Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for determining state of a positively charged particle, such as a proton, for use in imaging a tumor of a patient prior to and/or concurrent with cancer therapy. The imaging system comprises: (1) a beam transport path of the positively charged particle sequentially passing through a patient, through a first time of flight detector, and, after traversing a pathlength, at least into a second time of flight detector and (2) a beam state determination system using elapsed time between detection at the first and second time of flight detectors and the pathlength to determine a residual beam energy, which, when compared to a known incident beam energy, is used in generation of an image of the tumor. An optional beam energy degrading element increases time differences between the time of flight detectors.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for using a turning magnet of an accelerator of a cancer therapy system, the accelerator comprising first magnet coils and second correction coils wound about a magnet core where: (1) at a first time, the second correction coils are used to correct a magnetic field, resultant from the first magnet coils, used to turn cations and (2) at a second time, after reversing polarity of the correction coils, the correction coils are used to turn anions and/or electrons, the cations and electrons used to treat a tumor of a patient positioned in a treatment position relative to a treatment beam from the accelerator during the first and second time periods.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and method of use thereof for using a single patient position during, optionally simultaneous, X-ray imaging and positively charged particle imaging, where imaging a tumor of a patient using X-rays and positively charged particles comprises the steps of: (1) generating an X-ray image using the X-rays directed from an X-ray source, through the patient, and to an X-ray detector, (2) generating a positively charged particle image: (a) using the positively charged particles directed from an exit nozzle, through the patient, through the X-ray detector, and to a scintillator, the scintillator emitting photons when struck by the positively charged particles and (b) generating the positively charged particle image of the tumor using a photon detector configured to detect the emitted photons, where the X-ray detector maintains a position between said the nozzle and the scintillator during the step of generating a positively charged particle image.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor of a patient, comprising the steps of: (1) using a first treatment beam comprising electrons in a cancer therapy system used to treat the tumor, the electrons passing along a beam transport path from a synchrotron, through a beam transport system, through an exit nozzle, and toward the tumor and (2) using a second treatment beam to treat the tumor, the second treatment beam both generated using the synchrotron and penetrating into the tumor, where the second treatment beam comprises at least one of: (1) cations and (2) secondary X-rays emitted resultant from energy transfer from the electrons, where the cations are optionally used to image the tumor of the patient.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for imaging and/or treating a tumor of a patient using multiple ion types, such as a cations with one, two, or more mass-to-charge ratios and/or electrons, where the multiple ion types are accelerated, at separate times, using a single accelerator, and the multiple ion types are used to treat different depths into a tumor of a patient, where the patient is optionally maintained in a single treatment position relative to a patient positioning system during treatment.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for using a turning magnet of an accelerator of a cancer therapy system, the accelerator comprising first magnet coils and second correction coils wound about a magnet core where: (1) at a first time, the second correction coils are used to correct a magnetic field, resultant from the first magnet coils, used to turn cations and (2) at a second time, after reversing polarity of the correction coils, the correction coils are used to turn anions and/or electrons, the cations and electrons used to treat a tumor of a patient positioned in a treatment position relative to a treatment beam from the accelerator during the first and second time periods.

Abstract: The invention comprises a beam adjustment method and apparatus used to perform energy adjustments on circulating charged particles in a synchrotron previously accelerated to a starting energy with a traditional accelerator of the synchrotron. The beam adjustment system uses a radio-frequency modulated potential difference applied along a longitudinal path of the circulating charged particles to accelerate or decelerate the circulating charged particles. Optionally, the beam adjustment system phase shifts the applied radio-frequency field to accelerate or decelerate the circulating charged particles while tightening spatial distribution of a grouped bunch of the circulating charged particles. Optionally, the beam adjustment system simultaneously radially focuses the circulating charged particles using two or more gaps with focusing and/or defocusing edges.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for determining state of a positively charged particle, such as a proton, for use in imaging a tumor of a patient prior to and/or concurrent with cancer therapy. The imaging system comprises: (1) a beam transport path of the positively charged particle sequentially passing through a patient, through a first time of flight detector, and, after traversing a pathlength, at least into a second time of flight detector and (2) a beam state determination system configured to: use elapsed time between detection at the first and second time of flight detectors and the pathlength to determine a residual beam energy, which, when compared to a known incident beam energy, is used in generation of an image of the tumor. An optional beam energy degrading element increases time differences between the time of flight detectors.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for probing a tumor of a patient using positively charged particles, comprising the steps of: (1) sequentially delivering sets of varied and known positively charged particles to a patient; (2) after transmission through the patient, sequentially detecting a residual energy of each of the sets of positively charged particles; and (3) determining a water equivalent thickness of a probed path of the patient using a plot of the detector response as a function of residual energy that is fit with a curve. The analyzer relates a half maximum of the fit curve, such as a Gaussian curve, to the water equivalent thickness of the sampled beam path. Repeated measurements as a function of incident angle and/or position of the incident charged particles allows generation of an image of the sample, such as a computed tomography image.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for directing a positively charged particle beam to a tumor of a patient, comprising the steps of: (1) transporting the positively charged particle beam sequentially from a synchrotron, through a beam transport line, and through a nozzle system toward the tumor, the beam transport line comprising a rotatable beamline section; (2) pre-rotating the positively charged particle beam using a solenoid, the solenoid positioned in the beam transport line between the synchrotron and the rotatable beamline section; and (3) rotating the rotatable beamline section, where the step of pre-rotating maintains a geometric relationship between a radial cross-section of the positively charged particle beam and magnet surfaces in the rotatable beamline section as a function of rotation of the rotatable beamline section, which reduces otherwise changed dispersive forces as the rotatable beamline is positioned in separate areas about the patient.

Abstract: The invention comprises an X-ray—positively charged particle double/dual exposure imaging apparatus and method of use thereof. Double exposure imaging of a tumor of a patient is performed using detector hardware responsive to both X-rays and positively charged particles. A near-simultaneous double exposure yields enhanced resolution due to the imaging rate versus patient movement, no requirement of a software overlay step of the X-ray based image and the positively charged particle based image, and enhancement of an X-ray image, the enhancement resultant from a differing physical interaction of the positively charged particles with the patient compared to interactions of X-rays and the patient. Further, resolution enhancements utilize individual particle tracking, as measured using detection screens, to determine a probable intra-patient path.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and method of use thereof for using a single patient position during, optionally simultaneous, X-ray imaging and positively charged particle imaging, where imaging a tumor of a patient using X-rays and positively charged particles comprises the steps of: (1) generating an X-ray image using the X-rays directed from an X-ray source, through the patient, and to an X-ray detector, (2) generating a positively charged particle image: (a) using the positively charged particles directed from an exit nozzle, through the patient, through the X-ray detector, and to a scintillator, the scintillator emitting photons when struck by the positively charged particles and (b) generating the positively charged particle image of the tumor using a photon detector configured to detect the emitted photons, where the X-ray detector maintains a position between said the nozzle and the scintillator during the step of generating a positively charged particle image.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for probing a tumor of a patient using positively charged particles, comprising the steps of: (1) sequentially delivering sets of varied and known positively charged particles to a patient; (2) after transmission through the patient, sequentially detecting a residual energy of each of the sets of positively charged particles; and (3) determining a water equivalent thickness of a probed path of the patient using a plot of the detector response as a function of residual energy that is fit with a curve. The analyzer relates a half maximum of the fit curve, such as a Gaussian curve, to the water equivalent thickness of the sampled beam path. Repeated measurements as a function of incident angle and/or position of the incident charged particles allows generation of an image of the sample, such as a computed tomography image.

Abstract: The invention comprises a beam adjustment method and apparatus used to perform energy adjustments on circulating charged particles in a synchrotron previously accelerated to a starting energy with a traditional accelerator of the synchrotron. The beam adjustment system uses a radio-frequency modulated potential difference applied along a longitudinal path of the circulating charged particles to accelerate or decelerate the circulating charged particles. Optionally, the beam adjustment system phase shifts the applied radio-frequency field to accelerate or decelerate the circulating charged particles while tightening spatial distribution of a grouped bunch of the circulating charged particles. Optionally, the beam adjustment system simultaneously radially focuses the circulating charged particles using two or more gaps with focusing and/or defocusing edges.

Abstract: A proton computed tomography (pCT) detector system, including two tracking detectors in sequence on a first side of an object to be imaged, two tracking detectors in sequence on an opposite side of the object to be imaged, a calorimeter, and a computer cluster, wherein the tracking detectors include plastic scintillation fibers. All fibers in the detector system are read out by Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM). A method of imaging an object by emitting protons from a source through two tracking detectors, through and around the object, and through two opposite tracking detectors, detecting energy of the protons with a calorimeter, and imaging the object.

Abstract: A proton computed tomography (pCT) detector system, including two tracking detectors in sequence on a first side of an object to be imaged, two tracking detectors in sequence on an opposite side of the object to be imaged, a calorimeter, and a computer cluster, wherein the tracking detectors include plastic scintillation fibers. All fibers in the detector system are read out by Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM). A method of imaging an object by emitting protons from a source through two tracking detectors, through and around the object, and through two opposite tracking detectors, detecting energy of the protons with a calorimeter, and imaging the object.

Abstract: A proton computed tomography (pCT) detector system, including two tracking detectors in sequence on a first side of an object to be imaged, two tracking detectors in sequence on an opposite side of the object to be imaged, a calorimeter, and a computer cluster, wherein the tracking detectors include plastic scintillation fibers. All fibers in the detector system are read out by Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM). A method of imaging an object by emitting protons from a source through two tracking detectors, through and around the object, and through two opposite tracking detectors, detecting energy of the protons with a calorimeter, and imaging the object.

Abstract: A proton computed tomography (pCT) detector system, including two tracking detectors in sequence on a first side of an object to be imaged, two tracking detectors in sequence on an opposite side of the object to be imaged, a calorimeter, and a computer cluster, wherein the tracking detectors include plastic scintillation fibers. All fibers in the detector system are read out by Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPM). A method of imaging an object by emitting protons from a source through two tracking detectors, through and around the object, and through two opposite tracking detectors, detecting energy of the protons with a calorimeter, and imaging the object.