Abstract: Magnetic lens having two or more distinct and separate, detachable assemblies, at least one of the detachable assemblies having a core about which a solenoid is wound so that the solenoid need not be wound or unwound when the assemblies are attached or de-attached.

Abstract: A system for tracking tumors during radiotherapy for interleaving treatment pulses with imaging pulses is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of multisource scanning eBeam X-ray tubes, each having multiple focal spots. The X-ray tubes are configured to emit X-rays in a plurality of different locations on a target by sequentially emitting the X-rays to the focal spots in the different focal spots. This is done such that the X-rays can be emitted to the plurality of different locations without substantially moving the X-ray tube or the target. The system further includes multiple imager panels configured to act as targets and configured to receive the X-rays from the focal spots of the X-ray tube. The system further includes a tomosynthesis reconstruction module configured to process outputs from the imager panels to construct a unified three-dimensional image that takes information from each of the different imager panels.

Abstract: A particle beam device including a magnet, the device including: a particle beam source configured to emit electron and ion beams; a plurality of yokes arranged in a substantially rectangular shape; a coil set including a plurality of coils, wherein windings of the plurality of coils are uniformly distributed across and wound around the plurality of yokes, wherein the coil set is configured to produce both dipole and quadrupole fields, wherein the magnet is configured to deflect and focus electron and ion beams.

Abstract: A particle beam device including a magnet, the device including: a particle beam source configured to emit electron and ion beams; a plurality of yokes arranged in a substantially rectangular shape; a coil set including a plurality of coils, wherein windings of the plurality of coils are uniformly distributed across and wound around the plurality of yokes, wherein the coil set is configured to produce both dipole and quadrupole fields, wherein the magnet is configured to deflect and focus electron and ion beams.

Abstract: A particle beam device including a magnet, the device including: a particle beam source configured to emit electron and ion beams; a plurality of yokes arranged in a substantially rectangular shape; a coil set including a plurality of coils, wherein windings of the plurality of coils are uniformly distributed across and wound around the plurality of yokes, wherein the coil set is configured to produce both dipole and quadrupole fields, wherein the magnet is configured to deflect and focus electron and ion beams.

Abstract: A particle beam device including a magnet, the device including: a particle beam source configured to emit electron and ion beams; a plurality of yokes arranged in a substantially rectangular shape; a coil set including a plurality of coils, wherein windings of the plurality of coils are uniformly distributed across and wound around the plurality of yokes, wherein the coil set is configured to produce both dipole and quadrupole fields, wherein the magnet is configured to deflect and focus electron and ion beams.

Abstract: A particle beam device including a magnet, the device including: a particle beam source configured to emit electron and ion beams; a plurality of yokes arranged in a substantially rectangular shape; a coil set including a plurality of coils, wherein windings of the plurality of coils are uniformly distributed across and wound around the plurality of yokes, wherein the coil set is configured to produce both dipole and quadrupole fields, wherein the magnet is configured to deflect and focus electron and ion beams.

Abstract: A system for tracking tumors during radiotherapy by interleaving treatment pulses with imaging pulses is disclosed. The system includes a multisource scanning eBeam X-ray tube having a plurality of focal spots. The X-ray tube is configured to emit X-rays to a plurality of different locations on a target by sequentially emitting the X-rays to the focal spots in the plurality of focal spots. This is done such that the X-rays can be emitted to the plurality of different locations on the target without substantially moving the X-ray tube or the target. The system further includes an imager panel configured to act as the target and configured to receive the X-rays from the focal spots of the X-ray tube. The system further includes a tomosynthesis reconstruction module configured to process output from the imager panel to construct an image.

Abstract: A system for tracking tumors during radiotherapy for interleaving treatment pulses with imaging pulses is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of multisource scanning eBeam X-ray tubes, each having multiple focal spots. The X-ray tubes are configured to emit X-rays in a plurality of different locations on a target by sequentially emitting the X-rays to the focal spots in the different focal spots. This is done such that the X-rays can be emitted to the plurality of different locations without substantially moving the X-ray tube or the target. The system further includes multiple imager panels configured to act as targets and configured to receive the X-rays from the focal spots of the X-ray tube. The system further includes a tomosynthesis reconstruction module configured to process outputs from the imager panels to construct a unified three-dimensional image that takes information from each of the different imager panels.

Abstract: A system for tracking tumors during radiotherapy for interleaving treatment pulses with imaging pulses is disclosed. The system includes a multisource scanning eBeam X-ray tube having a plurality of focal spots. The X-ray tube is configured to emit X-rays in a plurality of different locations on a target by sequentially emitting the X-rays to the focal spots in the plurality of focal spots. This is done such that the X-rays can be emitted to the plurality of different locations without substantially moving the X-ray tube or the target. The system further includes an imager panel configured to act as the target and configured to receive the X-rays from the focal spots of the X-ray tube. The system further includes a tomosynthesis reconstruction module configured to process output from the imager panel to construct an image.

Abstract: An electron beam production and control assembly includes a vacuum chamber, a beam source, and a target. The target has an active section and an inactive section. The active section is adapted to generate x-rays when the beam impinges on the x-ray producing section. The electron beam production and control assembly also includes a focusing unit positioned along the chamber at a location intermediate the rearward end and the forward end. The focusing unit directs the beam towards the target in a converging manner to impinge on the target. The focusing unit sweeps the beam along a scanning path over the active section of the target. The focusing unit moves the beam to a retrace path on the inactive section of the target between sweeps of the scanning path to maintain ion accumulation in the beam between sweeps over the active section.

Abstract: An electron beam production and control assembly includes a vacuum chamber, a beam source, and a target. The target has an active section and an inactive section. The active section is adapted to generate x-rays when the beam impinges on the x-ray producing section. The electron beam production and control assembly also includes a focusing unit positioned along the chamber at a location intermediate the rearward end and the forward end. The focusing unit directs the beam towards the target in a converging manner to impinge on the target. The focusing unit sweeps the beam along a scanning path over the active section of the target. The focusing unit moves the beam to a retrace path on the inactive section of the target between sweeps of the scanning path to maintain ion accumulation in the beam between sweeps over the active section.

Abstract: A scanning electron beam computed tomographic system eliminates axial offset between target and detector by disposing the target, collimator, and detector such that active portions of the target and detector are always diametrically opposite each other. This result is achieved by providing a helical target, collimator, and detector, or by providing planar target, collimator, and detector components that are inclined relative to the vertical axis such that active portions of the target and detector are always diametrically opposite each other. Either configuration eliminates cone beam error and the necessity to correct for same. Further, the system can provide multi-slice scanning of an object that is in constant motion at a critical velocity, without having to interpolate data. Conventional helical scanning may still be undertaken. Detector elements can be disposed axially to improve signal/noise ratio and to produce a cone beam cancellation effect.

Abstract: An electron beam tomography (EBT) scanning system comprising an electron source generating an electron beam, a target ring that receives the electron beam and emits an x-ray fan beam upon impingement of the electron beam on the target ring, a pair of detector arrays arranged opposite the target ring, and a collimator arranged concentrically between the target ring and the pair of detector arrays. The collimator has interior and exterior walls concentrically arranged with one another and surrounding a patient examination area. The interior and exterior walls have a first set of apertures aligned to collimate the x-ray fan beam into a first collimated beam having a first width and a second collimated beam having a second width. Each collimated beam may form a single or double tomographic slice. The collimated beams are detected by the pair of detector arrays.

Abstract: A scanning electron beam computed tomographic system eliminates axial offset between target and detector by disposing the target, collimator, and detector such that active portions of the target and detector are always diametrically opposite each other. This result is achieved by providing a helical target, collimator, and detector, or by providing planar target, collimator, and detector components that are inclined relative to the vertical axis such that active portions of the target and detector are always diametrically opposite each other. Either configuration eliminates cone beam error and the necessity to correct for same. Further, the system can provide multi-slice scanning of an object that is in constant motion at a critical velocity, without having to interpolate data. Conventional helical scanning may still be undertaken. Detector elements can be disposed axially to improve signal/noise ratio and to produce a cone beam cancellation effect.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for reducing variation in a spot size of an electron beam at a target due to multipole aberrations in an electron beam tomography (EBT) scanner. A magnitude of a DC voltage applied to a positive ion electrode (PIE) within the EBT scanner is adjusted and an orientation of a non-circular aperture of the PIE is aligned with respect to the electron beam. A profile of the spot size is monitored while adjusting the magnitude of the DC voltage and while aligning the orientation of the non-circular aperture of the PIE until the variation in the spot size is sufficiently reduced.

Abstract: An electron beam tomography (EBT) scanning system comprising an electron source generating an electron beam, a target ring that receives the electron beam and emits an x-ray fan beam upon impingement of the electron beam on the target ring, a pair of detector arrays arranged opposite the target ring, and a collimator arranged concentrically between the target ring and the pair of detector arrays. The collimator has interior and exterior walls concentrically arranged with one another and surrounding a patient examination area. The interior and exterior walls have a first set of apertures aligned to collimate the x-ray fan beam into a first collimated beam having a first width and a second collimated beam having a second width. Each collimated beam may form a single or double tomographic slice. The collimated beams are detected by the pair of detector arrays.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for reducing variation in a spot size of an electron beam at a target due to multipole aberrations in an electron beam tomography (EBT) scanner. A magnitude of a DC voltage applied to a positive ion electrode (PIE) within the EBT scanner is adjusted and an orientation of a non-circular aperture of the PIE is aligned with respect to the electron beam. A profile of the spot size is monitored while adjusting the magnitude of the DC voltage and while aligning the orientation of the non-circular aperture of the PIE until the variation in the spot size is sufficiently reduced.

Abstract: A scanning electron beam computed tomographic system eliminates axial offset between target and detector by disposing the target, collimator, and detector such that active portions of the target and detector are always diametrically opposite each other. This result is achieved by providing a helical target, collimator, and detector, or by providing planar target, collimator, and detector components that are inclined relative to the vertical axis such that active portions of the target and detector are always diametrically opposite each other. Either configuration eliminates cone beam error and the necessity to correct for same. Further, the system can provide multi-slice scanning of an object that is in constant motion at a critical velocity, without having to interpolate data. Conventional helical scanning may still be undertaken. Detector elements can be disposed axially to improve signal/noise ratio and to produce a cone beam cancellation effect.

Abstract: In a scanning electron beam CT system, a positive ion clearing electrode system is disposed within the CT system solenoid coil, and is operated from a single power source. Mounted coaxially about the electron beam, preferably the electrode system includes three sections, each having two electrode elements, one element being coupled to about −800 V to about −2 kV and the other element being grounded. Within the electrode system, the ratio between element diameter and electron beam diameter is substantially constant. Preferably elements are helically twisted about the beam axis. The electrode configuration cancels net quadrupole (focusing) and octopole (aberration-producing) fields. In the presence of electric discharge, essentially zero electron beam displacement and deflections occurs, and changes in focusing strength remain zero.