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).
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Patent number: 9763315Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 9, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS PARTICLE THERAPY GMBHInventors: Thomas Stephani, Heinrich Rocken
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Publication number: 20150359081Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Applicant: Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GMBHInventors: Thomas STEPHANI, Heinrich ROCKEN
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Patent number: 8952343Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 3, 2013Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbHInventors: Thomas Stephani, Uwe Behrens, Heinrich Roecken, Jan Timmer, Christian Baumgarten
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Patent number: 8927946Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 3, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Varian Medical System ParticleInventors: Uwe Behrens, Thomas Stephani
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Publication number: 20130303824Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Inventors: Thomas STEPHANI, Uwe BEHRENS, Heinrich ROECKEN, Jan TIMMER, Christian BAUMGARTEN
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Publication number: 20130277569Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2013Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: Uwe BEHRENS, Thomas STEPHANI
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Patent number: 8445872Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 2, 2011Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbHInventors: Uwe Behrens, Thomas Stephani
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Patent number: 8440987Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 2, 2011Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy GmbHInventors: Thomas Stephani, Uwe Behrens, Heinrich Roecken, Jan Timmer, Christian Baumgarten
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Publication number: 20120223246Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2011Publication date: September 6, 2012Inventors: Thomas STEPHANI, Uwe BEHRENS, Heinrich ROECKEN, Jan TIMMER, Christian BAUMGARTEN
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Publication number: 20120056099Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Inventors: Uwe BEHRENS, Thomas STEPHANI