Abstract: A method for determining a water equivalent depth between an entrance point and a reference point is disclosed. The method may comprise sending to a charged particle beam detector placed at a reference point within or beyond a body a charged particle beam whose energy is modulated between a minimum and maximum energy value, acquiring the time dependent response of said charged particle beam detector, determining from said time dependent response a value of a statistical parameter, providing a calibration curve expressing a relationship between values of said statistical parameter and water equivalent depths, and extracting from this calibration curve the water equivalent depth corresponding to the value of the statistical parameter determined from the time dependent response of the charged particle beam detector placed at the reference point.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulsed beam particle accelerator which can be used for particle radiation therapy. More particular, a device and method are provided to control the number of particles within a beam pulse. The particle accelerator comprises means for varying the number of particles within each beam pulse of said pulsed ion beam from a minimum value to a maximum value as function of the value of a beam control parameter. For each particle irradiation the required number of particles for each beam pulse is controlled by defining a value for said beam control parameter based on calibration data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dosimetry device for an energy particle beam from a source and including at least two ionization chambers, each of which includes a collector electrode and a polarization electrode, said electrodes in each ionization chamber being separated by a gap including a fluid, an energy beam from a single source passing through said ionization chambers, the device being characterized in that said ionization chambers have different charge collection efficiency factors. Said calculation algorithm for the dose rate deposited by said beam is based on the measurement of an output signal in each ionization chamber of the device and on a ?gain? factor related to a first ionization chamber, said ?gain? factor being theoretically predetermined on the basis of said intrinsic and/or extrinsic parameters of said ionization chambers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a radioisotope by irradiating a target fluid comprising a precursor of said radioisotope with a particle beam produced by a particle accelerator, the apparatus comprising: —a housing comprising a target cavity for receiving said target fluid, said housing having an opening for allowing the passage of the said particle beam into the said cavity; —a dual foil flange for closing said opening of the target cavity, said dual foil flange comprising: —a standoff comprising a central hole; —a first and a second foil able to allow the passage of the said particle beam and located respectively on a first side and a second side of the said standoff, covering the said central hole and forming a cooling cavity; —a first flange and a second flange for sealing respectively the said first and second foil on said standoff; —at least an inlet channel and at least an outlet channel, for flowing a cooling fluid through the cavity of the dual foil flange; —guiding means

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for monitoring a range of a particle beam in a target. The method is using gamma detectors for detecting prompt gammas produced in the target. The time differences between the time of detecting a gamma quantum and a time of emission of a particle or a bunch of particles from the radiation device are determined. A statistical distribution of those time difference is used to deduce information related to the range of the beam. The invention is also related to an apparatus for monitoring a range based on measured time profiles of detected prompt gammas.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method and apparatus for verifying the beam range in a target irradiated with a charged hadron beam, such as a proton beam. The beam range is the location of the Bragg peak in the target, being the location where the largest portion of the dose is delivered. The method utilizes a prompt gamma camera provided with a slit-shaped opening, so as to be able to produced a 1-dimensional profile of the dose distribution along the beam line. The camera is mounted with the slit oriented perpendicularly to the beam line. The method comprises the steps of calculating a position of the camera with respect to a target, for a plurality of beam energies and spots to be irradiated. The method further comprises the steps of verifying the beam range for said plurality of spots, and delivering a value representative of the difference between the estimated beam range and the actual beam range. The apparatus of the invention is provided with a positioning module for positioning the camera.

Abstract: A gantry structure (16) designed for pivoting about an axis of rotation (18) and for delivering a hadron beam on a target comprises a beam delivery line (24) receiving the hadron beam in a direction essentially parallel to the axis of rotation (18), deviating it away from said axis of rotation (18) and delivering it so that the axis of the beam intersects the axis of rotation (18). The beam delivery line (24) is a self-supporting structure supported by a pivotable support arm (32) in proximity of the center of gravity of the beam delivery line (24). A counterweight (42) is supported by a support arm extension (40) on the other side of the axis of rotation (18) for compensating the moment of force due to the weight of the beam delivery line (24) and the support arm (32).

Abstract: A magnet structure for use in a circular ion accelerator, such as e.g. a synchrocyclotron comprises a cold-mass structure including superconducting magnetic coils (20, 25), at least one dry cryocooler unit (10, 11, 12, 13) coupled with the cold-mass structure for cooling the latter and a magnetic yoke structure (30) with a return yoke (35) configured radially around said coils (20, 25). The return yoke (35) comprises an opening in which said dry cryocooler unit (10, 11, 12, 13) is received so as to be in thermal contact with said cold-mass structure.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods for adjusting the position of a main coil assembly in a cyclotron with respect to a median plane (M) and/or to a central axis (Z) of the cyclotron.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for verification of the quality of a radiation beam in conformal radiation therapy, and in particular for IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) applications. The actual 3D dose distribution in the patient is tracked during the course of the entire treatment by reconstructing the photon fluences from measured 2D detector responses during irradiation in conjunction with updated patient images.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an apparatus and method for hadron beam verification. The apparatus allows to verify a number of different characteristics in a brief time span. The apparatus comprises at least one main degrader element and associated therewith a multiple thickness degrader element. The latter may comprise a number of patches of beam degrading material, the patches having constant but mutually different thicknesses. Alternatively, it may be a wedge-shaped element. By aiming a pencil beam at the various thicknesses, data points can be obtained which allow to make an estimation of the beam range. In addition to this, the apparatus comprises a zone where no degrader material is present, and where a measurement of the spot size can be obtained, without moving or replacing the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention is related to an apparatus and method for charged hadron therapy verification by detecting and/or quantifying prompt gammas produced when irradiating a target (6) with a charged hadron beam. The apparatus comprises a collimator (1) provided with a slit-shaped portion (2) configured to be arranged perpendicularly to the beam line and facing the target, a detection means (3,4) suitable for detecting said prompt gammas and a calculation and representation means. In the apparatus and method of the invention, the slit is configured to allow the passage of prompt gammas emitted from a range of depths in said target (6), said depths being measured in the direction of the charged hadron beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnet structure for a superconducting isochronous cyclotron for use in particle therapy. The cyclotron according to the invention is using two sets of three or more superconducting sector coil elements for generating an azimuthally varying magnetic field across the acceleration region. In this way, high-field (e.g. above 4 T) isochronous cyclotrons are provided which do not suffer the problem of a low flutter amplitude.

Abstract: Radiation detector for measuring one or more characteristics of a radiation, comprising one or more detector pixels, a clock pulse generator, each detector pixel comprising a sensor producing an electrical signal in response to an event of a photon or charged particle of said radiation impinging on said sensor; a pixel electronics adapted for receiving and processing said electrical signal, comprising an analog processing unit for amplifying and shaping said electrical signal and producing a shaped pulse said pixel electronics comprises time determination unit for counting the TOT-count, the TOT-count being the number of clock pulses occurring during the time interval when said shaped pulse is above a threshold. Said pixel electronics comprises a plurality of event counters, each event counter counting the number of events having a TOT-count in a predefined ranges.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cyclotron capable or producing a first beam of accelerated charged particles defined by a first <<charge-over-mass>> ratio (q/m) or a second beam of accelerated charged particles defined by a second <<charge-over-mass>> ratio (q/m)? less than said first <<charge-over-mass>> ratio (q/m), said cyclotron comprising: an electromagnet comprising two poles, preferably an upper pole and a lower pole, positioned symmetrically relatively to a middle plane perpendicular to the central axis of the cyclotron and separated by a gap provided for circulation of the charged particles, each of said poles comprising several sectors positioned so as to have an alternation of areas with a narrow gap called <<hills>> and areas with a wide gap called <<valleys>>; a main induction coil for generating an essentially constant main induction field in the gap between said poles and a means for modifying the magnetic field profile according

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable module (100) for use in a device (300) for synthesizing radiopharmaceutical products starting with chemical reagents, said disposable module (100) comprising: a supporting plate (101) comprising rigid connection means (114) to at least one flask of chemical reagents (102, 103, 104, 105) in solution in a solvent, and a reactor (106); interface means (115) with a fixed module of said synthesis device (300), in contact with or integrated into said supporting plate (101), said interface means comprising at least one valve (V1-V8) and/or at least one fluid inlet (E1, E2) and/or at least one fluid outlet (O1, O2, O3); at least one conduit (1-20) connected to said at least one valve (V1-V8) or to said at least one fluid inlet (E1, E2) or to said at least one fluid outlet (O1, O2, O3), characterized in that at least one of said conduits (1-20) is integrated into the body of the disposable module (100).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining a shielding element for minimizing the penumbra of a beam of hadrons outside a target area, the hadron beam being guided in a longitudinal direction by an irradiation unit, and the beam having a width (?). The method includes: (i) defining a closed or open contour of said target area; (ii) providing a block having a longitudinal thickness capable of blocking the passage of said beam and having a lateral surface perpendicular to said longitudinal thickness; (iii) forming an aperture of a shape similar to said contour and crossing said longitudinal thickness of said block for letting through said beam, said aperture forming a longitudinal internal surface; and (iv) trimming said block so as to form a longitudinal external surface around said longitudinal internals surface, said longitudinal internal and longitudinal external surfaces delimiting a side wall.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cyclotron. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include an upper and lower magnet pole, an upper and lower superconducting coil arranged around each of the magnetic poles, a ring-shaped magnetic return yoke, a beam chamber between the upper and lower magnetic poles having one or more electrodes configured to accelerate ions moving substantially in the median plane, and a cryostat. The ring-shaped magnetic return yoke and the coils may form a cold mass contained within the cryostat. Further, the cryostat may not contain the upper and lower poles.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a charged particle beam is provided. The apparatus may include: means for scanning the charged particle beam on a target, a dipole magnet arranged upstream of the means for scanning, at least three quadrupole lenses arranged between the dipole magnet and the means for scanning, and means for adjusting the field strength of at least three quadrupole lenses in function of the scanning angle of the charged particle beam. The apparatus can be made at least single achromatic.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods for adjusting the position of a main coil assembly in a cyclotron with respect to a median plane (M) and/or to a central axis (Z) of the cyclotron.