Patents by Inventor Ken Yoshiki Franzen

Ken Yoshiki Franzen 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).

  • Publication number: 20230268096
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems, devices, and methods relate to controlling beams for use in beam systems. An example method of controlling a travel path of a beam includes propagating a beam along a first path from an entry point of a dipole magnet through a non-gradient portion of the dipole magnet until the beam bends toward a first beam travel path of multiple beam travel paths of the dipole magnet. The example method further includes propagating the beam along the first beam travel path through a gradient portion of the dipole magnet to focus the beam for propagation to a downstream target. Embodiments further permit a compact beam system such that a series of magnets can be used to create a path that accommodates shielding to minimize the footprint of the beam system for facilities that may not otherwise support large systems due to space and safety constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Greg Snitchler, Ken Yoshiki Franzen, Charles Lee, Jedediah Styron, Vijay Patel, Shayar Ziaei
  • Patent number: 10456591
    Abstract: An example particle therapy system includes: a synchrocyclotron to output a particle beam; a magnet to affect a direction of the particle beam to scan the particle beam across at least part of an irradiation target; scattering material that is configurable to change a spot size of the particle beam, where the scattering material is down-beam of the magnet relative to the synchrocyclotron; and a degrader to change an energy of the beam prior to output of the particle beam to the irradiation target, where the degrader is down-beam of the scattering material relative to the synchrocyclotron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, James Cooley, Ken Yoshiki Franzen, Mark R. Jones, Tao Li, Michael Busky
  • Publication number: 20190250582
    Abstract: An example system includes: a magnet including one or more coils to conduct current to generate a magnetic field, with the magnetic field to affect output of radiation to a target; and one or more actuators, with an actuator among the one or more actuators being at least part of a physical coupling to the one or more coils, and with the actuator being controllable to move the one or more coils via the physical coupling based on movement of the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Mark R. Jones, Mark Robinson, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Patent number: 10368429
    Abstract: An example particle accelerator includes the following: a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to a cavity to accelerate particles from a plasma column, where the cavity has a magnetic field causing particles accelerated from the plasma column to move orbitally within the cavity; an extraction channel to receive the particles accelerated from the plasma column and to output the received particles from the cavity; and a regenerator to provide a magnetic field bump within the cavity to thereby change successive orbits of the particles accelerated from the plasma column so that, eventually, particles output to the extraction channel. The magnetic field is at least 6 Tesla and the magnetic field bump is at most 2 Tesla.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Gall, Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Jan Van der Laan, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Patent number: 10258810
    Abstract: An example particle therapy system includes: a synchrocyclotron to output a particle beam; a magnet to affect a direction of the particle beam to scan the particle beam across at least part of an irradiation target; scattering material that is configurable to change a spot size of the particle beam, where the scattering material is down-beam of the magnet relative to the synchrocyclotron; and a degrader to change an energy of the beam prior to output of the particle beam to the irradiation target, where the degrader is down-beam of the scattering material relative to the synchrocyclotron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, James Cooley, Ken Yoshiki Franzen, Mark R. Jones, Tao Li, Michael Busky
  • Patent number: 10254739
    Abstract: An example system includes: a magnet including one or more coils to conduct current to generate a magnetic field, with the magnetic field to affect output of radiation to a target; and one or more actuators, with an actuator among the one or more actuators being at least part of a physical coupling to the one or more coils, and with the actuator being controllable to move the one or more coils via the physical coupling based on movement of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Jones, Mark Robinson, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Publication number: 20180043181
    Abstract: An example particle therapy system includes: a synchrocyclotron to output a particle beam; a magnet to affect a direction of the particle beam to scan the particle beam across at least part of an irradiation target; scattering material that is configurable to change a spot size of the particle beam, where the scattering material is down-beam of the magnet relative to the synchrocyclotron; and a degrader to change an energy of the beam prior to output of the particle beam to the irradiation target, where the degrader is down-beam of the scattering material relative to the synchrocyclotron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, James Cooley, Ken Yoshiki Franzen, Mark R. Jones, Tao Li, Michael Busky
  • Publication number: 20170231081
    Abstract: An example particle accelerator includes the following: a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to a cavity to accelerate particles from a plasma column, where the cavity has a magnetic field causing particles accelerated from the plasma column to move orbitally within the cavity; an extraction channel to receive the particles accelerated from the plasma column and to output the received particles from the cavity; and a regenerator to provide a magnetic field bump within the cavity to thereby change successive orbits of the particles accelerated from the plasma column so that, eventually, particles output to the extraction channel. The magnetic field is at least 6 Tesla and the magnetic field bump is at most 2 Tesla.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Gall, Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Jan Van der Laan, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Patent number: 9730308
    Abstract: An example synchrocyclotron includes the following: a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to a cavity to accelerate particles from a particle source; a coil to receive a variable electrical current and to generate a magnetic field that is at least 4 Tesla to cause the particles to move orbitally within the cavity; and an extraction channel to receive the accelerated particles and to output the received particles from the cavity. The particles that are output from the cavity have an energy that is variable based at least on the variable electrical current applied to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Charles D. O'Neal, III, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Publication number: 20170199506
    Abstract: An example system includes: a magnet including one or more coils to conduct current to generate a magnetic field, with the magnetic field to affect output of radiation to a target; and one or more actuators, with an actuator among the one or more actuators being at least part of a physical coupling to the one or more coils, and with the actuator being controllable to move the one or more coils via the physical coupling based on movement of the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Mark R. Jones, Mark Robinson, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Patent number: 9706636
    Abstract: An example particle accelerator includes a coil to provide a magnetic field to a cavity; a particle source to provide a plasma column to the cavity; a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the cavity to accelerate particles from the plasma column, where the magnetic field causes particles accelerated from the plasma column to move orbitally within the cavity; an enclosure containing an extraction channel to receive the particles accelerated from the plasma column and to output the received particles from the cavity; and a structure arranged proximate to the extraction channel to change an energy level of the received particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Kenneth P. Gall, Jan Van der Laan, Stanley Rosenthal, Michael Busky, Charles D. O'Neal, III, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Patent number: 9622335
    Abstract: An example particle accelerator includes the following: a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to a cavity to accelerate particles from a plasma column, where the cavity has a magnetic field causing particles accelerated from the plasma column to move orbitally within the cavity; an extraction channel to receive the particles accelerated from the plasma column and to output the received particles from the cavity; and a regenerator to provide a magnetic field bump within the cavity to thereby change successive orbits of the particles accelerated from the plasma column so that, eventually, particles output to the extraction channel. The magnetic field is at least 6 Tesla and the magnetic field bump is at most 2 Tesla.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Gall, Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Jan Van Der Laan, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Publication number: 20160205760
    Abstract: An example particle accelerator includes a coil to provide a magnetic field to a cavity; a particle source to provide a plasma column to the cavity; a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the cavity to accelerate particles from the plasma column, where the magnetic field causes particles accelerated from the plasma column to move orbitally within the cavity; an enclosure containing an extraction channel to receive the particles accelerated from the plasma column and to output the received particles from the cavity; and a structure arranged proximate to the extraction channel to change an energy level of the received particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Kenneth P. Gall, Jan Van der Laan, Stanley Rosenthal, Michael Busky, Charles D. O'Neal, III, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Patent number: 9301384
    Abstract: An example particle accelerator includes a coil to provide a magnetic field to a cavity; a particle source to provide a plasma column to the cavity; a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the cavity to accelerate particles from the plasma column, where the magnetic field causes particles accelerated from the plasma column to move orbitally within the cavity; an enclosure containing an extraction channel to receive the particles accelerated from the plasma column and to output the received particles from the cavity; and a structure arranged proximate to the extraction channel to change an energy level of the received particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Kenneth P. Gall, Jan Van der Laan, Stanley Rosenthal, Michael Busky, Charles D O'Neal, III, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Patent number: 9155186
    Abstract: An example particle accelerator may include the following: a voltage source to sweep a radio frequency (RF) voltage in a cavity to accelerate particles from a plasma column, where the cavity has a magnetic field causing particles accelerated from the plasma column to move orbitally within the cavity, and where the magnetic field has flux that bows at edges of the cavity; a regenerator to provide a magnetic field bump within the cavity to thereby change successive orbits of the particles accelerated from the plasma column so that, eventually, particles output to an extraction point, where the regenerator is located at a radius in the cavity relative to the plasma column; and ferromagnetic arrangements located in the cavity proximate to the radius, where each ferromagnetic arrangement provides a magnetic field bump, and where ferromagnetic arrangements adjacent to the regenerator are separated from the regenerator by a space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Kenneth P. Gall, Jan Van der Laan, Charles D. O'Neal, III, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Publication number: 20150090894
    Abstract: An example particle therapy system includes: a synchrocyclotron to output a particle beam; a magnet to affect a direction of the particle beam to scan the particle beam across at least part of an irradiation target; scattering material that is configurable to change a spot size of the particle beam, where the scattering material is down-beam of the magnet relative to the synchrocyclotron; and a degrader to change an energy of the beam prior to output of the particle beam to the irradiation target, where the degrader is down-beam of the scattering material relative to the synchrocyclotron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, James Cooley, Ken Yoshiki Franzen, Mark R. Jones, Tao Li, Michael Busky
  • Patent number: 8927950
    Abstract: An example particle accelerator includes the following: a resonant cavity in which particles are accelerated, where the resonant cavity has a background magnetic field having a first shape; and an extraction channel for receiving particles output from the resonant cavity. The extraction channel comprises a series of focusing regions to focus a beam of received particles. At least one of the focusing regions is a focusing element configured to alter a shape of the background magnetic field to a second shape that is substantially opposite to the first shape in the presence of a magnetic field gradient resulting from reduction of the background magnetic field from the resonant cavity to the extraction channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Gall, Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Jan Van der Laan, Charles D. O'Neal, III, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Publication number: 20140371511
    Abstract: An example synchrocyclotron includes the following: a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to a cavity to accelerate particles from a particle source; a coil to receive a variable electrical current and to generate a magnetic field that is at least 4 Tesla to cause the particles to move orbitally within the cavity; and an extraction channel to receive the accelerated particles and to output the received particles from the cavity. The particles that are output from the cavity have an energy that is variable based at least on the variable electrical current applied to the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Charles D. O'Neal, III, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Publication number: 20140094637
    Abstract: An example particle accelerator may include the following: a voltage source to sweep a radio frequency (RF) voltage in a cavity to accelerate particles from a plasma column, where the cavity has a magnetic field causing particles accelerated from the plasma column to move orbitally within the cavity, and where the magnetic field has flux that bows at edges of the cavity; a regenerator to provide a magnetic field bump within the cavity to thereby change successive orbits of the particles accelerated from the plasma column so that, eventually, particles output to an extraction point, where the regenerator is located at a radius in the cavity relative to the plasma column; and ferromagnetic arrangements located in the cavity proximate to the radius, where each ferromagnetic arrangement provides a magnetic field bump, and where ferromagnetic arrangements adjacent to the regenerator are separated from the regenerator by a space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Kenneth P. Gall, Jan Van der Laan, Charles D. O'Neal, III, Ken Yoshiki Franzen
  • Publication number: 20140094639
    Abstract: An example particle accelerator includes a coil to provide a magnetic field to a cavity; a particle source to provide a plasma column to the cavity; a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the cavity to accelerate particles from the plasma column, where the magnetic field causes particles accelerated from the plasma column to move orbitally within the cavity; an enclosure containing an extraction channel to receive the particles accelerated from the plasma column and to output the received particles from the cavity; and a structure arranged proximate to the extraction channel to change an energy level of the received particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, Kenneth P. Gall, Jan Van der Laan, Stanley Rosenthal, Michael Busky, Charles D O'Neal, III, Ken Yoshiki Franzen