Abstract: A charged particle irradiation system is capable of shortening the irradiation time and the treatment time by performing efficient irradiation even when irregular variation occurs in the irradiation object during the gating irradiation. The extraction of the beam is stopped upon reception of a regular extraction permission end signal which is outputted based on a regular movement signal. An extractable state maintaining function operates upon the reception of the extraction permission end signal. When a preset standby time elapses without receiving an extraction permission start signal again during the standby time, the extractable state maintaining function finishes its operation and a charged particle beam generator decelerates the beam. Also, the extraction of the beam is stopped due to reception of an irregular extraction permission end signal during the irradiation. When the extraction permission start signal is received again during the standby time, the extraction of the beam is restarted.

Abstract: First ions and second ions that are heavier than first ions are generated in an ion source. One kind of ions of the first ions and second ions is injected into an accelerator by action of a switching magnet and accelerated in the accelerator. An ion beam including the one kind of ions is extracted from the accelerator to a beam transport system and a tumor volume of a patient is irradiated with the ion beam from an irradiation nozzle. In the irradiation of the ion beam, a tumor volume depth and the largest underwater range of each ion species are compared, and an ion species in which the tumor volume depth becomes the longest underwater range or lower is injected into the accelerator, and accelerated by the accelerator. The tumor volume is irradiated with the ion species.

Abstract: In a particle therapy treatment planning system for creating treatment plan data, the movement of a target (patient's affected area) is extracted from plural tomography images of the target, and the direction of scanning is determined by projecting the extracted movement on a scanning plane scanned by scanning magnets. Irradiation positions are arranged on straight lines parallel with the scanning direction making it possible to calculate a scanning path for causing scanning to be made mainly along the direction of movement of the target. The treatment planning system can thereby realize dose distribution with improved uniformity.

Abstract: A particle therapy system is capable of reducing an increase in treatment time caused by the initialization operation of magnets in the execution of the scanning irradiation method successively changing the energy level of a beam extracted from an accelerator. An irradiation control apparatus has a scheme that calculates setting vales of excitation current for bending magnets for a transport system on every irradiation condition (energy condition), and sets appropriate excitation current values according to the irradiation sequence. The irradiation control apparatus 35 prestores in a current supply control table 1 reference current values determined corresponding to energy levels of the ion beam, prestores in current supply compensation value tables 1, 2 compensation current values determined corresponding to energy levels of the ion beam and numbers of times of changing the energy level, and calculates the excitation current value of the magnets by using the values prestored in the tables.

Abstract: A particle therapy system is capable of reducing an increase in treatment time caused by the initialization operation of magnets in the execution of the scanning irradiation method successively changing the energy level of a beam extracted from an accelerator. An irradiation control apparatus has a scheme that calculates setting vales of excitation current for bending magnets for a transport system on every irradiation condition (energy condition), and sets appropriate excitation current values according to the irradiation sequence. The irradiation control apparatus 35 prestores in a current supply control table 1 reference current values determined corresponding to energy levels of the ion beam, prestores in current supply compenzation value tables 1, 2 compenzation current values determined corresponding to energy levels of the ion beam and numbers of times of changing the energy level, and calculates the excitation current value of the magnets by using the values prestored in the tables.

Abstract: A charged particle irradiation system is capable of shortening the irradiation time and the treatment time by performing efficient irradiation even when irregular variation occurs in the irradiation object during the gating irradiation. The extraction of the beam is stopped upon reception of a regular extraction permission end signal which is outputted based on a regular movement signal. An extractable state maintaining function operates upon the reception of the extraction permission end signal. When a preset standby time elapses without receiving an extraction permission start signal again during the standby time, the extractable state maintaining function finishes its operation and a charged particle beam generator decelerates the beam. Also, the extraction of the beam is stopped due to reception of an irregular extraction permission end signal during the irradiation. When the extraction permission start signal is received again during the standby time, the extraction of the beam is restarted.

Abstract: In a particle therapy treatment planning system for creating treatment plan data, the movement of a target (patient's affected area) is extracted from plural tomography images of the target, and the direction of scanning is determined by projecting the extracted movement on a scanning plane scanned by scanning magnets. Irradiation positions are arranged on straight lines parallel with the scanning direction making it possible to calculate a scanning path for causing scanning to be made mainly along the direction of movement of the target. The treatment planning system can thereby realize dose distribution with improved uniformity.

Abstract: In a particle therapy treatment planning system for creating treatment plan data, the movement of a target (patient's affected area) is extracted from plural tomography images of the target, and the direction of scanning is determined by projecting the extracted movement on a scanning plane scanned by scanning magnets. Irradiation positions are arranged on straight lines parallel with the scanning direction making it possible to calculate a scanning path for causing scanning to be made mainly along the direction of movement of the target. The treatment planning system can thereby realize dose distribution with improved uniformity.

Abstract: A charged particle beam generator, a charged particle irradiation system, a method for operating the charged particle beam generator and a method for operating the charged particle irradiation system, which allow a charged particle beam to be injected into a circular accelerator at an arbitrary timing and can reduce an irradiation time and a time for a therapy, are provided while maintaining the lower limit of an operation cycle of a linear accelerator. An accelerator control device controls an operation of a synchrotron on the basis of a beam extraction request signal transmitted from a beam utilization system control device. A control device generates a timing signal notifying the linear accelerator of an injection timing of a next operation cycle of the synchrotron after completion of an extraction process performed by the synchrotron, changes an operation timing of the linear accelerator so that the operation timing of the linear accelerator matches the injection timing.

Abstract: In a particle therapy treatment planning system for creating treatment plan data, the movement of a target (patient's affected area) is extracted from plural tomography images of the target, and the direction of scanning is determined by projecting the extracted movement on a scanning plane scanned by scanning magnets. Irradiation positions are arranged on straight lines parallel with the scanning direction making it possible to calculate a scanning path for causing scanning to be made mainly along the direction of movement of the target. The treatment planning system can thereby realize dose distribution with improved uniformity.

Abstract: A particle beam irradiation system having a multi-energy extraction control operation that controls the extraction beam energy in a synchrotron within a short time, such that when the ion beam irradiation is halted, an operating cycle is updated within a short time and a dose rate is improved. To this end, operating control data for each of the devices constituting the synchrotron is constructed by multi-energy extraction control pattern data for controlling extraction of beams of a plurality of energy levels at one operating cycle, and a plurality of sets of deceleration control data that correspond to the extraction control of the beam of the plurality of energy levels. The devices are controlled by using the operating control data.

Abstract: In a particle therapy treatment planning system for creating treatment plan data, the movement of a target (patient's affected area) is extracted from plural tomography images of the target, and the direction of scanning is determined by projecting the extracted movement on a scanning plane scanned by scanning magnets. Irradiation positions are arranged on straight lines parallel with the scanning direction making it possible to calculate a scanning path for causing scanning to be made mainly along the direction of movement of the target. The treatment planning system can thereby realize dose distribution with improved uniformity.

Abstract: A particle therapy system is capable of reducing an increase in treatment time caused by the initialization operation of magnets in the execution of the scanning irradiation method successively changing the energy level of a beam extracted from an accelerator. An irradiation control apparatus has a scheme that calculates setting vales of excitation current for bending magnets for a transport system on every irradiation condition (energy condition), and sets appropriate excitation current values according to the irradiation sequence. The irradiation control apparatus 35 prestores in a current supply control table 1 reference current values determined corresponding to energy levels of the ion beam, prestores in current supply compensation value tables 1, 2 compensation current values determined corresponding to energy levels of the ion beam and numbers of times of changing the energy level, and calculates the excitation current value of the magnets by using the values prestored in the tables.

Abstract: In a particle therapy treatment planning system for creating treatment plan data, the movement of a target (patient's affected area) is extracted from plural tomography images of the target, and the direction of scanning is determined by projecting the extracted movement on a scanning plane scanned by scanning magnets. Irradiation positions are arranged on straight lines parallel with the scanning direction making it possible to calculate a scanning path for causing scanning to be made mainly along the direction of movement of the target. The treatment planning system can thereby realize dose distribution with improved uniformity.

Abstract: A charged particle beam generator, a charged particle irradiation system, a method for operating the charged particle beam generator and a method for operating the charged particle irradiation system, which allow a charged particle beam to be injected into a circular accelerator at an arbitrary timing and can reduce an irradiation time and a time for a therapy, are provided while maintaining the lower limit of an operation cycle of a linear accelerator. An accelerator control device controls an operation of a synchrotron on the basis of a beam extraction request signal transmitted from a beam utilization system control device. A control device generates a timing signal notifying the linear accelerator of an injection timing of a next operation cycle of the synchrotron after completion of an extraction process performed by the synchrotron, changes an operation timing of the linear accelerator so that the operation timing of the linear accelerator matches the injection timing.

Abstract: A charged particle beam extraction system and method capable of shortening the irradiation time and increasing the number of patients treatable per unit time. The charged particle beam extraction system comprises a synchrotron for cyclically performing patterned operation including four steps of introducing, accelerating, extracting and decelerating an ion beam, an on/off switch for opening or closing connection between an RF knockout electrode and an RF power supply for applying RF power to the RF knockout electrode, and a timing controller for controlling on/off-timing of the on/off switch such that when extraction of the ion beam is stopped at least once during the extraction step of the synchrotron, an amount of the ion beam extracted from the synchrotron in one cycle is held substantially at a setting value.

Abstract: A charged particle beam extraction system and method capable of shortening the irradiation time and increasing the number of patients treatable per unit time. The charged particle beam extraction system comprises a synchrotron for cyclically performing patterned operation including four steps of introducing, accelerating, extracting and decelerating an ion beam, an on/off switch for opening or closing connection between an RF knockout electrode and an RF power supply for applying RF power to the RF knockout electrode, and a timing controller for controlling on/off-timing of the on/off switch such that when extraction of the ion beam is stopped at least once during the extraction step of the synchrotron, an amount of the ion beam extracted from the synchrotron in one cycle is held substantially at a setting value.

Abstract: A particle therapy system capable of confirming energy of an accelerated charged particle beam before the charged particle beam is irradiated to an irradiation target. A beam position monitor is disposed in a synchrotron, and a cavity voltage monitor is associated with an RF cavity for acceleration. An ion beam orbiting within the synchrotron is accelerated with application of an RF voltage applied to the RF cavity and is extracted from the synchrotron with application of an RF voltage applied to an RF knockout electrode. Based on a cavity voltage signal detected by the cavity voltage monitor, a frequency counter measures the frequency of the RF voltage applied to the RF cavity. Based on a voltage detected by the beam position monitor, a beam signal processing unit measures the position of a beam orbit.

Abstract: A particle therapy system is provided which can simply and quickly correct a beam orbit. In a particle therapy system provided with an irradiation facility comprising a first beam transport system for receiving a beam and transporting the beam to the patient side, and an irradiation nozzle for forming an irradiation field of the beam, the particle therapy system comprises first beam position monitors for detecting a position upstream of the irradiation nozzle at which the beam passes, second beam position monitors for detecting a position downstream of the irradiation nozzle at which the charged-particle beam passes, and first and second steering magnets. Correction bending amounts for causing the beam to be coincident with a predetermined orbit after the correction are determined in accordance with detected results from the first and second beam position monitors, and first and second steering magnets are excited under control so that the determined correction bending amounts are obtained.

Abstract: A particle therapy system is provided which can simply and quickly correct a beam orbit. In a particle therapy system provided with an irradiation facility comprising a first beam transport system for receiving a beam and transporting the beam to the patient side, and an irradiation nozzle for forming an irradiation field of the beam, the particle therapy system comprises first beam position monitors for detecting a position upstream of the irradiation nozzle at which the beam passes, second beam position monitors for detecting a position downstream of the irradiation nozzle at which the charged-particle beam passes, and first and second steering magnets. Correction bending amounts for causing the beam to be coincident with a predetermined orbit after the correction are determined in accordance with detected results from the first and second beam position monitors, and first and second steering magnets are excited under control so that the determined correction bending amounts are obtained.