Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor of a patient with positively charged particles, comprising the steps of: (1) transporting the positively charged particles sequentially from an accelerator, through a beam transport line, through a nozzle, and toward a position of the tumor; (2) treating the tumor with first particles, of the positively charged particles, where at least fifty percent of the first particles pass through a patient position, from the nozzle, to a post-patient position; and (3) detecting a beam position of the first particles in the post-patient position with a detector. The flash treatment preferably delivers the first particles at a rate exceeding one MHz.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for tuning a charged particle beam path of a charged particle beam system used to treat a tumor of a patient, comprising the steps of: positioning a two-dimensional charged particle detector in a beam line downstream from a magnet pair; operating windings of the magnet pair at a first power level to generate a first magnetic field; measuring a beam position with the first two-dimensional charged particle detector; adjusting a correction magnetic field by driving voltage of a correction coil at a second power level, the second power level less than five percent of the first power level, where the first magnetic field and the correction magnetic field combine to yield an operational magnetic field; and the steps of measuring and adjusting the correction magnetic field changing the operational magnetic field to adjust a measured beam position toward a target beam position.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor of a patient with positively charged particles, comprising the steps of transporting the positively charged particles along a beam transport path passing sequentially from an accelerator, through a beam transport line, through a nozzle, and toward a position of the patient, the step of transporting further comprising the steps of: (1) terminating a first Bragg peak, of a first set of the positively charged particles, in a position of the tumor and (2) flash treating the tumor with a second Bragg peak, of a second set of the positively charged particles, the second Bragg peak terminating post-patient relative to the nozzle. Optionally the second set of particles are delivered at a rate exceeding one MHz. Optionally, particles in common are used to both treat the tumor and image the tumor.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for tuning a charged particle beam path of a charged particle beam system used to treat a tumor of a patient, comprising the steps of: positioning a two-dimensional charged particle detector in a beam line downstream from a magnet pair; operating windings of the magnet pair at a first power level to generate a first magnetic field; measuring a beam position with the first two-dimensional charged particle detector; adjusting a correction magnetic field by driving voltage of a correction coil at a second power level, the second power level less than five percent of the first power level, where the first magnetic field and the correction magnetic field combine to yield an operational magnetic field; and the steps of measuring and adjusting the correction magnetic field changing the operational magnetic field to adjust a measured beam position toward a target beam position.

Abstract: An apparatus for induction-sealing a package having sides formed of overlaying flaps with a thermoplastic material between the flaps serving as the adhesive has independently adjustable platens that bear against counter-rotating conveyor belts for applying varying pressure to the package sides to be sealed. A special package wrapper is also disclosed which is formed of a laminate having the thermoplastic material printed on a layer of printing ink. When heated, the thermoplastic material seeps through the ink to bond with a polyolefin layer below and thereby seals overlying package flaps together.