Patents by Inventor Thomas STEPHANI

Thomas STEPHANI has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9763315
    Abstract: Beam current variation system for a cyclotron, arranged in the inner center of the cyclotron, downstream from the ion source generating the charged particle beam, the system comprising a deflector system powered by a voltage and a collimator. The beam is dumped in the collimator, if the deflector system (10; 20, 21) is not powered, and the beam is switched on by powering the deflector system with a voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS PARTICLE THERAPY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Stephani, Heinrich Rocken
  • Publication number: 20150359081
    Abstract: Beam current variation system for a cyclotron, arranged in the inner centre of the cyclotron, downstream from the ion source generating the charged particle beam, the system comprising a deflector system powered by a voltage and a collimator. The beam is dumped in the collimator, if the deflector system (10; 20, 21) is not powered, and the beam is switched on by powering the deflector system with a voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas STEPHANI, Heinrich ROCKEN
  • Patent number: 8952343
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to perform efficient, automatic cyclotron initialization, calibration, and beam adjustment. A process is provided that allows the automation of the initialization of a cyclotron after overnight or maintenance imposed shutdown. In one embodiment, five independent cyclotron system states are defined and the transition between one state to another may be automated, e.g., by the control system of the cyclotron. According to these embodiments, it is thereby possible to achieve beam operation after shutdown with minimal manual input. By applying an automatic procedure, all active devices of the cyclotron (e.g., RF system, extraction deflectors, ion source) are respectively ramped to predefined parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Stephani, Uwe Behrens, Heinrich Roecken, Jan Timmer, Christian Baumgarten
  • Patent number: 8927946
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to perform efficient, automatic adjustment of cyclotron beam currents within a wide range for multiple treatment layers within the same patient and treatment session. In one embodiment, efficient adjustment is achieved by using beam current attenuation by an electrostatic vertical deflector installed in the inner center of the cyclotron. The beam current may, for example, be adjusted by the high voltage applied to the electrostatic vertical deflector. In front of each treatment the attenuation curve of the vertical deflector is recorded. Based on this attenuation curve, the vertical deflector voltage for the needed beam current of each irradiation layer is interpolated. With this procedure the beam current could be automatically adjusted in minimal time over a wide range while maintaining a high level of precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Varian Medical System Particle
    Inventors: Uwe Behrens, Thomas Stephani
  • Publication number: 20130303824
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to perform efficient, automatic cyclotron initialization, calibration, and beam adjustment. A process is provided that allows the automation of the initialization of a cyclotron after overnight or maintenance imposed shutdown. In one embodiment, five independent cyclotron system states are defined and the transition between one state to another may be automated, e.g., by the control system of the cyclotron. According to these embodiments, it is thereby possible to achieve beam operation after shutdown with minimal manual input. By applying an automatic procedure, all active devices of the cyclotron (e.g., RF system, extraction deflectors, ion source) are respectively ramped to predefined parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas STEPHANI, Uwe BEHRENS, Heinrich ROECKEN, Jan TIMMER, Christian BAUMGARTEN
  • Publication number: 20130277569
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to perform efficient, automatic adjustment of cyclotron beam currents within a wide range for multiple treatment layers within the same patient and treatment session. In one embodiment, efficient adjustment is achieved by using beam current attenuation by an electrostatic vertical deflector installed in the inner center of the cyclotron. The beam current may, for example, be adjusted by the high voltage applied to the electrostatic vertical deflector. In front of each treatment the attenuation curve of the vertical deflector is recorded. Based on this attenuation curve, the vertical deflector voltage for the needed beam current of each irradiation layer is interpolated. With this procedure the beam current could be automatically adjusted in minimal time over a wide range while maintaining a high level of precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Uwe BEHRENS, Thomas STEPHANI
  • Patent number: 8445872
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to perform efficient, automatic adjustment of cyclotron beam currents within a wide range for multiple treatment layers within the same patient and treatment session. In one embodiment, efficient adjustment is achieved by using beam current attenuation by an electrostatic vertical deflector installed in the inner center of the cyclotron. The beam current may, for example, be adjusted by the high voltage applied to the electrostatic vertical deflector. In front of each treatment the attenuation curve of the vertical deflector is recorded. Based on this attenuation curve, the vertical deflector voltage for the needed beam current of each irradiation layer is interpolated. With this procedure the beam current could be automatically adjusted in minimal time over a wide range while maintaining a high level of precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Behrens, Thomas Stephani
  • Patent number: 8440987
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to perform efficient, automatic cyclotron initialization, calibration, and beam adjustment. A process is provided that allows the automation of the initialization of a cyclotron after overnight or maintenance imposed shutdown. In one embodiment, five independent cyclotron system states are defined and the transition between one state to another may be automated, e.g., by the control system of the cyclotron. According to these embodiments, it is thereby possible to achieve beam operation after shutdown with minimal manual input. By applying an automatic procedure, all active devices of the cyclotron (e.g., RF system, extraction deflectors, ion source) are respectively ramped to predefined parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Stephani, Uwe Behrens, Heinrich Roecken, Jan Timmer, Christian Baumgarten
  • Publication number: 20120223246
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to perform efficient, automatic cyclotron initialization, calibration, and beam adjustment. A process is provided that allows the automation of the initialization of a cyclotron after overnight or maintenance imposed shutdown. In one embodiment, five independent cyclotron system states are defined and the transition between one state to another may be automated, e.g., by the control system of the cyclotron. According to these embodiments, it is thereby possible to achieve beam operation after shutdown with minimal manual input. By applying an automatic procedure, all active devices of the cyclotron (e.g., RF system, extraction deflectors, ion source) are respectively ramped to predefined parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas STEPHANI, Uwe BEHRENS, Heinrich ROECKEN, Jan TIMMER, Christian BAUMGARTEN
  • Publication number: 20120056099
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to perform efficient, automatic adjustment of cyclotron beam currents within a wide range for multiple treatment layers within the same patient and treatment session. In one embodiment, efficient adjustment is achieved by using beam current attenuation by an electrostatic vertical deflector installed in the inner center of the cyclotron. The beam current may, for example, be adjusted by the high voltage applied to the electrostatic vertical deflector. In front of each treatment the attenuation curve of the vertical deflector is recorded. Based on this attenuation curve, the vertical deflector voltage for the needed beam current of each irradiation layer is interpolated. With this procedure the beam current could be automatically adjusted in minimal time over a wide range while maintaining a high level of precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Uwe BEHRENS, Thomas STEPHANI