Abstract: The invention comprises a patient respiration monitoring and/or control method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The respiration monitoring system uses thermal and/or force sensors to determine where a patient is in a respiration cycle in combination with a feedback signal control delivered to the patient to inform the patient when breath control is required. The resulting breath control is timed with charged particle delivery to the tumor to enhance accuracy, precision, and/or efficiency of tumor treatment.

Abstract: A system relating to assisting persons locked out of their vehicle to unlock the vehicle. The system preferably uses a coded acoustic signal transmitted through a mobile phone to trigger a control device connected to the vehicle's onboard computer system. A microphone of the control device picks up the tone, which is subsequently processed by the system. If the acoustic signal is validated, the vehicle computer will be signaled to unlock a power-locked vehicle entry point. The system comprises security elements and easy-to-access phone assistance.

Abstract: The invention comprises a patient positioning method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The patient positioning system is used to translate the patient and/or rotate the patient into a zone where the proton beam can scan the tumor using a targeting system. The patient positioning system is optionally used in conjunction with systems used to constrain movement of the patient, such as semi-vertical, sitting, or laying positioning systems.

Abstract: The system uses an X-ray imaging system having an elongated lifetime. Further, the system uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a charged particle beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The system creates an electron beam that strikes an X-ray generation source located proximate to the charged particle beam path. By generating the X-rays near the charged particle beam path, an X-ray path running collinear, in parallel with, and/or substantially in contact with the charged particle beam path is created. The system then collects X-ray images of localized body tissue region about a cancerous tumor. Since, the X-ray path is essentially the charged particle beam path, the generated image is usable for precisely target the tumor with a charged particle beam.

Abstract: The invention comprises a potted inductor, where a solid potting material substantially contacting the inductor enhances cooling of the inductor. The inductor comprises an annular core composed of a distributed gap material, where the distributed gap material includes sub-millimeter particles of alternating magnetic and non-magnetic layers separated by gaps. The potting material includes a urethane, resin, epoxy, or the like combined with a lower thermal impedance additive, such as a silica sand or an aluminum oxide. Optionally, one or more cooling lines direct a circulating coolant flow through the potting material, around the inductor, and/or through the inductor.

Abstract: The invention comprises a tandem accelerator method and apparatus, which is part of an ion beam injection system used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The negative ion beam source includes an injection system vacuum system and a synchrotron vacuum system separated by a foil, where negative ions are converted to positive ions. The foil is sealed to the edges of the vacuum tube providing for a higher partial pressure in the injection system vacuum chamber and a lower pressure in the synchrotron vacuum system. Having the foil physically separating the vacuum chamber into two pressure regions allows for fewer and/or smaller pumps to maintain the lower pressure system in the synchrotron as the inlet hydrogen gas is extracted in a separate contained and isolated space by the injection partial vacuum system.

Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle beam acceleration, extraction, and/or targeting method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Novel design features of a synchrotron are described. Particularly, turning magnets, edge focusing magnets, concentrating magnetic field magnets, winding and control coils, flat surface incident magnetic field surfaces, and extraction elements are described that minimize the overall size of the synchrotron, provide a tightly controlled proton beam, directly reduce the size of required magnetic fields, directly reduces required operating power, and allow continual acceleration of protons in a synchrotron even during a process of extracting protons from the synchrotron.

Abstract: The invention comprises a proton beam positioning method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The proton beam verification system allows for monitoring of the actual proton beam position in real-time without destruction of the proton beam. The system includes a coating or thin layer substantially in contact with a foil covering the end of an exit nozzle or is a layer located after the x- and y-axis proton beam scanning controllers and before the patient. The coating yields a measurable spectroscopic response, spatially viewable by the detector, as a result of transmission by the proton beam. The proton beam position is monitored by the detector and compared to the calibration and/or treatment plan to verify accurate proton delivery to the tumor and/or as a proton beam shutoff safety indicator.

Abstract: The invention comprises an X-ray tomography method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. In various embodiments, 3-D images are generated from a series of 2-D X-rays images; the X-ray source and detector are stationary while the patient rotates; the 2-D X-ray images are generated using an X-ray source proximate a charged particle beam in a charged particle cancer therapy system; and the X-ray tomography system uses an electron source having a geometry that enhances an electron source lifetime, where the electron source is used in generation of X-rays. The X-ray tomography system is optionally used in conjunction with systems used to both move and constrain movement of the patient, such as semi-vertical, sitting, or laying positioning systems. The X-ray images are optionally used in control of a charged particle cancer therapy system.

Abstract: The invention comprises an electrical system including at least an inductor configured to carry a magnetic field of less than about thirty Gauss/Oersted. The inductor comprises an inductor core having a plurality of coated particles, each of a majority of the coated particles comprising: at least three layers, a first set of substantially magnetic alternating layers composed of an alloy, and a second set of substantially non-magnetic alternating layers, where the coated particles are about evenly distributed in the inductor core. Optionally, a thermal transfer agent is used to cool the inductor, where the thermal transfer agent includes at least one of: a thermally conductive potting material and a substantially non-conductive liquid coolant in direct contact with the inductor. Optionally, a cooling coil passes through the potting material and/or the liquid coolant.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to treatment of solid cancers. More particularly, the invention relates to a multi-field imaging and/or a multi-field charged particle cancer therapy method and apparatus coordinated with patient respiration via use of feedback sensors used to monitor and/or control patient respiration. Preferably, the multi-field imaging, such as X-ray imaging, and the charged particle therapy are performed on a patient in a partially immobilized and repositionable position. X-ray and/or proton delivery is timed to patient respiration via control of charged particle beam injection, acceleration, extraction, and/or targeting methods and apparatus.

Abstract: The invention comprises a negative ion beam source vacuum method and apparatus used as part of an ion beam injection system, which is used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The negative ion beam source contains a vacuum chamber isolated by a vacuum barrier from the vacuum tube of the synchrotron. The negative ion beam source vacuum system preferably includes: a first pump turbo molecular pump, a large holding volume, and a semi-continuously operating pump. By only pumping ion beam source vacuum chamber and by only semi-continuously operating the ion beam source vacuum based on sensor readings about the holding volume, the lifetime of the semi-continuously operating pump is extended.

Abstract: The invention comprises an ion beam focusing method and apparatus used as part of an ion beam injection system, which is used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The ion beam focusing system includes two or more electrodes where one electrode of each electrode pair partially obstructs the ion beam path with conductive paths, such as a conductive mesh. In a given electrode pair, electric field lines, running between the conductive mesh of a first electrode and a second electrode, provide inward forces focusing the negative ion beam. Multiple such electrode pairs provide multiple negative ion beam focusing regions.

Abstract: The invention comprises an inductor mounting method and apparatus. An about annular inductor is mounted using a non-conducting clamp element passing at least into a center opening of the inductor. Mounting hardware forces the clamp element toward a mounting surface to edge mount the inductor, where the mounting hardware, non-conducting clamp element, and mounting surface minimally contact the inductor. The minimal contact allows greater surface area for liquid, convective, and/or radiative cooling of the inductor. The inductor is optionally composed of particles of magnetic material coated with carbon and embedded into an epoxy to yield a distributed gap material.

Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle beam acceleration and optional extraction method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Novel design features of a synchrotron are described. Particularly, turning magnets, edge focusing magnets, concentrating magnetic field magnets, and extraction elements are described that minimize the overall size of the synchrotron, provide a tightly controlled proton beam, directly reduce the size of required magnetic fields, directly reduces required operating power, and allow continual acceleration of protons in a synchrotron even during a process of extracting protons from the synchrotron.

Abstract: The invention comprises an X-ray method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The system uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a proton beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The system creates an electron beam that strikes an X-ray generation source where the X-ray generation source is located proximate to the proton beam path. By generating the X-rays near the proton beam path, an X-ray path that is essentially the proton beam path is created. Using the generated X-rays, the system collects X-ray images of a localized body tissue region about a cancerous tumor. The generated image is usable for: fine tuning body alignment relative to the proton beam path, to control the proton beam path to accurately and precisely target the tumor, and/or in system verification and validation.

Abstract: The invention comprises an X-ray system that is orientated to provide X-ray images of a patient in the same orientation as viewed by a proton therapy beam, is synchronized with patient respiration, is operable on a patient positioned for proton therapy, and does not interfere with a proton beam treatment path. Preferably, the synchronized system is used in conjunction with a negative ion beam source, synchrotron, and/or targeting method apparatus to provide an X-ray timed with patient respiration and performed immediately prior to and/or concurrently with particle beam therapy irradiation to ensure targeted and controlled delivery of energy relative to a patient position resulting in efficient, precise, and/or accurate noninvasive, in-vivo treatment of a solid cancerous tumor with minimization of damage to surrounding healthy tissue in a patient using the proton beam position verification system.

Abstract: The invention comprises a negative ion source method and apparatus used as part of an ion beam injection system, which is used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The negative ion source preferably includes an inlet port for injection of hydrogen gas into a high temperature plasma chamber. In one embodiment, the plasma chamber includes a magnetic material, which provides a magnetic field barrier between the high temperature plasma chamber and a low temperature plasma region on the opposite side of the magnetic field barrier. An extraction pulse is applied to a negative ion extraction electrode to pull the negative ion beam into a negative ion beam path, which proceeds through a first partial vacuum system, through an ion beam focusing system, into the tandem accelerator, and into a synchrotron.

Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle beam extraction method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The system uses a radio-frequency (RF) cavity system to induce betatron oscillation of a charged particle stream. Sufficient amplitude modulation of the charged particle stream causes the charged particle stream to hit a material, such as a foil. The foil decreases the energy of the charged particle stream, which decreases a radius of curvature of the charged particle stream in the synchrotron sufficiently to allow a physical separation of the reduced energy charged particle stream from the original charged particle stream. The physically separated charged particle stream is then removed from the system by use of an applied field and deflector.

Abstract: The system uses an X-ray imaging system having an elongated lifetime. Further, the system uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a charged particle beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The system creates an electron beam that strikes an X-ray generation source located proximate to the charged particle beam path. By generating the X-rays near the charged particle beam path, an X-ray path running collinear, in parallel with, and/or substantially in contact with the charged particle beam path is created. The system then collects X-ray images of localized body tissue region about a cancerous tumor. Since, the X-ray path is essentially the charged particle beam path, the generated image is usable for precisely target the tumor with a charged particle beam.