Abstract: The invention concerns a method for irradiating a target with a beam approaching target points, involving the following steps: Measuring at least one of the parameters relating to the position of the beam and the intensity of the beam, changing the beam as a function of the at least one measured parameter, particularly as a function of a variance relating to the at least one measured parameter. The method is characterized in that the at least one measured parameter is measured at the most once per target point. Furthermore, the invention concerns a device for irradiating a target in accordance with the invention-based method and a control system for controlling such a device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for irradiating a target with a beam approaching target points, involving the following steps: Measuring at least one of the parameters relating to the position of the beam and the intensity of the beam, changing the beam as a function of the at least one measured parameter, particularly as a function of a variance relating to the at least one measured parameter. The method is characterized in that the at least one measured parameter is measured at the most once per target point. Furthermore, the invention concerns a device for irradiating a target in accordance with the invention-based method and a control system for controlling such a device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for compensation of three-dimensional movements of a target volume (1) during ion beam irradiation. For the purpose, the apparatus comprises a position location and tracking system (4) for detecting the movements and a depth modulator (6) for modifying the depth of penetration of the ion beam. For the purpose of compensation, the movements are divided vectorially into a transverse component and a longitudinal component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for controlling a beam extraction irradiation device for heavy ions operating according to the raster scan technique, wherein the beam energy, beam focusing and beam intensity are adjusted for every accelerator cycle. By adjusting the beam extraction duration for every accelerator cycle, considerable savings of time are achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for compensation of three-dimensional movements of a target volume (1) during ion beam irradiation. For the purpose, the apparatus comprises a position location and tracking system (4) for detecting the movements and a depth modulator (6) for modifying the depth of penetration of the ion beam. For the purpose of compensation, the movements are divided vectorially into a transverse component and a longitudinal component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for controlling a beam extraction irradiation device for heavy ions operating according to the raster scan technique, wherein the beam energy, beam focusing and beam intensity are adjusted for every accelerator cycle. By adjusting the beam extraction duration for every accelerator cycle, considerable savings of time are achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for adapting the size of an ion beam spot in tumor irradiation. For that purpose, the apparatus has a raster scanning device composed of raster scanning magnets (20) for raster scanning the ion beam (19). In addition, the apparatus comprises quadrupole magnets (10) determining the size of the ion beam spot, which quadrupole magnets (10) are arranged directly in front of the raster scanning magnets (20), and finally two magnet power supply units (18) for the quadrupole doublet of the quadrupole magnets (10) determining the size of the ion beam spot, the apparatus having a control loop for obtaining current correction values, by comparing desired and actual values of the prevailing dimension of the beam, for two magnet power supply units (18) of the quadrupole doublet arranged directly in front of the raster scanning magnets (20), for defined homogenization and/or for defined variation of the size of the ion beam spot.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for adapting the size of an ion beam spot in tumour irradiation. For that purpose, the apparatus has a raster scanning device composed of raster scanning magnets (20) for raster scanning the ion beam (19). In addition, the apparatus comprises quadrupole magnets (10) determining the size of the ion beam spot, which quadrupole magnets (10) are arranged directly in front of the raster scanning magnets (20), and finally two magnet power supply units (18) for the quadrupole doublet of the quadrupole magnets (10) determining the size of the ion beam spot, the apparatus having a control loop for obtaining current correction values, by comparing desired and actual values of the prevailing dimension of the beam, for two magnet power supply units (18) of the quadrupole doublet arranged directly in front of the raster scanning magnets (20), for defined homogenization and/or for defined variation of the size of the ion beam spot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of checking the beam generation means and beam acceleration means of an ion beam therapy system that comprises a grid scanner device, arranged in a beam guidance system, having vertical deflection means and horizontal deflections means for the vertical and horizontal deflection of a treatment beam perpendicular to its beam direction, with the result that the treatment beam is deflected by the grid scanner device to an isocentre of the irradiation site, and a specific area surrounding the isocentre is scanned, wherein the type of ion, the ion beam energy, the ion beam intensity and the blocking of the accelerator and also the means for terminating extraction are checked.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanning System for a heavy ion gantry comprising a scanner magnet (1-2; 3-4) for a high energy ion beam used in a heavy ion cancer therapy facility having a maximal bending angle (&agr;) of about 1.5. degree; a curvature radius of about 22 m; a path length of about 0.6 m and a gap height (h) and a gap width (w) in the range of 120 mm to 150 mm. Further each scanner magnet (1-2, 3-4) comprises one glued yoke element made of steel plates having a thickness of up to 0.3 mm and being alloyed with up to 2% silicon. This yoke element has a width in the range of 300 mm to 400 mm, a height in the range of 200 mm to 250 mm and a length in the range of 500 to 600 mm. A coil for each scanner magnet (1-2; 3-4) has a number of windings in the range of 50 to 70.

Abstract: An ion beam therapy system and method for operating the system includes a source of ions (300), an accelerator system (400) and an ion beam transport system (60) for directing an ion beam to a plurality of treatment stations (100) to treat patients. The ion beam transport system (60) includes a gantry (8) carrying a vertical deflection system (45) and horizontal deflection system (55) positioned upstream from a last bending magnet (65) so as to provide a parallel scanning mode by an edge focusing effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the feedback control of a grid scanner in ion therapy. An apparatus of that kind for the feedback control of a grid scanner has scanner magnet current supply devices for ion beam scanner magnets that deflect horizontally and vertically with respect to the middle of the ion beam, the supply devices being controlled by control and read-out modules for the scanner magnets. Furthermore, the apparatus has a location-sensitive detector for location measurement, which is controlled by means of a control and read-out module. A sequence control device controls the activation and read-out sequence among the devices of the apparatus, the apparatus also having in the sequence control device a circuit arrangement having a feedback loop between the control and read-out modules for the scanner magnets and the control and read-out module of the location-sensitive detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of checking the beam guidance of an ion beam therapy system that comprises a grid scanner device, arranged in a beam guidance system (6, 8), having vertical deflection means (13) and horizontal deflection means (14) for the vertical and horizontal deflection of a treatment beam (11) perpendicular to its beam direction, with the result that the treatment beam (11) is deflected by the grid scanner device to an isocentre (10) of the irradiation site, and a specific area surrounding the isocentre (10) is scanned, wherein redundancy means are used for a redundant termination of extraction and their functionality is checked and checking of the ability of beam guidance dipoles in the beam guidance to connect and disconnect is carried out.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanning System for a heavy ion gantry comprising a scanner magnet (1-2; 3-4) for a high energy ion beam used in a heavy ion cancer therapy facility having a maximal bending angle (&agr;) of about 1.5. degree; a curvature radius of about 22 m; a path length of about 0.6 m and a gap height (h) and a gap width (w) in the range of 120 mm to 150 mm. Further each scanner magnet (1-2, 3-4 ) comprises one glued yoke element made of steel plates having a thickness of up to 0.3 mm and being alloyed with up to 2% silicon. This yoke element has a width in the range of 300 mm to 400 mm, a height in the range of 200 mm to 250 mm and a length in the range of 500 to 600 mm. A coil for each scanner magnet (1-2; 3-4) has a number of windings in the range of 50 to 70.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of checking the calculated [sic] irradiation control unit of an ion beam therapy system which comprises a raster scanning device arranged in a beam guidance system and having vertical deflection means and horizontal deflection means for the vertical and horizontal deflection of a treatment beam at right angles to its beam direction, so that the treatment beam is deflected by the raster scanning device onto an isocenter of the irradiation station and scans a specific area surrounding the isocenter, data sets and permanently stored data of a control computer, parameters of measuring sensors and desired current values of scanner magnets being checked.

Abstract: A method for the operation of an ion beam therapy system that comprises a grid scanner device, arranged in a beam guidance system (6, 8), having vertical deflection means (13) and horizontal deflection means (14) for the vertical and horizontal deflection of a treatment beam (11) perpendicular to its beam direction, with the result that the treatment beam (11) is deflected by the grid scanner device to an isocentre (10) of the irradiation site and scans a specific area surrounding the isocentre (10). For monitoring the operational stability and operational safety of the therapy system, the beam position of the treatment beam (11) in the region of the isocentre (10) is monitored and evaluated, intervention in the ion beam therapy system being carried out if the evaluation of the beam position shows a departure, from a predetermined desired value, that exceeds a specific tolerance value based on a required half-value width of the beam profile.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of checking emergency shutdown of an ion beam therapy system which comprises a raster scanning device arranged in a beam guidance system and having vertical deflection means and horizontal deflection means for the vertical and horizontal deflection of a treatment beam at right angles to its beam direction, so that the treatment beam is deflected by the raster scanning device onto an isocenter of the irradiation station and scans a specific area surrounding the isocenter, a check of emergency shutdown being carried out.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for controlling a radiation device, in particular for heavy ion therapy, are described. The arrangement comprises a chain of circuit modules (11-17), each circuit module (11-17) having a separate communication connection to a preceding circuit module and a separate communication connection to a following circuit module. In the method for controlling the radiation device by means of control modules (11-17) arranged in a chain, each control module (11-17) communicates separately with a preceding control module and separately with a following control module.