Patents by Inventor Juergen SCHULTHEISS

Juergen SCHULTHEISS has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11738213
    Abstract: A beam transport assembly conveys a particle beam from a particle source to an irradiation nozzle, which rotates about a swivel axis at the horizontal input of the nozzle. A support can move horizontally in a plane perpendicular to the swivel axis. The beam transport assembly can change a path length of the particle beam so as to follow a vertical location of the swivel axis of the irradiation nozzle with respect to the support. A controller can coordinate the path length change of the particle beam, rotation of the irradiation nozzle about the swivel axis, and/or horizontal motion of the support to provide irradiation of a supported object from various angles in the plane perpendicular to the swivel axis while maintaining the irradiation nozzle at a constant distance from the supported object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignees: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS PARTICLE THERAPY GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jan H. Timmer, Juergen Schultheiss
  • Patent number: 10722736
    Abstract: A proton beam therapy system with a cantilever gantry. The cantilever gantry has one end portion (the fixed end portion) affixed to an external structure that supports the weight of the gantry. The remainder of the gantry is suspended and the free end portion is coupled to a beam nozzle. A main bearing is coupled to the fixed end portion and enables the gantry to rotate in a full range of 360° around the iso-center. A large counterweight can be disposed in the fixed end portion to keep the system center of mass close to the bearing. The gantry may have a monocoque housing, including a cantilever section enclosing the magnets and other components of the gantry beamline and a drum section on which the bearing is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GMBH, Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rizwan Hassan, Juergen Schultheiss, Lorenzo Miguelino Marte, Jean-Paul Etienne Sier, Michael Poier
  • Publication number: 20200179724
    Abstract: A proton beam therapy system with a cantilever gantry. The cantilever gantry has one end portion (the fixed end portion) affixed to an external structure that supports the weight of the gantry. The remainder of the gantry is suspended and the free end portion is coupled to a beam nozzle. A main bearing is coupled to the fixed end portion and enables the gantry to rotate in a full range of 360° around the iso-center. A large counterweight can be disposed in the fixed end portion to keep the system center of mass close to the bearing. The gantry may have a monocoque housing, including a cantilever section enclosing the magnets and other components of the gantry beamline and a drum section on which the bearing is placed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Rizwan HASSAN, Juergen SCHULTHEISS, Lorenzo Miguelino MARTE, Jean-Paul Etienne SIER, Michael POIER
  • Publication number: 20200108279
    Abstract: A beam transport assembly conveys a particle beam from a particle source to an irradiation nozzle, which rotates about a swivel axis at the horizontal input of the nozzle. A support can move horizontally in a plane perpendicular to the swivel axis. The beam transport assembly can change a path length of the particle beam so as to follow a vertical location of the swivel axis of the irradiation nozzle with respect to the support. A controller can coordinate the path length change of the particle beam, rotation of the irradiation nozzle about the swivel axis, and/or horizontal motion of the support to provide irradiation of a supported object from various angles in the plane perpendicular to the swivel axis while maintaining the irradiation nozzle at a constant distance from the supported object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Jan H. TIMMER, Juergen SCHULTHEISS
  • Patent number: 10603518
    Abstract: A proton beam therapy system with a cantilever gantry. The cantilever gantry has one end portion (the fixed end portion) affixed to an external structure that supports the weight of the gantry. The remainder of the gantry is suspended and the free end portion is coupled to a beam nozzle. A main bearing is coupled to the fixed end portion and enables the gantry to rotate in a full range of 360° around the iso-center. A large counterweight can be disposed in the fixed end portion to keep the system center of mass close to the bearing. The gantry may have a monocoque housing, including a cantilever section enclosing the magnets and other components of the gantry beamline and a drum section on which the bearing is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbH
    Inventors: Rizwan Hassan, Juergen Schultheiss, Lorenzo Miguelino Marte, Jean-Paul Etienne Sier, Michael Poier
  • Patent number: 10532229
    Abstract: A beam transport assembly conveys a particle beam from a particle source to an irradiation nozzle, which rotates about a swivel axis at the horizontal input of the nozzle. A support can move horizontally in a plane perpendicular to the swivel axis. The beam transport assembly can change a path length of the particle beam so as to follow a vertical location of the swivel axis of the irradiation nozzle with respect to the support. A controller can coordinate the path length change of the particle beam, rotation of the irradiation nozzle about the swivel axis, and/or horizontal motion of the support to provide irradiation of a supported object from various angles in the plane perpendicular to the swivel axis while maintaining the irradiation nozzle at a constant distance from the supported object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignees: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS PARTICLE THERAPY GMBH, VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC
    Inventors: Jan H. Timmer, Juergen Schultheiss
  • Patent number: 10201719
    Abstract: A particle beam delivery system includes a beam delivery line of charged particle and a gantry body supporting the beam delivery line. The gantry body is rotatably supported by a first support and a second support. The gantry body serves to rotate the beam delivery line about a horizontal axis passing through the first and second supports. The gantry body comprises a cantilevered portion configured to support at least a section of the beam delivery line in a cantilevered manner extended beyond the first and second supports. The second support is supported by a structure which is rotatable about a vertical axis passing through the second support, thereby providing clearance for the cantilevered portion of the gantry body when rotating about the horizontal axis. The gantry body may be rotatable about the horizontal axis in 360 degrees, clockwise and/or counterclockwise. A gantry assembly and a particle beam radiotherapy system comprising a gantry assembly are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Schultheiss
  • Patent number: 10179252
    Abstract: Irradiation device for irradiating an irradiation object with heavy charged particles, comprising a support for the irradiation object, and an irradiation nozzle irradiating a charged particle beam towards the irradiation object, wherein the beam is deflected within the irradiation nozzle. The support for the irradiation object is moveable at least horizontally, and the irradiation nozzle is moveable at least vertically and rotatable around a nozzle swivel axis along which the particle beam enters into the irradiation nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventors: Jan Timmer, Juergen Schultheiss, L. Alberto Cruz, Michael Schillo
  • Publication number: 20180280732
    Abstract: A particle beam delivery system includes a beam delivery line of charged particle and a gantry body supporting the beam delivery line. The gantry body is rotatably supported by a first support and a second support. The gantry body serves to rotate the beam delivery line about a horizontal axis passing through the first and second supports. The gantry body comprises a cantilevered portion configured to support at least a section of the beam delivery line in a cantilevered manner extended beyond the first and second supports. The second support is supported by a structure which is rotatable about a vertical axis passing through the second support, thereby providing clearance for the cantilevered portion of the gantry body when rotating about the horizontal axis. The gantry body may be rotatable about the horizontal axis in 360 degrees, clockwise and/or counterclockwise. A gantry assembly and a particle beam radiotherapy system comprising a gantry assembly are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventor: Juergen Schultheiss
  • Publication number: 20180264290
    Abstract: A proton beam therapy system with a cantilever gantry. The cantilever gantry has one end portion (the fixed end portion) affixed to an external structure that supports the weight of the gantry. The remainder of the gantry is suspended and the free end portion is coupled to a beam nozzle. A main bearing is coupled to the fixed end portion and enables the gantry to rotate in a full range of 360° around the iso-center. A large counterweight can be disposed in the fixed end portion to keep the system center of mass close to the bearing. The gantry may have a monocoque housing, including a cantilever section enclosing the magnets and other components of the gantry beamline and a drum section on which the bearing is placed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Rizwan HASSAN, Juergen SCHULTHEISS, Lorenzo Miguelino MARTE, Jean-Paul Etienne SIER, Michael POIER
  • Patent number: 9757592
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for providing particle beams for radiation therapy with a compact design and suitable to a single treatment room. The radiation system comprises a stationary cyclotron coupled to a rotating gantry assembly through a beam line assembly. The system is equipped with a single set of dipole magnets that are installed on the rotating gantry assembly and undertakes the dual functions of beam energy selection and beam deflection. The energy degrader may be exposed to the air pressure. The beam line assembly comprises a rotating segment and a stationary segment that are separated from each other through an intermediate segment that is exposed to an ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GMBH
    Inventors: Manuel Benna, Michael Schillo, Juergen Schultheiss, Luis Alberto Cruz
  • Publication number: 20170239495
    Abstract: A beam transport assembly conveys a particle beam from a particle source to an irradiation nozzle, which rotates about a swivel axis at the horizontal input of the nozzle. A support can move horizontally in a plane perpendicular to the swivel axis. The beam transport assembly can change a path length of the particle beam so as to follow a vertical location of the swivel axis of the irradiation nozzle with respect to the support. A controller can coordinate the path length change of the particle beam, rotation of the irradiation nozzle about the swivel axis, and/or horizontal motion of the support to provide irradiation of a supported object from various angles in the plane perpendicular to the swivel axis while maintaining the irradiation nozzle at a constant distance from the supported object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Jan H. TIMMER, Juergen SCHULTHEISS
  • Publication number: 20160279447
    Abstract: Irradiation device for irradiating an irradiation object with heavy charged particles, comprising a support for the irradiation object, and an irradiation nozzle irradiating a charged particle beam towards the irradiation object, wherein the beam is deflected within the irradiation nozzle. The support for the irradiation object is moveable at least horizontally, and the irradiation nozzle is moveable at least vertically and rotatable around a nozzle swivel axis along which the particle beam enters into the irradiation nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS PARTICLE THERAPY GmbH
    Inventors: Jan TIMMER, Juergen SCHULTHEISS, Luis Alberto CRUZ, Michael SCHILLO
  • Publication number: 20160220847
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for providing particle beams for radiation therapy with a compact design and suitable to a single treatment room. The radiation system comprises a stationary cyclotron coupled to a rotating gantry assembly through a beam line assembly. The system is equipped with a single set of dipole magnets that are installed on the rotating gantry assembly and undertakes the dual functions of beam energy selection and beam deflection. The energy degrader may be exposed to the air pressure. The beam line assembly comprises a rotating segment and a stationary segment that are separated from each other through an intermediate segment that is exposed to an ambient pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Manuel BENNA, Michael SCHILLO, Juergen SCHULTHEISS, Luis Alberto CRUZ
  • Patent number: 9283407
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for providing particle beams for radiation therapy with a compact design and suitable to a single treatment room. The radiation system comprises a stationary cyclotron coupled to a rotating gantry assembly through a beam line assembly. The system is equipped with a single set of dipole magnets that are installed on the rotating gantry assembly and undertakes the dual functions of beam energy selection and beam deflection. The energy degrader may be exposed to the air pressure. The beam line assembly comprises a rotating segment and a stationary segment that are separated from each other through an intermediate segment that is exposed to an ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Varian Medical SYstems Particle Theraby GMBH
    Inventors: Manuel Benna, Michael Schillo, Juergen Schultheiss, Luis Alberto Cruz
  • Publication number: 20150209601
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for providing particle beams for radiation therapy with a compact design and suitable to a single treatment room. The radiation system comprises a stationary cyclotron coupled to a rotating gantry assembly through a beam line assembly. The system is equipped with a single set of dipole magnets that are installed on the rotating gantry assembly and undertakes the dual functions of beam energy selection and beam deflection. The energy degrader may be exposed to the air pressure. The beam line assembly comprises a rotating segment and a stationary segment that are separated from each other through an intermediate segment that is exposed to an ambient pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Manuel BENNA, Michael SCHILLO, Juergen SCHULTHEISS, Luis Alberto CRUZ