Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and method of use thereof for extracting ions from an ion source, such as for use in cancer treatment or tomographic imaging. The extraction apparatus uses a triode extraction system, with the ion source and/or first electrode held at a first potential; an extraction electrode held at a second potential; and a gating electrode, positioned between the ion source and the extraction electrode, oscillating and/or alternating between a first suppression potential proximate that of the ion source potential and a second extraction potential between the ion source potential and the extraction electrode potential. Optionally, the ion source comprises an electron cyclotron resonance ion source.

Abstract: A scintillation material is longitudinally packaged in a circumferentially surrounding sheath, where the sheath has a lower index of refraction than the scintillation material, to form a scintillation optic or scintillation fiber optic. The scintillation material yields secondary photons upon passage of a charged particle beam, such as a positively charged residual particle beam having transmitted through a sample. The internally generated secondary photons within the sheath are guided to a detector element by the difference in index of refraction. Multiple scintillation optics are assembled to form a two-dimensional scintillation array coupled to a two-dimensional detector array, such as for use in determination of state of the residual charged particle beam, determination of an exit point of the particle beam from the sample, path of the treatment beam, and/or tomographic imaging.

Abstract: A scintillation material is longitudinally packaged in a circumferentially surrounding sheath, where the sheath has a lower index of refraction than the scintillation material, to form a scintillation optic or scintillation fiber optic. The scintillation material yields secondary photons upon passage of a charged particle beam, such as a positively charged residual particle beam having transmitted through a sample. The internally generated secondary photons within the sheath are guided to a detector element by the difference in index of refraction. Multiple scintillation optics are assembled to form a two-dimensional scintillation array coupled to a two-dimensional detector array, such as for use in determination of state of the residual charged particle beam, determination of an exit point of the particle beam from the sample, path of the treatment beam, and/or tomographic imaging.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and method of use thereof for extracting ions from an ion source, such as for use in cancer treatment or tomographic imaging. The extraction apparatus uses a triode extraction system, with the ion source and/or first electrode held at a first potential; an extraction electrode held at a second potential; and a gating electrode, positioned between the ion source and the extraction electrode, oscillating and/or alternating between a first suppression potential proximate that of the ion source potential and a second extraction potential between the ion source potential and the extraction electrode potential. Optionally, the ion source comprises an electron cyclotron resonance ion source.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for scanning charged particles in a cancer therapy system, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first and second dipole magnet system and a gap, the gap comprising a common gap length, along a path of the charged particles, within both the first and second dipole magnet systems, the gap comprising a progressively increasing x/y-plane cross-section area from an entrance area of the charged particles into the double dipole magnet system to an exit area of the double dipole magnet system, the x/y-plane perpendicular to a z-axis from a center of the entrance area to a center of the exit area; (2) scanning the positively charged particles along a first axis of the x/y-plane using the first dipole magnet system; and (3) scanning the positively charged particles along a second axis of the x/y-plane using the second dipole magnet system.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for steering/scanning charged particles, comprising: a double dipole scanning system, comprising: (1) a beam path chamber comprising an entrance side and an exit side, the entrance side comprising a smaller area than the exit side; (2) a first dipole magnet, the first dipole magnet comprising a first coil and a third coil on first opposite sides of the beam path chamber; and (3) a second dipole magnet, the second dipole magnet comprising a second coil and a fourth coil on second opposite sides of the beam path chamber, the beam path chamber further comprising a truncated square/rectangle pyramid shape, the smaller entrance side of the charged particles comprising a top of the truncated pyramid shape, the exit side of the charged particles comprising a larger bottom of the truncated pyramid shape.

Abstract: The invention comprises a beam adjustment method and apparatus used to perform energy adjustments on circulating charged particles in a synchrotron previously accelerated to a starting energy with a traditional accelerator of the synchrotron. The beam adjustment system uses a radio-frequency modulated potential difference applied along a longitudinal path of the circulating charged particles to accelerate or decelerate the circulating charged particles. Optionally, the beam adjustment system phase shifts the applied radio-frequency field to accelerate or decelerate the circulating charged particles while tightening spatial distribution of a grouped bunch of the circulating charged particles. Optionally, the beam adjustment system simultaneously radially focuses the circulating charged particles using two or more gaps with focusing and/or defocusing edges.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for determining state of a positively charged particle, such as a proton, for use in imaging a tumor of a patient prior to and/or concurrent with cancer therapy. The imaging system comprises: (1) a beam transport path of the positively charged particle sequentially passing through a patient, through a first time of flight detector, and, after traversing a pathlength, at least into a second time of flight detector and (2) a beam state determination system configured to: use elapsed time between detection at the first and second time of flight detectors and the pathlength to determine a residual beam energy, which, when compared to a known incident beam energy, is used in generation of an image of the tumor. An optional beam energy degrading element increases time differences between the time of flight detectors.

Abstract: The invention comprises a segmented rolling floor apparatus and method of use thereof, such as for use in a charged particle cancer therapy system. The segmented rolling floor comprises a first spool and a second spool, attached to opposite ends of the rolling floor, which cooperatively wind and unwind the rolling floor. The segmented rolling floor circumferentially surrounds a nozzle system penetrating through an aperture in the segmented rolling floor, where the nozzle system is used to deliver charged particles, from an accelerator, to a tumor of a patient. The rolling floor and nozzle systems move at respective rates maintaining the nozzle system in the aperture allowing for a safe/walkable floor while allowing treatment of the tumor as a gantry rotates the nozzle system and delivers protons to the tumor from positions above and below the floor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the selective processing of a particular portion of a workpiece are disclosed. For example, the outer portion may be processed by directing an ion beam toward a first position on the workpiece, where the ion beam extends beyond the outer edge of the workpiece at two first locations. The workpiece is then rotated relative to the ion beam about its center so that certain regions of the outer portion are exposed to the ion beam. The workpiece is then moved relative to the ion beam to a second position and rotated in the opposite direction so that all regions of the outer portion are exposed to the ion beam. This process may be repeated a plurality of times. The ion beam may perform any process, such as ion implantation, etching or deposition.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for slowing positively charged particles, comprising the steps of: (1) transporting the positively charged particles from an accelerator, along a beam transport line, and into a nozzle system; (2) placing a first liquid in a first chamber in a beam path of the positively charged particles; (3) placing a second liquid in a second chamber in the beam path of the positively charged particles; (4) moving the first and second chamber with the nozzle system; (5) slowing the positively charged particles using the first liquid and the second liquid; (6) moving the first chamber in a first direction to yield a longer first pathlength of the positively charged particles through the first chamber; and (7) moving the second chamber opposite the first direction to yield a longer second pathlength of the positively charged particles through the second chamber.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for tracking and/or imaging impact of a particle beam treating a tumor using one or more imaging systems positionable about the tumor, such as a positron emission tracking and/or imaging system, where resulting tracking/imaging data: dynamically determines a treatment beam position, tracks a history of treatment beam positions, guides the treatment beam, and/or images a tumor before, during, and/or after treatment with the charged particle beam.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for probing a tumor of a patient using positively charged particles, comprising the steps of: (1) sequentially delivering sets of varied and known positively charged particles to a patient; (2) after transmission through the patient, sequentially detecting a residual energy of each of the sets of positively charged particles; and (3) determining a water equivalent thickness of a probed path of the patient using a plot of the detector response as a function of residual energy that is fit with a curve. The analyzer relates a half maximum of the fit curve, such as a Gaussian curve, to the water equivalent thickness of the sampled beam path. Repeated measurements as a function of incident angle and/or position of the incident charged particles allows generation of an image of the sample, such as a computed tomography image.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for reducing a kinetic energy of positively charged particles, comprising the steps of: (1) transporting the positively charged particles from an accelerator into an exit nozzle system along a beam line; (2) providing a first chamber of the exit nozzle system, the first chamber comprising: an incident side comprising an incident aperture, an exit side comprising an exit aperture, and a beam path of the positively charged particles from the incident aperture to the exit aperture; (3) filling the beam path in the chamber with a liquid; and (4) using the liquid to reduce the kinetic energy of the positively charged particles. The kinetic energy dissipater is optionally used in combination with a proton therapy cancer treatment system and/or a proton tomography imaging system.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for directing protons to a tumor, comprising the steps of: (1) holding a patient with a patient support; (2) providing an imaging system comprising: a rotatable unit at least partially surrounding an axial perimeter of the patient support, a translation guide rail, an imaging source attached to the rotatable unit, and an imaging detector attached to the rotatable unit; (3) translating and rotating the imaging source and the imaging detector relative to the patient support using the translation guide rail and the rotatable unit; and (4) providing an attachment section connected: on a first end to a robotic arm positioning system and on a second end to the patient support and the imaging system, the robotic arm positioning system repositioning, relative to a nozzle system linked to the synchrotron, the attachment system supporting the patient support system and the imaging system.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for using a single robotic positioning arm to simultaneously move, relative to a proton beam path entering a treatment room containing the patient, both: (1) a patient support and (2) an imaging system. The robotic arm moving the imaging system and patient independently from movement of a nozzle system directing protons into the treatment rooms allows: simultaneously translating past the patient and rotating around the patient an X-ray source of the imaging system; translating a rotatable unit, of the imaging system, longitudinally past the patient on a translation guide rail; moving the patient support and the imaging system through at least four degrees of freedom relative to a movable proton beam; and/or simultaneous or alternating movement of the proton treatment beam and the imaging system relative to the patient.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and method of use thereof for determining a charged particle beam state after passage through a final beam modification insert and prior to entering a patient, such as in cancer treatment or tomographic imaging. The insert comprises a range shifter, a known energy absorber, a ridge filter, a focal length altering insert, an aperture defining element, a compensator, and/or a patient specific beam modifier. The monitoring element comprises one or more sheets, configured to emit photons upon passage therethrough of the charged particle beam, where the emitted photons are detected, tested, such as against a predetermined cancer treatment plan, and/or used to aid in three dimensional tomographic image generation.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for directing a positively charged particle beam to a tumor of a patient, comprising the steps of: (1) transporting the positively charged particle beam sequentially from a synchrotron, through a beam transport line, and through a nozzle system toward the tumor, the beam transport line comprising a rotatable beamline section; (2) pre-rotating the positively charged particle beam using a solenoid, the solenoid positioned in the beam transport line between the synchrotron and the rotatable beamline section; and (3) rotating the rotatable beamline section, where the step of pre-rotating maintains a geometric relationship between a radial cross-section of the positively charged particle beam and magnet surfaces in the rotatable beamline section as a function of rotation of the rotatable beamline section, which reduces otherwise changed dispersive forces as the rotatable beamline is positioned in separate areas about the patient.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor, comprising the steps of: (1) a main controller implementing an initial radiation treatment plan, as a current radiation treatment plan, using positively charged particles delivered from a synchrotron, along a beam transport line, through a nozzle system proximate the treatment room, and into the tumor; (2) concurrent with the step of implementing, imaging the tumor, such as with protons, to generate a current image; (3) upon detection of movement of the tumor relative to surrounding constituents of the patient using the current image, the main controller, using computer implemented code, automatically generating an updated treatment plan, the updated treatment plan becoming the current radiation treatment plan; and (4) repeating the steps of implementing, imaging, and generating an updated treatment plan at least n times, where n is a positive integer of at least one.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor using positively charged particles having passed through an intervening object, comprising the steps of: predetermining an energy reduction of the positively charged particles resultant from the positively charged particles traversing the intervening object along a beam treatment path as a function of relative rotation of the patient and the beam treatment path; generating a radiation treatment plan adjusting energy of the positively charged particles delivered from the synchrotron to the intervening object to yield a desired beam treatment energy of the positively charged particles entering the tumor after compensating for the energy reduction; and optionally detecting a set of the positively charged particles after traversing the intervening object to yield a signal, where the signal is used with knowledge of energy of the positively charged particles exiting the synchrotron to pre-determine the energy reduction along the beam treatment pat