Abstract: The invention comprises a positively charged particle based cancer therapy system integrated with at least one off-axis imaging system, where elements of the off-axis imaging system and the cancer therapy system are co-positioned/co-rotated with a gantry. The imaging apparatus optionally functions with a tomography system using the positively charged particles of the cancer therapy system for enhanced patient/tumor imaging at and/or prior to a time of treatment.

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 system for controlling a charged particle beam shape and direction relative to a controlled and dynamically positioned patient and/or an imaging surface, such as a scintillation plate of a tomography system and/or a first two-dimensional imaging system coupled to a second two-dimensional imaging system. Multiple interlinked beam/patient/imaging control stations allow safe zone operation and clear interaction with the charged particle beam system and the patient. Both treatment and imaging are facilitated using automated sequences controlled with a work-flow control system.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor with protons using multiple beamline positions not having an isocenter, including the steps of: (1) delivering the protons from a synchrotron along a redirectable beam transport path to yield a plurality of incident vectors, each of the plurality of incident vectors directed toward the treatment room and (2) redirecting the protons traveling along each of the plurality of incident vectors, with an output nozzle, to the tumor, where a first vector, of the plurality of incident vectors, comprises a first direction intersecting the tumor and where a second vector, of the plurality of incident vectors, comprises a second direction passing by the tumor without entering the tumor. The step of redirecting directs the protons traveling along the first and second incident vectors, respectively, to a first and second path intersecting a front and the back of the tumor.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor of a patient with charged particles, comprising the step of developing a multi-modality treatment plan, the multi-modality treatment plan directing: (1) use of a first beam type to treat a first volume of the tumor, the first beam type a first mass per particle and (2) use of a second beam type to treat a second volume of the tumor, the second beam type comprising a second mass per particle, where the second mass per particle is at least ten percent different than the first mass per particle and the second volume differs from the first volume. The multi-modality treatment plan is optionally formed by selectively merging treatment plans using the respective particle types or is developed using properties of the multiple particle types.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor of a patient, comprising the steps of: (1) using a first treatment beam comprising electrons in a cancer therapy system used to treat the tumor, the electrons passing along a beam transport path from a synchrotron, through a beam transport system, through an exit nozzle, and toward the tumor and (2) using a second treatment beam to treat the tumor, the second treatment beam both generated using the synchrotron and penetrating into the tumor, where the second treatment beam comprises at least one of: (1) cations and (2) secondary X-rays emitted resultant from energy transfer from the electrons, where the cations are optionally used to image the tumor of the patient.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for imaging and/or treating a tumor of a patient using multiple ion types, such as a cations with one, two, or more mass-to-charge ratios and/or electrons, where the multiple ion types are accelerated, at separate times, using a single accelerator, and the multiple ion types are used to treat different depths into a tumor of a patient, where the patient is optionally maintained in a single treatment position relative to a patient positioning system during treatment.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for using a turning magnet of an accelerator of a cancer therapy system, the accelerator comprising first magnet coils and second correction coils wound about a magnet core where: (1) at a first time, the second correction coils are used to correct a magnetic field, resultant from the first magnet coils, used to turn cations and (2) at a second time, after reversing polarity of the correction coils, the correction coils are used to turn anions and/or electrons, the cations and electrons used to treat a tumor of a patient positioned in a treatment position relative to a treatment beam from the accelerator during the first and second time periods.

Abstract: The invention comprises a fiducial marker—fiducial detector based treatment room position determination/positioning system apparatus and method of use thereof. A set of fiducial markers and fiducial detectors are used to mark/determine relative position of static and/or moveable objects in a treatment room using photons passing from the markers to the detectors. Further, position and orientation of at least one of the objects is calibrated to a reference line, such as a zero-offset beam treatment line passing through an exit nozzle, which yields a relative position of each fiducially marked object in the treatment room. Treatment calculations are subsequently determined using the reference line and/or points thereon. The treatment calculations are optionally and preferably performed without use of an isocenter point, such as a central point about which a treatment room gantry rotates, which eliminates mechanical errors associated with the isocenter point being an isocenter volume in practice.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for using a multi-layer multi-color scintillation based detector element to image a tumor of a patient using a process of determining residual energies of positively charged particles after passing through the patient, the process comprising the steps of: (1) transmitting the positively charged particles at known energies through the patient and into a multi-layer detector element; (2) detecting first and second secondary photons, resultant from passage of the positively charged particles, respectively from a first layer of a first scintillation material and a second layer of a second scintillation material at two respective layer depths, where the first wavelength range differs from the second wavelength range; (4) determining residual energies of the positively charged particles, using output from the step of detecting; and (5) relating the residual energies to body densities to generate an image.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for controlling tumor treatment, comprising the steps of: (1) a control system controlling a cancer therapy system, the control system comprising a set of modular control units, the cancer therapy system comprising a set of subsystem elements, (2) altering a first subsystem of the set of subsystem elements; and (3) updating a first modular control unit, of the set of modular control units, corresponding to the first subsystem without a necessitated change of remaining code elements of the set of modular control units corresponding to non-altered subsystem elements of the set of subsystem elements with an optional step of altering main subsystem controller code configured to control the set of subsystem control modules. Optionally the control system directly controls each of the subsystem elements and/or communicates with each of the set of subsystem elements without direct communication between the set of subsystem elements.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for proton treatment of a tumor, comprising the steps of a central control system: (1) receiving an initial cancer treatment irradiation plan; (2) directing a treatment of the tumor using the positively charged particles; (3) during a treatment session and after the step of directing the treatment of the tumor, receiving imaging input from an imaging system; (4) generating an updated cancer treatment irradiation plan using the imaging input; (5) continuing the treatment session using the updated cancer treatment irradiation plan; and (6) optionally, while the patient remains in the treatment room and under approval of a medical professional not in line of sight of the patient, repeating at least three times the steps of: receiving imaging input from the imaging system; generating an updated cancer treatment irradiation plan; and continuing the treatment session using the updated cancer treatment irradiation plan.

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 system for controlling a charged particle beam shape and direction relative to a controlled and dynamically positioned patient and/or an imaging surface, such as a scintillation plate of a tomography system and/or a first two-dimensional imaging system coupled to a second two-dimensional imaging system. Multiple interlinked beam/patient/imaging control stations allow safe zone operation and clear interaction with the charged particle beam system and the patient. Both treatment and imaging are facilitated using automated sequences controlled with a work-flow control system.

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 a method and apparatus for treating a tumor with protons using multiple beamline positions not having an isocenter, including the steps of: (1) delivering the protons from a synchrotron along a redirectable beam transport path to yield a plurality of incident vectors, each of the plurality of incident vectors directed toward the treatment room and (2) redirecting the protons traveling along each of the plurality of incident vectors, with an output nozzle, to the tumor, where a first vector, of the plurality of incident vectors, comprises a first direction intersecting the tumor and where a second vector, of the plurality of incident vectors, comprises a second direction passing by the tumor without entering the tumor. The step of redirecting directs the protons traveling along the first and second incident vectors, respectively, to a first and second path intersecting a front and the back of the tumor.

Abstract: An apparatus to control a ribbon ion beam. The apparatus may include a coil assembly comprising a plurality of electromagnetic coils configured to generate a magnetic field proximate the ribbon beam, the magnetic field extending in a first direction that forms a non-zero angle with respect to a direction of propagation of the ribbon ion beam; a current source assembly configured to supply current to the coil assembly; and a controller configured to control the current source assembly to send at least one dithering current signal to the coil assembly responsive to a beam current measurement of the ribbon ion beam, wherein the at least one dithering current signal generates a fluctuation in magnetic field strength of the magnetic field.

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.