Abstract: A device is provided for positioning a target volume, such as a phantom or a patient, in a radiation therapy apparatus. The apparatus directs a radiation beam towards the target. The apparatus can include a target support whereon the target is immobilized, a two dimensional radiation detector fixed with fixations means in a known geometric relationship to the target support, the radiation detector being capable of detecting the position of intersection of the radiation beam with the detector, and correcting means for correcting the relative position of the beam and the target support, based on the detected intersection position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dosimetry device for verification of quality of a radiation beam in standard and conformal radiation therapy, and for IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) applications. The device includes an active area comprising individual radiation detectors. The active area comprises a limited number of lines of radiation detectors, and a number of extra radiation detectors dedicated to the energy measurement of electrons or photons. It also comprises a build-up plate with energy degraders. The energy degraders are located upstream from the extra radiation detectors in the path of the radiation beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cyclotron including two internal ion sources for the production of the same particles. The second ion source can be used as a spare ion source which strongly increases the uptime and the reliability of the cyclotron and reduces the maintenance interventions. Advantageously, the cyclotron is further characterized by an optimized close geometry of the different elements within the central region of the cyclotron. The cyclotron of the invention may be further characterized by an adaptation and optimization of the shape of first and second internal ion source to avoid particle losses during the first turn of acceleration. The cyclotron may be further characterized by an adaptation and optimization of the shape of the counter-Dee electrode assembly and possibly the Dee-electrode assembly in order to improve the acceleration field in-between the gaps.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for synthesis of radiopharmaceutical products based on chemical reagents contained in bottles, said device comprising several reaction compartments, transfer means between said bottles and said reaction compartments as well as mechanical means acting on said transfer means and enabling to monitor and control mechanically the transfer of chemical reagents. The invention is characterized in that it comprises: a fixed module including at least the mechanical means; a removable and disposable module, essentially in the shape of a support, whereon are arranged the transfer means between said bottles and said reaction compartments, said removable and disposable module not including any mechanical means; and means for securing said removable and disposable module to said fixed module.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring and/or signalling errors of a radiation therapy apparatus during delivery of a radiation treatment to a target, the radiation therapy apparatus being configurable for a given radiation treatment by means of a beam shaping device. The method includes providing a radiation array detector between the beam shaping device and the target, capable of providing a measured detector response of the radiation treatment; determining a predicted detector response for successive times of the radiation treatment; measuring the measured detector response caused by the radiation beams for corresponding successive times of the radiation treatment; performing a comparison between the measured detector response and the corresponding predicted detector response; signalling in a short reaction time, an error when the comparison results in a difference which exceeds a given threshold.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a water phantom for measuring and determining the dose distribution of radiation produced by a particle beam or photon radiation beam comprising: a water tank, the water tank having a lower base and side walls; supply means for supplying water to the water tank. The water tank comprises an intermediate base that forms, together with side walls and said lower base, a closed lower tank underneath said intermediate base and an upper tank above said intermediate base, the closed lower tank being connected to the supply means and allowing the flow of water toward said upper tank through a plurality of water admission passages defined in the intermediate base to provide an unturbulent water flow within said water tank 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for verification of the quality of a radiation beam in conformal radiation therapy, and in particular for IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) applications.

Abstract: A shielding (11) for reducing the amount of radiation passing through the shielding comprises a first part (111) and a second part (112), wherein the first part is arranged for being withdrawn from the second part and wherein said first and second parts comprise abutments. At least one pair of corresponding abutments of said first and second parts has a transverse section which is curvilinearly shaped along a portion of at least half of said transverse section.

Abstract: The present invention related to an interstitial marker for localizing an organ, tumor or tumor bed within a mammalian body wherein said marker has a proximal end, a distal end, and a continuous intervening length, at least a portion of the intervening length of said marker being visible under at least one imaging modality and having a flexibility such that said marker follows movements and changes of shape of said organ, tumor or tumor bed.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an interstitial marker for localizing an organ, tumor or tumor bed within a mammalian body wherein said marker has a proximal end, a distal end, and a continuous intervening length, at least a portion of the intervening length of said marker being visible under at least one imaging modality and having a flexibility such that said marker follows movements and changes of shape of said organ, tumor or tumor bed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for quality management (5) in a mammography apparatus (10), said apparatus comprising an X-ray source capable of directing a X-ray beam, a breast immobilization means (16, 18), and an X-ray image sensor system (20), said X-ray image sensor system (20) comprising a central area for sensing an image of said breast, and a peripheral area not used for imaging said immobilized breast.

Abstract: A device is provided for positioning a target volume, such as a phantom or a patient, in a radiation therapy apparatus. The apparatus directs a radiation beam towards the target. The apparatus can include a target support whereon the target is immobilized, a two dimensional radiation detector fixed with fixations means in a known geometric relationship to the target support, the radiation detector being capable of detecting the position of intersection of the radiation beam with the detector, and correcting means for correcting the relative position of the beam and the target support, based on the detected intersection position.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a device and a method for producing a radioisotope of interest from a target fluid irradiated with a beam of accelerated charged particles, the device includes in a circulation circuit (17): an irradiation cell (1) having a metallic insert (2) able to form a cavity (8) designed to house the target fluid and closed by an irradiation window (7), the cavity (8) including at least one inlet (4) and at least one outlet (5); a pump (16) for circulating the target fluid inside the circulation circuit (17); an external heat exchanger (15); the pump (16) and the external heat exchanger (15) forming external cooling means of the target fluid; the device means for pressurizing (14) of the circulation circuit (17) and the external cooling means of the target fluid are arranged in such a way that the target fluid remains inside the cavity (8) essentially in the liquid state during the irradiation.

Abstract: Device for positioning a target volume (112) such, as a phantom or a patient in a radiation therapy apparatus, said apparatus directing a radiation beam (405) towards said target (112), characterized in that it comprises:—a target support (100) whereon the target is immobilized; a two dimensional radiation detector (103) fixed with fixations means (101, 102, 104, 106 107; 301, 302, 304, 305, 306; 208, 209) in a known geometric relationship to said target support (100), said radiation detector (103) being capable of detecting the position of intersection of said radiation beam (105) with said detector (103); correcting means for correcting the relative position of said beam (105) and said target support 100), based on said detected intersection position.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a water phantom for measuring and determining the dose distribution of radiation produced by a particle beam or photon radiation beam comprising: a water tank; means for varying the water level in said water tank; an acquisition detector positioned in a fixed position related to the water tank opposite to the beam, wherein said acquisition detector is a two dimensional detector comprising a plurality of sensors and capable of simultaneously measuring the dose in a plurality of points in an area. Subsequent measurements are performed varying each time the water level within the water tank, until the dose distribution in the entire volume of the water tank is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for treating or irradiating a target volume with a particle beam produced by an accelerator, comprising the steps of: deflecting said particle beam with the help of scanning means in two orthogonal (X, Y) directions, thereby constituting an irradiation plane perpendicular to the direction (Z) of the beam, defining in the irradiation plane a scanning field which circumscribes the area of intersection of target volume and irradiation plane and scanning said scanning field by drawing scan lines which form a scan pattern comprising interleaved frames of triangle waves. The scan pattern is preferably continuous and represents contiguous rhombi figures. The invention is equally related to a device and a software program or sequencer implementing the method.

Abstract: The present invention is related to method for irradiating bulk material, particularly for treatment of food products such as grain, characterized in that in the case of a failure of said irradiation, the untreated bulk material is separated from the treated material and subsequently transported back towards the beginning of the process, in order to be treated. The invention allows to avoid re-treatment of large quantities of material, and provides a clear separation between contaminated and uncontaminated parts of the installation.

Abstract: Method for irradiating in an irradiation chamber products being stored in the form of pallets or in the form of bulk material in appropriate containers by means of a high energy X-ray beam source including the following steps: placing and arranging the products onto two different levels of products, so that a first set of products is placed on an upper level and a second set of products is placed on a lower level; irradiating both sets of products during a first period of time; submitting the products arranged on the two levels to a switch or transposition, so that the set of products arranged on an upper level is arranged on the lower level and vice versa and irradiating during a second period of time the new arrangement formed of the two transposed sets of products.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cyclotron for accelerating a charged particle beam circulating in the median plane essentially in the form of two poles inducing a magnetic field and having a so-called axial injector, that is an injector arranged outside the cyclotron substantially along the main axis of the cyclotron and hence perpendicular to the median plane thereof and which is combined with deflecting means which enable the particle beam to be deflected until it is positioned in the median plane. The invention is characterized in that the deflecting means consist of a magnetic deflector.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a device for irradiating a patient with a charged particle beam, comprising a number of beam channels attached to a vertical wall, wherein a deflection magnet is present at the end of each channel. This deflection magnet is able to deflect the beam in the vertical plane over a given angle range. The couch whereon the patient is reclining is mobile in the vertical plane, so that the combined movement of the patient, and the variable deflection of the beam allow one point in the patient to be irradiated from several angles in the vertical plane.