extraction foil,

wherein said synchrotron further comprises;

a beam extraction path, said path sequentially comprising;

a radio-frequency cavity system comprising a first pair of blades;

said extraction foil comprising a thickness of about thirty to one-hundred microns, said extraction foil consisting essentially of atoms having six or fewer protons;

a second pair of blades; and

an extraction magnet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a radio-frequency applied across said first pair of blades alters trajectory of the charged particles through said extraction foil yielding reduced energy charged particles, wherein the reduced energy charged particles pass through said second pair of blades, wherein a direct current voltage of at least five hundred volts applied across said second pair of blades and said extraction magnet combine to extract the reduced energy charged particles out of said synchrotron.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control of said intensity further comprises a feedback control, said feedback control using the current generated by the charged particles transmitting through said extraction foil as an indicator of charged particle intensity.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a rotatable platform,

wherein said rotatable platform rotates through at least one hundred eighty degrees during an irradiation period of the patient,

wherein timing of said multi-axis control of said energy and said intensity occurs in greater than four rotation positions of said rotatable platform.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a respiration sensor generating a respiration signal, said respiration signal corresponding to a respiration cycle of the patient;

a rotatable platform holding the patient during use,

wherein said rotatable platform rotates through at least one hundred eighty degrees during an irradiation period of the patient,

wherein timing of said multi-axis control of said energy and said intensity correlates with said respiration signal, and

wherein delivery of the charged particles occurs in greater than four rotation positions of said rotatable platform.