Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for control of a charged particle cancer therapy system. A treatment delivery control system is used to directly control multiple subsystems of the cancer therapy system without direct communication between selected subsystems, which enhances safety, simplifies quality assurance and quality control, and facilitates programming. For example, the treatment delivery control system directly controls one or more of: an imaging system, a positioning system, an injection system, a radio-frequency quadrupole system, a ring accelerator or synchrotron, an extraction system, a beam line, an irradiation nozzle, a gantry, a display system, a targeting system, and a verification system. Generally, the control system integrates subsystems and/or integrates output of one or more of the above described cancer therapy system elements with inputs of one or more of the above described cancer therapy system elements.

Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle beam, rapid patient positioning system including steps of: positioning a patient relative to a table in a substantially vertical orientation, optionally constraining motion of the patient with one or more constraints, transitioning the table through a semi-vertical orientation, such as with a robot arm, and orientating the patient and table in a substantially horizontal orientation, such as in a position for tumor therapy. Preferably, the robot arm is in common with an arm used to move the patient in traditional proton therapy. Optionally, the robot arm is used to re-orientate the patient into a substantially vertical orientation at the conclusion of a charged particle therapy session.

Abstract: A charged particle cancer therapy system is used to accelerate an anion, such a C?, and to convert the anion to a cation, such as C6+, through use of one or more electron extraction subsystems. A first example of an electron extraction subsystem is a hydrogen gas electron stripping system. A second example of an electron extraction subsystem is a carbon foil electron stripping system. The resultant cation is accelerated in a synchrotron, transported along a beam-line, and targeted to a tumor resulting in ablation of the tumor.

Abstract: A fast magnet switching method and apparatus used to rapidly redirect cations, such as H+ or C6+, in a beam path, such as during or between treatment of individual volumes or voxels of a tumor of the patient, is described. Switching means include rapidly increasing or decreasing applied current to a coil about a magnet, which rapidly alters a magnetic field crossing the charged particle path and redirects a charged particle beam away from the patient, such as to a charged particle beam stop. Means to rapidly induce the current change include: (1) using a separate high voltage power supply and/or (2) opening a switch to redirect current through a resistor. In both cases, the rapid current change to the coil yields a rapid change the magnetic field and a corresponding rapid change in direction of the charged particles in the charged particle cancer therapy system.

Abstract: A rotatable patient positioning apparatus and method of use thereof is described in combination with a rotatable magnet at a termination of a beamline arc. The rotatable patient positioning system optionally: (1) rotates a median of the person in place about a vertical axis and/or (2) rotates the entire person along a path around a vector, such as a vertical axis, where no part of the person intersects the vector. The rotatable targeting magnet rotates independently of a beamline arc at the end of the beamline arc, where the arc is after an accelerator and before the patient in a cancer therapy system. The rotatable targeting magnet directs the charged particle beam, such as vertically, using applied current to the targeting magnet while rotation of the magnet allows scanning across the tumor. The rotatable patient positioning system and targeting magnet combine to target the tumor in three-dimensions.

Abstract: A multi-field cancer therapy apparatus and method of use thereof is described increasing dimensionality of incident tumor treatment angles while minimizing distance between a final beamline focusing magnet and the patient. Increased dimensionality of incident tumor treatment angles is achieved through coordinated use of one or more of: a rotatable targeting magnet; a first patient rotation platform rotating the patient around, without intersecting, a vertical axis; a second patient rotation platform rotating a body part through a movable vertical axis; and patient tilt. The increased charged particle incident angle dimensionality distributes Bragg peak tail energy about the tumor. Dynamic energy and/or intensity control of the charged particle beam as a function of efficiency of beam delivery based on tumor shape further reduces Bragg peak tail energy delivered to healthy tissue about the tumor.

Abstract: A patient positioning/constraint apparatus and method of use thereof is described in combination with a charged particle cancer therapy system. In one embodiment, a patient is tilted about a longitudinal axis, such as rotation about a head-to-foot axis of the patient where the head-to-foot axis of the patient is horizontal. Optional side support constraints are optionally used to constrain radial movement of the patient on the tilted patient support. The side support constraints are optionally pre-formed to or coupled to a radially outer shape of an individual patient, such as the dexter or sinister side of the individual's head, arm, torso, hip, and/or leg. Patient tilt is optionally combined with rotation of the patient about a vertical axis, rotation of the entire patient about an axis not overlapped by the patient, and/or dynamic control of angles of incident charged particles directed by beamline magnets of the charged particle therapy system.

Abstract: A charged particle cancer therapy system is used to accelerate an anion, such a C?, and to convert the anion to a cation, such as C6+, through use of one or more electron extraction subsystems. A first example of an electron extraction subsystem is a hydrogen gas electron stripping system. A second example of an electron extraction subsystem is a carbon foil electron stripping system. The resultant cation is accelerated in a synchrotron, transported along a beam-line, and targeted to a tumor resulting in ablation of the tumor.

Abstract: An imaging system apparatus and method of use thereof is described in combination with a co-movable charged particle beamline apparatus element, such as one or more elements held and dynamically positioned by a gantry, where the method and apparatus are optionally elements of a positively charged particle cancer therapy system. In one embodiment, an X-ray imaging element is rigidly and semi-permanently attached to and co-moved with a proton directing element. For example, as the gantry relocates one or more elements of a proton beamline arc, the X-ray beam is mechanically forced to co-relocate with the proton directing element and/or the final proton beam path.

Abstract: As part of a charged particle cancer therapy system, a negative ion source is used to generate and accelerate an anion, such a C?, and to convert the anion to a cation, such as C6+, through use of one or more electron extraction subsystems. Initially, an electric field is pulsed across a magnetic field to generate the C? anion. Subsequent to extraction of the C? anion from a plasma region using pulsed electrodes, one or both of a hydrogen gas electron stripping system and a carbon foil electron stripping system converts the carbon anion into the cation. The resultant cation is accelerated in a synchrotron, transported along a beam-line, and targeted to a tumor resulting in ablation of the tumor.

Abstract: A rotatable targeting magnet apparatus and method of use thereof is described where the rotatable targeting magnet rotates independently of a beamline arc at the end of the beamline arc, where the arc is after an accelerator and before the patient in a cancer therapy system. The rotatable targeting magnet directs the charged particle beam, such as vertically, using applied current to the targeting magnet while rotation of the magnet allows scanning across the tumor. Rotation of the patient relative to the charged particle allows distribution of trailing Bragg peak energy within and/or circumferentially about the tumor.

Abstract: A rotatable patient positioning apparatus and method of use thereof is described in combination with a rotatable magnet at a termination of a beamline arc. The rotatable patient positioning system optionally: (1) rotates a median of the person in place about a vertical axis and/or (2) rotates the entire person along a path around a vector, such as a vertical axis, where no part of the person intersects the vector. The rotatable targeting magnet rotates independently of a beamline arc at the end of the beamline arc, where the arc is after an accelerator and before the patient in a cancer therapy system. The rotatable targeting magnet directs the charged particle beam, such as vertically, using applied current to the targeting magnet while rotation of the magnet allows scanning across the tumor. The rotatable patient positioning system and targeting magnet combine to target the tumor in three-dimensions.

Abstract: A fast magnet switching method and apparatus used to rapidly redirect cations, such as H+ or C6+, in a beam path, such as during or between treatment of individual volumes or voxels of a tumor of the patient, is described. Switching means include rapidly increasing or decreasing applied current to a coil about a magnet, which rapidly alters a magnetic field crossing the charged particle path and redirects a charged particle beam away from the patient, such as to a charged particle beam stop. Means to rapidly induce the current change include: (1) using a separate high voltage power supply and/or (2) opening a switch to redirect current through a resistor. In both cases, the rapid current change to the coil yields a rapid change the magnetic field and a corresponding rapid change in direction of the charged particles in the charged particle cancer therapy system.

Abstract: As part of a charged particle cancer therapy system, a negative ion source is used to generate and accelerate an anion, such a C?, and to convert the anion to a cation, such as C6+, through use of one or more electron extraction subsystems. Initially, an electric field is pulsed across a magnetic field to generate the C? anion. Subsequent to extraction of the C? anion from a plasma region using pulsed electrodes, one or both of a hydrogen gas electron stripping system and a carbon foil electron stripping system converts the carbon anion into the cation. The resultant cation is accelerated in a synchrotron, transported along a beam-line, and targeted to a tumor resulting in ablation of the tumor.

Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle cancer therapy system used to seal a periphery of a tumor, such as through use of a proton or carbon ion beam searing the outer edges of the tumor, which prevents/hinders nutrient delivery to the tumor resultant in stunted growth of the tumor, halted growth of the tumor, and/or starvation/necrosis of the tumor. Optionally, a tumor sealing layer is formed using multiple passes, of a treatment beam of the charged particle cancer therapy system, across a tumor/healthy tissue boundary layer or voxel.

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.

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 a charged particle beam, rapid patient positioning system including steps of: positioning a patient relative to a table in a substantially vertical orientation, optionally constraining motion of the patient with one or more constraints, transitioning the table through a semi-vertical orientation, such as with a robot arm, and orientating the patient and table in a substantially horizontal orientation, such as in a position for tumor therapy. Preferably, the robot arm is in common with an arm used to move the patient in traditional proton therapy. Optionally, the robot arm is used to re-orientate the patient into a substantially vertical orientation at the conclusion of a charged particle therapy session.

Abstract: A charged particle cancer therapy system is used to accelerate an anion, such a C?, and to convert the anion to a cation, such as C6+, through use of one or more electron extraction subsystems. A first example of an electron extraction subsystem is a hydrogen gas electron stripping system. A second example of an electron extraction subsystem is a carbon foil electron stripping system. The resultant cation is accelerated in a synchrotron, transported along a beam-line, and targeted to a tumor resulting in ablation of the tumor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for charged particle tomographic imaging using a tomography system. The tomography imaging system is optionally simultaneously operational with a charged particle cancer therapy system using common elements, allows tomographic imaging with rotation of the patient, is operational on a patient in an upright, semi-upright, and/or horizontal position, is simultaneously operational with X-ray imaging, and/or allows use of adaptive charged particle cancer therapy. The common tomography and cancer therapy apparatus elements are operational in a multi-axis and/or multi-field raster beam mode.