High Energy Particle Accelerator Tube Patents (Class 315/500)
  • Patent number: 11800631
    Abstract: A particle accelerator can include a first waveguide portion and a second waveguide portion. The first waveguide portion can include a first plurality of cell portions and a first iris portion that is disposed between two of the first plurality of cell portions. The first iris portion can include a first portion of an aperture such that the aperture is configured to be disposed about a beam axis. The first waveguide portion can further include a first bonding surface. The second waveguide portion can include a second plurality of cell portions and a second iris portion that is disposed between two of the second plurality of cell portions. The second iris portion can include a second portion of the aperture. The second waveguide portion can include a second bonding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: RadiaBeam Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Agustsson, Salime Boucher, Sergey Kutsaev
  • Patent number: 11576251
    Abstract: A reflective optical system (100) comprising at least one reflective aspheric surface (1) of focal length f0 and optical axis (Z), the surface being configured so that an incident laser beam (2) propagating along an axis (Z?) is focused along the optical axis (Z) with a FWHM ((Full Width at Half Maximum) of the intensity of the reflected beam along the optical axis (Z) being larger, preferably by a factor of at least 10, than the FWHM of the intensity of a focused beam reflected by a parabola having same focal length f0 and same optical axis (Z), receiving same beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignees: Ecole Polytechnique, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Cédric Thaury, Slava Smartsev
  • Patent number: 11388810
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method. An apparatus may include an RF power assembly, arranged to output an RF signal; a resonator, coupled to receive the RF signal, the resonator comprising a first output end and a second output end, and a drift tube assembly, configured to transmit an ion beam, and coupled to the resonator. As such, the drift tube assembly may include a first AC drift tube electrode, coupled to the first output end, and a second AC drift tube electrode, coupled to the second output end and separated from the first AC drift tube by a first gap. The RF power assembly may be switchable to switch output from a first Eigenmode frequency to a second Eigenmode frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Kurunczi, David T. Blahnik, Frank Sinclair
  • Patent number: 11139817
    Abstract: A computer system may periodically calibrate an oscillator subsystem, which includes a voltage-controlled oscillator circuit configured to generate an oscillator signal using code signal. In response to activation of a calibration mode, an iterative calibration operation may be performed on the voltage-controlled oscillator circuit. In some cases, performing a given iteration of the calibration operation includes determining a value of the code signal using a number of pulses in the oscillator signal sampled during a particular time period, along with previous values of the code signal and a slope of an error function associated with the difference between a desired frequency and a current frequency of the oscillator signal. In other cases, iterations may employ variable sampling times with error handling, in order to decrease the duration of the calibration operation while maintaining a target accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Long Kong, Simone Gambini, Cristian Marcu, Nachum M. Kanovsky
  • Patent number: 10991546
    Abstract: A monitoring circuit that includes a pickup loop to monitor a voltage applied to a cavity of a linear accelerator is disclosed. The monitoring circuit is electrically isolated from the linear accelerator and is also electrically isolated from the controller that receives input from the circuit and controls the linear accelerator. In certain embodiments, the monitoring circuit also includes an energy harvester so as to capture energy without any physical connection to the controller. This may be achieved using light energy or electromagnetic energy, for example. In certain embodiments, the monitoring circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter to convert the signals received from the pickup loop to digital values. In other embodiments, the monitoring circuit passes analog voltages to the controller. The outputs from the monitoring circuit may include the amplitude and phase of the voltage being applied to the respective cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith E. Kowal
  • Patent number: 10987825
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a particle shooter system. The particle shooter system comprises a non-carbon topological insulator nanotube defining a bore extending between first and second ends thereof. A particle shooter is operably coupled with the first end of the non-carbon topological insulator nanotube, and configured to transmit a single particle through the bore of the non-carbon topological insulator nanotube. A positioning mechanism is operably coupled with the non-carbon topological insulator nanotube and configured to aim the non-carbon topological insulator nanotube at a target disposed proximal the second end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Angela W. Li, Wayne R. Howe, Dennis L. Coad
  • Patent number: 10946500
    Abstract: Methods of laser cutting polycrystalline diamond tables and polycrystalline diamond compacts are disclosed. Laser cutting of the polycrystalline diamond table provides an alternative to electrical-discharge machining (“EDM”), grinding with a diamond wheel, or lapping with a diamond wheel. Grinding or lapping with a diamond wheel is relatively slow and expensive, as diamond is used to remove a diamond material. EDM cutting of the polycrystalline diamond table is sometimes impractical or even impossible, particularly when the cobalt or other infiltrant or catalyst concentration within the polycrystalline diamond table is very low (e.g., in the case of a leached polycrystalline diamond table). As such, laser cutting provides a valuable alternative machining method that may be employed in various processes such as laser scribing, laser ablation, and laser lapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark P. Chapman, Ronald W. Ward, Nicholas Christensen, Damon B. Crockett
  • Patent number: 10890675
    Abstract: Provided are a system and method for processing a beam position monitor signal using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) sampler corresponding to an analog part and an FPGA corresponding to a digital signal processing part. The ADC sampler measures signal intensity through an optimization of an ADC sampling rate and bits using a radio frequency (RF) switch and a low noise amplifier (LNA), and converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The FPGA extracts only an optimized harmonic signal among multiple harmonic signals of the digital signal converted by the ADC sampler, through a digital band pass filter; and performs beam position measurement, beam phase measurement and relative beam current measurement on the extracted digital signal through a digital circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION, SEJONG CAMPUS
    Inventors: Siwon Jang, Eun-San Kim
  • Patent number: 10806810
    Abstract: A self-shielding accelerator is provided, which includes an accelerator assembly, a high-frequency electrode plate, a rectification and voltage multiplication assembly, a solenoid-type transformer assembly, a cooling system assembly and a shielding steel cylinder. The self-shielding accelerator further includes a steel cylinder base connected to the shielding steel cylinder. The accelerator assembly is horizontally fixed to the steel cylinder base. The rectification and voltage multiplication assembly is fixed to the steel cylinder base by a support plate. The high-frequency electrode plate and the solenoid-type transformer assembly are connected to the steel cylinder base through multiple horizontally arranged support columns. The cooling system assembly is fixed to the shielding steel cylinder. The self-shielding accelerator adopts a fully horizontal self-shielding structure, and can be seamlessly joined to the filling production line, which makes online radiation processing possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: CGN DASHENG ELECTRON ACCELERATOR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jieping Lu, Huanzheng Zhu, Zhanghua Yu
  • Patent number: 10736205
    Abstract: An electron beam transport system for controlling the position of two different electron beams comprises: a main electron beam transport module; a first input electron beam transport module; a second input electron beam transport module; and a controller. The main electron beam transport module comprises a beam monitoring device disposed at a measurement position. The first input electron beam transport module comprises a first actuator for applying a perturbation to a transverse position of a first electron beam at a first actuation point. The second input electron beam transport module comprises a second actuator for applying a perturbation to a transverse position of a second electron beam at a second actuation point. The controller is operable to receive a signal from the beam monitoring device and to send control signals to the first actuator and the second actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Roelof Harm Klunder, Gijsbertus Geert Poorter, Johannes Aldegonda Theodorus Marie Van Den Homberg
  • Patent number: 10609809
    Abstract: A linear accelerator head for use in a medical radiation therapy system can include a housing, an electron generator configured to emit electrons along a beam path, and a microwave generation assembly. The linear accelerator head may include a waveguide that is configured to contain a standing or travelling microwave. The waveguide can include a plurality of cells that are disposed adjacent one another, wherein each of the plurality of cells may define an aperture configured to receive electrons therethrough. The linear accelerator head can further include a converter and a primary collimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: RadiaBeam Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Agustsson, Robert Berry, Salime Boucher, Josiah Hartzell, Sergey Kutsaev, Jacob McNevin, Avinash Verma
  • Patent number: 10535441
    Abstract: A method of irradiating a target with a high power density irradiation beam is described. The method can use an irradiation system configured to output an irradiation beam through a vacuum window. The irradiation beam is scanned repetitively back and forth between two angular orientations of the irradiation beam as the irradiation beam strikes and traverses the vacuum window. The target is moved as the irradiation beam is scanned. The irradiation beam and the target are aligned. The scanning of the irradiations beam and the moving of the target are synchronized to each other. The scanning of the irradiation beam prevents localized overheating of the vacuum window and allows the irradiation beam to have a power density that would damage the vacuum window if the irradiation beam were not scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MEVEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. Brown, David J. Hepworth, Simon J. Forknall, Peter W. A. Brown, David M. Macrillo, Kevin Murray Austin
  • Patent number: 10368428
    Abstract: Methods for generating a multiple-energy X-ray pulse. A beam of electrons is generated with an electron gun and modulated prior to injection into an accelerating structure to achieve at least a first and specified beam current amplitude over the course of respective beam current temporal profiles. A radio frequency field is applied to the accelerating structure with a specified RF field amplitude and a specified RF temporal profile. The first and second specified beam current amplitudes are injected serially, each after a specified delay, in such a manner as to achieve at least two distinct endpoint energies of electrons accelerated within the accelerating structure during a course of a single RF-pulse. The beam of electrons is accelerated by the radio frequency field within the accelerating structure to produce accelerated electrons which impinge upon a target for generating Bremsstrahlung X-rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Aleksandr Saverskiy
  • Patent number: 10367508
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a system comprising: a first control logic configured to receive a first trigger and generate a second trigger in response to the first trigger the second trigger having a delay relative to the first trigger of a configurable number of cycles of a counter of the first control logic; a second control logic configured to receive the second trigger and generate a third trigger in response to the second trigger the third trigger having a delay relative to the second trigger of a configurable number of cycles of a counter of the second control logic; and a third control logic configured to receive the second trigger and generate a fourth trigger in response to the second trigger the fourth trigger having a delay relative to the second trigger of a configurable number of cycles of a counter of the third control logic. A particle beam may be accelerated in response to the triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Miller, Jack Simmons, John C. Turner
  • Patent number: 9867271
    Abstract: Methods for generating a multiple-energy X-ray pulse. A beam of electrons is generated with an electron gun and modulated prior to injection into an accelerating structure to achieve at least a first and specified beam current amplitude over the course of respective beam current temporal profiles. A radio frequency field is applied to the accelerating structure with a specified RF field amplitude and a specified RF temporal profile. The first and second specified beam current amplitudes are injected serially, each after a specified delay, in such a manner as to achieve at least two distinct endpoint energies of electrons accelerated within the accelerating structure during a course of a single RF-pulse. The beam of electrons is accelerated by the radio frequency field within the accelerating structure to produce accelerated electrons which impinge upon a target for generating Bremsstrahlung X-rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Aleksandr Saverskiy
  • Patent number: 9775228
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include an electron accelerator, having a resonant cavity having an outer conductor and an inner conductor; an electron source configured to generate and to inject a beam of electrons transversally into the resonant cavity; a radio frequency (RF) source coupled to the resonant cavity and configured to: energize the resonant cavity with an RF power at a nominal RF frequency, and generate an electric field into said resonant cavity that accelerates the electrons of the electron beam a plurality of times into the cavity and according to successive and different transversal trajectories; and at least one deflecting magnet configured to bend back the electron beam that emerges out of the cavity and to redirect the electron beam towards the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ion Beam Applications S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Abs
  • Patent number: 9754766
    Abstract: A resonance frequency is adjusted or optimized by shifting the resonance frequency without reducing an impedance function or a withstand voltage characteristic against a high frequency noise, when blocking, by using a multiple parallel resonance characteristic of a distributed constant line, the high frequency noise introduced into a line such as a power feed line or a signal line from an electrical member other than a high frequency electrode within a processing vessel. Regarding winding pitches, each of the solenoid coils 104(1) and 104(2) is divided to multiple sections K1, K2, . . . in a coil axis direction, and, a winding pitch pi in each section Ki (i=1, 2, . . . ) is set independently. Comb teeth M inserted into winding gaps of both solenoid coils 104(1) and 104(2) are formed on inner surfaces of multiple rod-shaped comb-teeth member 114 provided adjacent to the solenoid coils 104(1) and 104(2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Naohiko Okunishi
  • Patent number: 9743506
    Abstract: A secure device for powering a plurality of inductive loads, each coupled to a dedicated converter, the device including a standby converter and, for each inductive load: a flyback diode connected to the inductive load; a circuit for detecting an anomaly of the current flowing through the inductive load; and a selection switch controlled by the detection circuit, adapted to decouple the inductive load from the specific converter and couple the inductive load to said standby converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: EUROPEAN SYNCHROTRON RADIATION FACILITY
    Inventor: Jean-François Bouteille
  • Patent number: 9632486
    Abstract: A circuit includes a reset circuit, a counter and a comparator. The reset circuit generates a reset signal based on a reference signal and a controlled signal. The reference signal and the controlled signal are to be sent to the TDC for detection of phase difference. The counter counts to a predetermined value associated with the reference signal and the controlled signal, and is reset to an initial value in response to the reset signal. The comparator compares a count from the counter and the predetermined value, and generates a mask signal when a count from the counter equals the predetermined value. The mask signal masks a portion of pulses of the controlled signal from entering the TDC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Tsung-Hsien Tsai
  • Patent number: 9485849
    Abstract: A radio frequency particle accelerator structure and particle acceleration method are disclosed. Radio frequency electromagnetic energy is emitted from a fundamental power coupler coupled between a first electromagnetic resonant cavity sequentially coupled a second electromagnetic resonant cavity. The radio frequency electromagnetic energy is resonated in the first electromagnetic resonant cavity and the second electromagnetic resonant cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Arthur M. Vetter
  • Patent number: 9270290
    Abstract: A time-to-digital converter (TDC) comprises a TDC core and a masking circuit. The TDC core is configured to detect phase difference between a reference signal and a controlled signal. The masking circuit is configured to generate a mask signal based on the reference signal, the controlled signal, and a command signal including information of a predetermined value associated with the reference signal and the controlled signal. The mask signal is used to mask a portion of pulses of the controlled signal from entering the TDC core during detection of phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Tsung-Hsien Tsai
  • Patent number: 9269541
    Abstract: A beam current adjuster for an ion implanter includes a variable aperture device which is disposed at an ion beam focus point or a vicinity thereof. The variable aperture device is configured to adjust an ion beam width in a direction perpendicular to an ion beam focusing direction at the focus point in order to control an implanting beam current. The variable aperture device may be disposed immediately downstream of a mass analysis slit. The beam current adjuster may be provided with a high energy ion implanter including a high energy multistage linear acceleration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ion Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Inada, Kouji Kato
  • Patent number: 9224571
    Abstract: A photocathode high-frequency electron-gun cavity apparatus of the present invention is provided with a high-frequency acceleration cavity (1), a photocathode (8, 15), a laser entering port (9), a high-frequency power input coupler port (10), and a high-frequency resonant tuner (16). Here, the apparatus adopts an ultra-small high-frequency accelerator cavity which contains a cavity cell formed only with a smooth and curved surface at an inner face thereof without having a sharp angle part for preventing discharging, obtaining higher strength of high-frequency electric field, and improving high-frequency resonance stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignees: INTER-UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE CORPORATION, HIGH ENERGY ACCELERATOR RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
    Inventors: Junji Urakawa, Nobuhiro Terunuma, Toshikazu Takatomi
  • Patent number: 9162082
    Abstract: One embodiment of a particle circular accelerator 1 includes: a beam deflector for beam injections, bending electromagnets that causes the beam injected from the beam deflector for beam injections to circulate so as to form a circulation orbit, orbit adjusting electromagnets for injected beams that shift the position of each injected beam relative to the center of the circulation orbit of the beam, quadrupole electromagnets and sextupole electromagnets that adjust their respective quantities of magnetic excitation at the time of a beam extraction so as to extract a beam in a resonant region off a stable reason of beams and a beam deflector for beam extractions that takes out the beam extracted from the resonant region to the outside. The circular accelerator 1 injects beams from the inner side thereof and emits beams to the outer side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihiro Osanai
  • Patent number: 9055662
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cyclotron capable or producing a first beam of accelerated charged particles defined by a first <<charge-over-mass>> ratio (q/m) or a second beam of accelerated charged particles defined by a second <<charge-over-mass>> ratio (q/m)? less than said first <<charge-over-mass>> ratio (q/m), said cyclotron comprising: an electromagnet comprising two poles, preferably an upper pole and a lower pole, positioned symmetrically relatively to a middle plane perpendicular to the central axis of the cyclotron and separated by a gap provided for circulation of the charged particles, each of said poles comprising several sectors positioned so as to have an alternation of areas with a narrow gap called <<hills>> and areas with a wide gap called <<valleys>>; a main induction coil for generating an essentially constant main induction field in the gap between said poles and a means for modifying the magnetic field profile according
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Ion Beam Applications S.A.
    Inventor: Willem Kleeven
  • Patent number: 9041318
    Abstract: A cyclotron that accelerates an ion using a magnetic field includes a hollow yoke and an ion source that is provided in the yoke and generates an ion. The ion source includes a conductive cylindrical body and a filament disposed in the cylindrical body. A current is supplied from a power supply to the filament, and a direction of the current supplied to the filament is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Miyashita, Kazutomo Matsumura
  • Patent number: 9029796
    Abstract: A drift tube manufacturing method and a drift tube which can reduce cost while securing an adequate level of particle beam focusing performance. The method includes: a magnet housing stage of housing a predetermined number of permanent magnets in a housing, which has a through-hole at a center part and an annular magnet housing space on an outer circumferential side of the through-hole; a welding stage of setting a lid for covering the opening part on the opening part; and welding the lid and the housing by laser beam welding. At least a surface of the housing and a surface of the lid are formed of copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Okihira, Kyusaku Higa, Fumiaki Inoue
  • Patent number: 9000669
    Abstract: A magnetron includes an anode cylinder which has a cylindrical shape with both ends opened and which includes a plurality of vanes radially provided on an inner wall surface thereof, a pair of pole pieces positioned in openings of the both ends of the anode cylinder, and metal sleeves. The metal sleeves are positioned outside the pair of pole pieces and configured to air-tightly seal the anode cylinder. Each of the metal sleeves includes a cylinder part, a flange part continuous with the cylinder part, and a plurality of protrusions provided on a portion in which the cylinder part continues with the flange part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nagisa Kuwahara, Etsuo Saitou, Takanori Handa, Takeshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 8994297
    Abstract: A low-voltage, multi-beam radio frequency source that operates at a voltage less than or equal to approximately 20-40 kV and that generates at least 600 kW at a pulse width of approximately 5-30 ms. The RF source includes an electron gun having a cathode configured to generate a plurality of beamlets. An input cavity and output cavity are common to the plurality of beamlets. A plurality of gain cavities are provided between the input and output cavities, each having a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of beamlets. The cathode may include 10-20 beamlet cathodes formed in a ring, each being configured to generate a single beamlet and each having beamlet optics independent of each other. A beam collector having a plurality of openings corresponding to each of the beamlets may be provided within the output section, where the openings have no RF coupling to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Omega P Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Teryaev
  • Patent number: 8987578
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an energy conversion device comprises a nuclear battery, a light source coupled to the nuclear battery and operable to receive electric energy from the nuclear battery and radiate electromagnetic energy, and a photocell operable to receive the radiated electromagnetic energy and convert the received electromagnetic energy into electric energy. The nuclear battery comprises a radioactive substance and a collector operable to receive particles emitted by the radioactive substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Gary A. Frazier, Timothy J. Imholt, Alexander F. St. Claire
  • Patent number: 8963108
    Abstract: A gantry apparatus for a proton treatment system, including a proton beam nozzle to emit a proton beam to a targeted region of a patient, a gantry wheel to support the proton beam nozzle to direct the proton beam to an isocenter of the gantry wheel corresponding to a center of the targeted region, a plurality of adjustable bearings incrementally spaced apart along an outer diametrical surface of the gantry wheel, and a bearing surface to support a portion of the adjustable bearings such that when the wheel is rotated from a first angular position to a second angular position, at least a portion of the bearings contact the bearing surface to raise or lower the gantry wheel to realign the proton beam to the center of the targeted region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: ProNova Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph C. Matteo, Jonathan Huber, Peter Hansen
  • Publication number: 20150042244
    Abstract: An HF resonator has a cylindrical cavity made of a dielectric material. The cavity includes a first cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical portion, and a dielectric ring that connects the first portion and the second portion. The inner face of the first cylindrical portion has an electrically conductive first inner coating. An inner face of the second cylindrical portion has an electrically conductive second inner coating. An electrically conductive first enclosed coating is arranged between the first cylindrical portion and the dielectric ring. An electrically conductive second enclosed coating is arranged between the second cylindrical portion and the dielectric ring. The first enclosed coating is conductively connected to the first inner coating. The second enclosed coating is conductively connected to the second inner coating. The HF resonator includes a device that is provided for applying a high-frequency electric voltage between the first enclosed coating and the second enclosed coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Back, Oliver Heid, Michael Kleemann
  • Patent number: 8951936
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a superconducting accelerator cavity in which a plurality of half cells having opening portions (equator portions and iris portions) at both ends thereof in an axial direction are placed one after another in the axial direction, contact portions where the corresponding opening portions come into contact with each other are joined by welding, and thus, a superconducting accelerator cavity is manufactured, the half cells to be joined are arranged so that the axial direction thereof extends in a vertical direction; and concave portions that are concave towards an outer side are also formed at inner circumferential surfaces located below the contact portions of the half cells positioned at a bottom; and the contact portions are joined from outside by penetration welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuya Sennyu, Hiroshi Hara, Takehisa Okuda
  • Patent number: 8947021
    Abstract: An accelerator includes an inflector through which a beam entering from an ion source passes and which introduces the beam to an acceleration orbit. The inflector includes a beam convergence unit that converges the beam passing through the inflector. A cyclotron, which accelerates a beam in a convoluted acceleration orbit, includes magnetic poles, D-electrodes, and an inflector. The magnetic poles generate a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the acceleration orbit. The D-electrodes generate a potential difference, which accelerates the beam, in the acceleration orbit. A beam, which enters in an incident direction perpendicular to the acceleration orbit, passes through the inflector, and the inflector bends the beam so as to introduce the beam to the acceleration orbit. The inflector includes a beam convergence unit that converges the beam passing through the inflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 8941084
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to treatment of solid cancers. More particularly, a method and apparatus for efficient radiation dose delivery to a tumor is described. Preferably, radiation is delivered through an entry point into the tumor and Bragg peak energy is targeted to a distal or far side of the tumor from an ingress point. Delivering Bragg peak energy to the distal side of the tumor from the ingress point is repeated from multiple rotational directions. Beam intensity is proportional to radiation dose delivery efficiency. The multi-field irradiation process with energy levels targeting the far side of the tumor from each irradiation direction provides even and efficient charged particle radiation dose delivery to the tumor. Preferably, the charged particle therapy is timed to patient respiration via control of charged particle beam injection, acceleration, extraction, and/or targeting methods and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8933651
    Abstract: The invention comprises a flattened magnet coil system that reduces space between a first magnet turning section and a second magnet turning section in a synchrotron accelerator, which reduces or eliminates need for one or more quadrupole focusing elements in the accelerator. Optionally, a coil, in the flattened magnetic coil system, is wrapped about a central metal member between yoke members of a magnet. The coil has a first width and a first thickness along the length of the magnet and a second width and a second thickness along the end of the magnet where the first width is larger than the second width and the second thickness is larger than the first thickness allowing a smaller distance between the first magnet turning section and the second magnet turning section while maintaining current flow in the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventors: Vladimir Balakin, Yury Valyaev
  • Patent number: 8916841
    Abstract: A particle therapy system is capable of reducing an increase in treatment time caused by the initialization operation of magnets in the execution of the scanning irradiation method successively changing the energy level of a beam extracted from an accelerator. An irradiation control apparatus has a scheme that calculates setting vales of excitation current for bending magnets for a transport system on every irradiation condition (energy condition), and sets appropriate excitation current values according to the irradiation sequence. The irradiation control apparatus 35 prestores in a current supply control table 1 reference current values determined corresponding to energy levels of the ion beam, prestores in current supply compenzation value tables 1, 2 compenzation current values determined corresponding to energy levels of the ion beam and numbers of times of changing the energy level, and calculates the excitation current value of the magnets by using the values prestored in the tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Totake, Masumi Umezawa, Tomohisa Imagawa
  • Patent number: 8916843
    Abstract: A system includes a patient support and an outer gantry on which an accelerator is mounted to enable the accelerator to move through a range of positions around a patient on the patient support. The accelerator is configured to produce a proton or ion beam having an energy level sufficient to reach a target in the patient. An inner gantry includes an aperture for directing the proton or ion beam towards the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Gall, Stanley Rosenthal, Gordon Row, Michael Ahearn
  • Patent number: 8907309
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: Stephen L. Spotts
  • Patent number: 8907311
    Abstract: A system includes a patient support and an outer gantry on which an accelerator is mounted to enable the accelerator to move through a range of positions around a patient on the patient support. The accelerator is configured to produce a proton or ion beam having an energy level sufficient to reach a target in the patient. An inner gantry includes a robotic arm capable of directing an aperture for directing the proton or ion beam towards the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Gall, Stanley Rosenthal, Gordon Row, Michael Ahearn
  • Patent number: 8903464
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for the production of a niobium cavity exhibiting high quality factors at high gradients is provided. The apparatus comprises a first chamber positioned within a second chamber, an RF generator and vacuum pumping systems. The process comprises placing the niobium cavity in a first chamber of the apparatus; thermally treating the cavity by high temperature in the first chamber while maintaining high vacuum in the first and second chambers; and applying a passivating thin film layer to a surface of the cavity in the presence of a gaseous mixture and an RF field. Further a niobium cavity exhibiting high quality factors at high gradients produced by the method of the invention is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Jefferson Science Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Ganapati Rao Myneni, John P. Wallace
  • Patent number: 8896239
    Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle beam injection method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The negative ion beam source includes a negative ion beam source, vacuum system, an ion beam focusing lens, and/or a tandem accelerator. The negative ion beam source uses electric field lines for focusing a negative ion beam. The negative ion source plasma chamber includes a magnetic material, which provides a magnetic field barrier between a high temperature plasma chamber and a low temperature plasma region. The injection system vacuum system and a synchrotron vacuum system are separated by a conversion foil, where negative ions are converted to positive ions. The foil is sealed to the edges of the vacuum tube providing for a higher partial pressure in the injection system vacuum chamber and a lower pressure in the synchrotron vacuum system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Vladimir Yegorovich Balakin
  • Patent number: 8883690
    Abstract: A superconducting accelerating cavity production method with which a high-quality superconducting accelerating cavity can be produced with a compact device configuration and at low cost. The method of producing a superconducting accelerating cavity (1) includes arranging, in an axial direction (L), a plurality of half-cells (5) having openings at both ends in the axial direction and joining the openings to one another by welding. The half-cells (5) are joined by welding with a laser beam from the inside of the superconducting accelerating cavity (1) in which a vacuum atmosphere is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuya Sennyu
  • Patent number: 8878464
    Abstract: A laser accelerator driven electronic brachytherapy system, device, and method for particle based treatment of a tumor or other human diseases and conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignees: Varian Medical Systems Inc., The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: James E. Clayton, Paul A. Lovoi, Wim Leemans
  • Patent number: 8878432
    Abstract: A RF accelerator system includes an accelerator, a RF source coupled to the accelerator for providing RF power to the accelerator, a control for adjusting a frequency of the RF power provided by the RF source through a frequency range, and a sensor for sensing a response resulted from an operation of the accelerator based at least in part on the adjusted frequency of the RF power through the frequency range. A method of diagnosing a RF spectrum in an accelerator system includes providing RF power to an accelerator, adjusting a frequency of the RF power through a frequency range, and sensing a response resulted from an operation of the accelerator, the response being based at least in part on the adjusted frequency of the RF power through the frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gongyin Chen, John C. Turner
  • Patent number: 8872446
    Abstract: A welding method of welding a cylindrical stiffening member to an outer circumference of a superconducting accelerator tube body uses a laser beam in a process of manufacturing a superconducting accelerator tube. The laser beam is configured such that a distribution profile of energy density on an irradiated face to which the laser beam is irradiated is a Gaussian distribution profile having a peak section, and the energy density of the peak section is 5.8×105 W/cm2 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuho Tsubota, Katsuya Sennyu, Fumiaki Inoue
  • Patent number: 8866109
    Abstract: A charged-particle beam irradiation device, which irradiates an irradiation target with a charged-particle beam, includes a transport line that transports the charged-particle beam and a rotating gantry that is rotatable about a rotation axis. The transport line includes an inclination portion making the charged-particle beam travel so that the charged-particle beam is inclined to be separated from the rotation axis, and is formed to turn the charged-particle beam in a rotation direction of the rotation axis and to bend the charged-particle beam, which has turned in the rotation direction, toward the rotation axis. The rotating gantry is formed of a cylindrical portion that receives the irradiation target and supports the transport line. The inclination portion is disposed in the cylindrical portion of the rotating gantry. The charged-particle beam irradiation device further includes blocking members that block radiation emitted from the transport line disposed in the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenzo Sasai
  • Patent number: 8841866
    Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle beam extraction method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The system uses a radio-frequency cavity system to induce betatron oscillation of a charged particle stream. Sufficient amplitude modulation of the charged particle stream causes the charged particle stream to hit a material, such as a foil. The foil decreases the energy of the charged particle stream, which decreases a radius of curvature of the charged particle stream in the synchrotron sufficiently to allow a physical separation of the reduced energy charged particle stream from the original charged particle stream. The physically separated charged particle stream is then removed from the system by use of an applied field and deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Vladimir Yegorovich Balakin
  • Publication number: 20140261171
    Abstract: In some aspects, an ion implantation system is disclosed that includes an ion source for generating a ribbon ion beam and at least one corrector device for adjusting the current density of the ribbon ion beam along its longitudinal dimension to ensure that the current density profile exhibits a desired uniformity. The ion implantation system can further include other components, such as an analyzer magnet, and electrostatic bend and focusing lenses, to shape and steer the ion beam to an end station for impingement on a substrate. In some embodiments, the present teachings allows the generation of a nominally one-dimensional ribbon beam with a longitudinal size greater than the diameter of a substrate in which ions are implanted with a high degree of longitudinal profile uniformity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Sami K. Hahto, Nariaki Hamamoto, Tetsuya Igo
  • Patent number: 8836250
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for operating a traveling wave linear accelerator to generate stable electron beams at two or more different intensities by varying the number of electrons injected into the accelerator structure during each pulse by varying the electron beam current applied to an electron gun. The electron beams may be used to generate x-rays having selected doses and energies, which may be used for cargo scanning or radiotherapy applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Accuray Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen Wah-Kwan Cheung, Roger Heering Miller, Juwen Wang