Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of determining the nature of a fault in a radiotherapy device comprising a linear accelerator. The radiotherapy device is configured to provide therapeutic radiation to a patient. The radiotherapy device comprises a vacuum tube comprising an electron gun, a waveguide configured to accelerate electrons emitted by the electron gun toward a target to produce said radiation, and a flight tube. The electron gun is located at a first end of the vacuum tube and the flight tube is located at a second end of the vacuum tube. The radiotherapy device further comprises a first and a second sensor. The first sensor is configured to provide signals indicative of pressure at a first region inside the vacuum tube and the second sensor is configured to provide signals indicative of pressure at a second region inside the vacuum tube. The first region is closer to the first end of the vacuum tube than the second region is.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of determining whether repair or replacement of a multi-leaf collimator for a radiotherapy device should be scheduled. The multi-leaf collimator comprises a leaf bank comprising a plurality of leaves, a leaf bank support configured to support the leaf bank, a leaf bank guide, and a guide actuation means configured to extend the leaf bank along the leaf bank guide into the path of a radiation beam. The device further comprises current sensing means configured to produce a signal indicative of the current supplied to the guide actuation means. The method comprises receiving signals from the current sensing means; processing the signals; and based on the processing, determining whether repair or replacement of the multi-leaf collimator should be scheduled.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of determining the nature of a fault in a radiotherapy device comprising a linear accelerator. The radiotherapy device is configured to provide therapeutic radiation to a patient. The radiotherapy device comprises a bending magnet assembly arranged to direct a beam of electrons toward a target to produce said radiation. A first sensor is configured to provide signals indicative of voltage at a first region of the bending magnet assembly. The method comprises receiving voltage values derived from the signals from the first sensor and processing the voltage values; wherein processing the voltage values comprises determining whether the voltage values meet at least one threshold criterion; and, based on the processing of the signals, determining whether the nature of the fault is associated with the bending magnet.

Abstract: There is provided a particle accelerator comprising a waveguide for accelerating electrons along an acceleration path and a magnetron configured to supply a radiofrequency electromagnetic field to the waveguide. An oscilloscope is connected to the magnetron and configured to provide signals indicative of the magnetron output. A processor is configured to receive signals from the oscilloscope and to send data to a central server.

Abstract: Described is a method of determining whether repair or replacement of an electron gun of a radiotherapy device should be scheduled. The radiotherapy device comprises a linear accelerator and is configured to provide therapeutic radiation to a patient. The radiotherapy device comprises a vacuum tube comprising the electron gun, a waveguide configured to accelerate electrons emitted by the electron gun toward a target to produce said radiation. The radiotherapy device comprises also comprises a current sensor, the current sensor being configured to provide signals indicative of current supplied to the electron gun. The method comprises receiving a current value, processing the current value, and based on the processing of the current value, determining whether repair or replacement of the electron gun should be scheduled.