Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus for controlling tumor treatment with positively charged particles, comprising: a cancer therapy system, comprising a set of modular control units corresponding to a set of subsystems of the cancer therapy system; a first subsystem of the set of subsystems comprising an extraction system; and a second subsystem of the set of subsystems comprising a dual axis scanning system, the dual axis scanning system comprising: a first pair of magnets on opposite sides of a beam path chamber; a second pair of magnets on opposite sides of the beam path chamber; and a trapezoidal prism gap positioned between the first pair of magnets and the second pair of magnets, where communication from the cancer therapy system with each member of the set of subsystems occurs without direct communication between members of the set of subsystems.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system for controlling a charged particle beam shape and direction relative to a controlled and dynamically positioned patient and/or an imaging surface, such as a scintillation plate of a tomography system and/or a first two-dimensional imaging system coupled to a second two-dimensional imaging system. Multiple interlinked beam/patient/imaging control stations allow safe zone operation and clear interaction with the charged particle beam system and the patient. Both treatment and imaging are facilitated using automated sequences controlled with a work-flow control system.

Abstract: A scintillation material is longitudinally packaged in a circumferentially surrounding sheath, where the sheath has a lower index of refraction than the scintillation material, to form a scintillation optic or scintillation fiber optic. The scintillation material yields secondary photons upon passage of a charged particle beam, such as a positively charged residual particle beam having transmitted through a sample. The internally generated secondary photons within the sheath are guided to a detector element by the difference in index of refraction. Multiple scintillation optics are assembled to form a two-dimensional scintillation array coupled to a two-dimensional detector array, such as for use in determination of state of the residual charged particle beam, determination of an exit point of the particle beam from the sample, path of the treatment beam, and/or tomographic imaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for control of a charged particle cancer therapy system. A treatment delivery control system is used to directly control multiple subsystems of the cancer therapy system without direct communication between selected subsystems, which enhances safety, simplifies quality assurance and quality control, and facilitates programming. For example, the treatment delivery control system directly controls one or more of: an imaging system, a positioning system, an injection system, a radio-frequency quadrupole system, a ring accelerator or synchrotron, an extraction system, a beam line, an irradiation nozzle, a gantry, a display system, a targeting system, and a verification system. Generally, the control system integrates subsystems and/or integrates output of one or more of the above described cancer therapy system elements with inputs of one or more of the above described cancer therapy system elements.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for installing a proton based cancer therapy system in a hospital related brownfield building, comprising the steps of: (1) transporting gantry system elements to a basement of the brownfield, the gantry system comprising: a rotatable gantry support; a gantry counterweight; a rotatable gantry arm, and a main bearing, comprising: a diameter of at least ten feet, a first circular segment, comprising a first arc-to-chord section, a second circular segment, comprising a second arc-to-chord section, and an intermediate section; (2) transporting through a pre-existing elevator shaft in the hospital related brownfield building the main bearing in a disassembled form; and (3) after the step of transporting through the pre-existing elevator shaft, assembling the gantry system on the ground floor, the step of assembling comprising attaching the first circular segment of the main bearing to the second circular segment of the main bearing using the intermediate section.

Abstract: The invention comprises a positively charged particle based cancer therapy system integrated with at least one off-axis imaging system, where elements of the off-axis imaging system and the cancer therapy system are co-positioned/co-rotated with a gantry. The imaging apparatus optionally functions with a tomography system using the positively charged particles of the cancer therapy system for enhanced patient/tumor imaging at and/or prior to a time of treatment.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system for controlling a charged particle beam shape and direction relative to a controlled and dynamically positioned patient and/or an imaging surface, such as a scintillation plate of a tomography system and/or a first two-dimensional imaging system coupled to a second two-dimensional imaging system. Multiple interlinked beam/patient/imaging control stations allow safe zone operation and clear interaction with the charged particle beam system and the patient. Both treatment and imaging are facilitated using automated sequences controlled with a work-flow control system.

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 controlling tumor treatment, comprising the steps of: (1) a control system controlling a cancer therapy system, the control system comprising a set of modular control units, the cancer therapy system comprising a set of subsystem elements, (2) altering a first subsystem of the set of subsystem elements; and (3) updating a first modular control unit, of the set of modular control units, corresponding to the first subsystem without a necessitated change of remaining code elements of the set of modular control units corresponding to non-altered subsystem elements of the set of subsystem elements with an optional step of altering main subsystem controller code configured to control the set of subsystem control modules. Optionally the control system directly controls each of the subsystem elements and/or communicates with each of the set of subsystem elements without direct communication between the set of subsystem elements.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for proton treatment of a tumor, comprising the steps of a central control system: (1) receiving an initial cancer treatment irradiation plan; (2) directing a treatment of the tumor using the positively charged particles; (3) during a treatment session and after the step of directing the treatment of the tumor, receiving imaging input from an imaging system; (4) generating an updated cancer treatment irradiation plan using the imaging input; (5) continuing the treatment session using the updated cancer treatment irradiation plan; and (6) optionally, while the patient remains in the treatment room and under approval of a medical professional not in line of sight of the patient, repeating at least three times the steps of: receiving imaging input from the imaging system; generating an updated cancer treatment irradiation plan; and continuing the treatment session using the updated cancer treatment irradiation plan.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system for controlling a charged particle beam shape and direction relative to a controlled and dynamically positioned patient and/or an imaging surface, such as a scintillation plate of a tomography system and/or a first two-dimensional imaging system coupled to a second two-dimensional imaging system. Multiple interlinked beam/patient/imaging control stations allow safe zone operation and clear interaction with the charged particle beam system and the patient. Both treatment and imaging are facilitated using automated sequences controlled with a work-flow control system.

Abstract: A scintillation material is longitudinally packaged in a circumferentially surrounding sheath, where the sheath has a lower index of refraction than the scintillation material, to form a scintillation optic or scintillation fiber optic. The scintillation material yields secondary photons upon passage of a charged particle beam, such as a positively charged residual particle beam having transmitted through a sample. The internally generated secondary photons within the sheath are guided to a detector element by the difference in index of refraction. Multiple scintillation optics are assembled to form a two-dimensional scintillation array coupled to a two-dimensional detector array, such as for use in determination of state of the residual charged particle beam, determination of an exit point of the particle beam from the sample, path of the treatment beam, and/or tomographic imaging.

Abstract: A scintillation material is longitudinally packaged in a circumferentially surrounding sheath, where the sheath has a lower index of refraction than the scintillation material, to form a scintillation optic or scintillation fiber optic. The scintillation material yields secondary photons upon passage of a charged particle beam, such as a positively charged residual particle beam having transmitted through a sample. The internally generated secondary photons within the sheath are guided to a detector element by the difference in index of refraction. Multiple scintillation optics are assembled to form a two-dimensional scintillation array coupled to a two-dimensional detector array, such as for use in determination of state of the residual charged particle beam, determination of an exit point of the particle beam from the sample, path of the treatment beam, and/or tomographic imaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for control of a charged particle cancer therapy system. A treatment delivery control system is used to directly control multiple subsystems of the cancer therapy system without direct communication between selected subsystems, which enhances safety, simplifies quality assurance and quality control, and facilitates programming. For example, the treatment delivery control system directly controls one or more of: an imaging system, a positioning system, an injection system, a radio-frequency quadrupole system, a ring accelerator or synchrotron, an extraction system, a beam line, an irradiation nozzle, a gantry, a display system, a targeting system, and a verification system. Generally, the control system integrates subsystems and/or integrates output of one or more of the above described cancer therapy system elements with inputs of one or more of the above described cancer therapy system elements.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system for patient specific control of charged particles in a charged particle beam path using one or more trays inserted into the charged particle beam path, such as at the exit port of a gantry nozzle in close proximity to a tumor of a patient. Each tray holds an insert, such as a patient specific insert for controlling the energy, focus depth, and/or shape of the charged particle beam. Examples of inserts include a range shifter, a compensator, an aperture, a ridge filter, and a blank. Trays in a tray assembly are optionally retracted into an output nozzle of a charged particle cancer treatment system. Optionally and preferably, each tray communicates a held and positioned insert to a main controller of the charged particle cancer therapy system.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system for redundantly determining the state of a charged particle beam, such as beam position, direction, energy, and/or intensity. For example, the charged particle beam state is determined: (1) in an extraction system from a synchrotron, (2) in a charged particle beam transport path, and/or (3) at or about a patient undergoing charged particle cancer therapy using one or more film layers designed to emit photons upon passage of a charged particle beam, which yields information on position and/or intensity of the charged particle beam. The emitted photons are used to calculate position, direction, and/or intensity of the treatment beam in imaging and/or during tumor treatment.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for installing a proton based cancer therapy system in a hospital related brownfield building, comprising the steps of: (1) transporting gantry system elements to a basement of the brownfield, the gantry system comprising: a rotatable gantry support; a gantry counterweight; a rotatable gantry arm, and a main bearing, comprising: a diameter of at least ten feet, a first circular segment, comprising a first arc-to-chord section, a second circular segment, comprising a second arc-to-chord section, and an intermediate section; (2) transporting through a pre-existing elevator shaft in the hospital related brownfield building the main bearing in a disassembled form; and (3) after the step of transporting through the pre-existing elevator shaft, assembling the gantry system on the ground floor, the step of assembling comprising attaching the first circular segment of the main bearing to the second circular segment of the main bearing using the intermediate section.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system for patient specific control of charged particles in a charged particle beam path using one or more trays inserted into the charged particle beam path, such as at the exit port of a gantry nozzle in close proximity to a tumor of a patient. Each tray holds an insert, such as a patient specific insert for controlling the energy, focus depth, and/or shape of the charged particle beam. Examples of inserts include a range shifter, a compensator, an aperture, a ridge filter, and a blank. Trays in a tray assembly are optionally retracted into an output nozzle of a charged particle cancer treatment system. Optionally and preferably, each tray communicates a held and positioned insert to a main controller of the charged particle cancer therapy system.

Abstract: The invention comprises a patient specific tray insert removably inserted into a tray frame to form a beam control tray assembly, which is removably inserted into a slot of a tray receiver assembly proximate a gantry nozzle of a charged particle cancer treatment system. Optionally, multiple tray inserts, each used to control a different beam state parameter, are inserted into corresponding slots of the tray receiver assembly where the multiple inserts are used to control beam intensity, shape, focus, and/or energy. The beam control tray assembling includes an identifier, such as an electromechanical identifier, of the particular insert type, which is communicated to a main controller, such as via the tray receiver assembly along with slot position and/or patient information.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system for patient specific control of charged particles in a charged particle beam path using one or more trays inserted into the charged particle beam path, such as at the exit port of a gantry nozzle in close proximity to a tumor of a patient. Each tray holds an insert, such as a patient specific insert for controlling the energy, focus depth, and/or shape of the charged particle beam. Examples of inserts include a range shifter, a compensator, an aperture, a ridge filter, and a blank. Trays in a tray assembly are optionally retracted into an output nozzle of a charged particle cancer treatment system. Optionally and preferably, each tray communicates a held and positioned insert to a main controller of the charged particle cancer therapy system.