Magnetic Field Acceleration Means Patents (Class 315/501)
  • Patent number: 7759883
    Abstract: Electromedical apparatus for intraoperative radiotherapy via a linac. It includes an arm in which, at an extremity thereof, an oscillator is assembled which generates electromagnetic waves, and which supports, at an opposite extremity thereof, a radiating head in which a linac is assembled, emitting at its output an electron beam, supplied by the oscillator through a guiding structure. The apparatus includes a first and a second rotary couplings, respectively including a fixed portion and a mobile portion, endowed with sensors of the angular position of the mobile portions, which support the radiating head on the arm in roll and pitch motion. The guiding structure includes three separate rigid waveguides, of which one at the output of the oscillator and one of input to the linac, and an intermediate one therebetween, which connects them, with the heads of which they are respectively connected through the first and the second rotary couplings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventor: Pompilio Gatto
  • Patent number: 7760054
    Abstract: An RF cavity is provided with a plurality of tubes that are formed into a tubular cage in a predefined shape to define the RF cavity. A selected number of tubes and a selected tube diameter are provided to form a confinement cage for the RF fields within the RF cavity defined by the tubes. The multiple, small metal tubes are selectively bent to form different cavity shapes and sizes as needed to accelerate the particles and function as a confinement cage for the RF fields within the RF cavity defined by the tubes. The cost to fabricate RF cavities using the tubular cage design is significantly lower than the cost of producing a solid cavity using conventional fabrication technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Lewellen, John Noonan, Terry L. Smith, Geoff Waldschmidt
  • Patent number: 7741781
    Abstract: An RF accelerating cavity includes an accelerating cavity unit and an inductance varying device having a magnetic member connected parallel to an acceleration electrode gap. The RF accelerating cavity is tuned in such a fashion that a charged particle beam acceleration frequency matches a resonant frequency of the RF accelerating cavity by regulating inductance of the inductance varying device in accordance with a changing pattern of the charged particle beam acceleration frequency. Alternatively, impedance of the RF accelerating cavity is increased with the provision of a fixed inductance connected parallel to the acceleration electrode gap when the RF accelerating cavity has a narrow acceleration frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahisa Nagayama, Nobuyuki Zumoto, Yoshihiro Ishi
  • Patent number: 7719199
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic topology and conversion of fusion product energies directly to electric power. Preferably, plasma ions are magnetically confined in the FRC while plasma electrons are electrostatically confined in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by the nuclear force, thus forming fusion products that emerge in the form of an annular beam. Energy is removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter. Advantageously, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement and energy conversion system include advanced (aneutronic) fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, University of Florida Research Foundation
    Inventors: Hendrik J. Monkhorst, Norman Rostoker
  • Patent number: 7679297
    Abstract: A petawatt pulsed-power accelerator can be driven by various types of electrical-pulse generators, including conventional Marx generators and linear-transformer drivers. The pulsed-power accelerator can be configured to drive an electrical load from one- or two-sides. Various types of loads can be driven; for example, the accelerator can be used to drive a high-current z-pinch load. When driven by slow-pulse generators (e.g., conventional Marx generators), the accelerator comprises an oil section comprising at least one pulse-generator level having a plurality of pulse generators; a water section comprising a pulse-forming circuit for each pulse generator and a level of monolithic triplate radial-transmission-line impedance transformers, that have variable impedance profiles, for each pulse-generator level; and a vacuum section comprising triplate magnetically insulated transmission lines that feed an electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Stygar, Michael E. Cuneo, Daniel I. Headley, Harry C. Ives, Berry Cottrell Ives, legal representative, Ramon J. Leeper, Michael G. Mazarakis, Craig L. Olson, John L. Porter, Tim C. Wagoner
  • Patent number: 7671546
    Abstract: To provide a voltage division resistor for acceleration tube, an acceleration tube, and an accelerator capable of reducing the cost of the acceleration tube and enhancing the operation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Kyoto Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Shigehiro Nishino, Ryoichi Ono
  • Publication number: 20100039051
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in a process to regulate power for a particle accelerator includes a first circulator, a second circulator, a tee coupled between the first and the second circulator, and a tuner coupled to the tee. An apparatus for use in a process to regulate power for a particle accelerator includes a first circulator, a second circulator, a 3-dB coupler coupled between the first and the second circulator, and a tuner coupled to the 3-dB coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Varian Medical Systems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Clayton, Carsten Weil, Wolfgang Arnold, David Whittum
  • Patent number: 7663327
    Abstract: A permanent magnet focusing system includes an electron gun that provides an electron ribbon beam having an elliptical shape. A plurality of permanent magnets provide transport for the electron ribbon beam. The permanent magnets produce a non-axisymmetric periodic permanent magnet (PPM) focusing field to allow the electron ribbon beam to be transported in the permanent magnet focusing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ronak J. Bhatt, Chiping Chen, Jing Zhou, Alexey Radovinsky
  • Publication number: 20100033115
    Abstract: A dc accelerator system able to accelerate high currents of proton beams at high energies is provided. The accelerator system includes a dc high-voltage, high-current power supply, an evacuated ion accelerating tube, a proton ion source, a dipole analyzing magnet and a vacuum pump located in the high-voltage terminal. The high-current, high-energy dc proton beam can be directed to a number of targets depending on the applications such as boron neutron capture therapy BNCT applications, NRA applications, and silicon cleaving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Marshall R. Cleland, Richard A. Galloway, Leonard DeSanto, Yves Jongen
  • Publication number: 20100013418
    Abstract: Particle radiation therapy equipment arranged to apply a charged particle beam in a predetermined direction to a region of application within an imaging volume, comprising a charged particle beam source arranged to direct a charged particle beam in the predetermined direction, further comprising magnetic field generation means for generating a magnetic field in the region of application at the same time that the charged particle beam is applied, wherein the magnetic field generation means is arranged to provide access to the region of application for the charged particle beam, and to provide a homogeneous magnetic field in the region of application of the charged particle beam, said magnetic field being directed substantially in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS PLC
    Inventors: Marcel Jan Marie Kruip, Paul Beasley
  • Patent number: 7629598
    Abstract: In a particle beam irradiation method and a particle beam irradiation apparatus in which depth direction irradiation field spread and lateral direction irradiation field spread are performed, an irradiation dose in each of the irradiation layers of an irradiation target is made substantially constant, the control is simplified, and the irradiation error by the displacement of the irradiation target is reduced. The depth direction irradiation field spread is an active irradiation field spread to superimpose plural irradiation layers having different ranges in the irradiation direction of the particle beam. A bolus having a shape along a deepest part of the irradiation target in the depth direction is disposed to cross the particle beam. At least one irradiation layer selected from the plural irradiation layers is re-irradiated one or more times with the particle beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisashi Harada
  • Patent number: 7626180
    Abstract: An ion gun 11 supplies an Ar gas into a main body 111 from a gas inlet 114, causes DC hot cathode discharge between a filament 113 and an anode 112 to generate Ar plasma. Next, a voltage gradient is applied to separated accelerator grids 116a, 116b having a bi-separated configuration in an ion ejecting direction. The each potential of the separated accelerator grids 116a, 116b is independently controlled by independently setting accelerator control switches 121a, 121b on or off to change the potential of that of the separated accelerator grids 116a, 116b which corresponds to an ion beam to be disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Showa Shinku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Osada, Tadahisa Shiono, Yutaka Yabe, Makoto Ito
  • Patent number: 7612346
    Abstract: The charged-particle beam system includes a non-axisymmetric diode forms a non-axisymmetric beam having an elliptic cross-section. A focusing element utilizes a magnetic field for focusing and transporting the non-axisymmetric beam, wherein the non-axisymmetric beam is approximately matched with the channel of the focusing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ronak J. Bhatt, Chiping Chen, Jing Zhou
  • Patent number: 7570142
    Abstract: A permanent magnet for a particle accelerator and a magnetic field generator, in which Nd—Fe—B based magnets are used but are not demagnetized so easily even when exposed to a radiation, are provided. A permanent magnet for a particle accelerator is used in an environment in which the magnet is exposed to a radiation at an absorbed dose of at least 3,000 Gy. The magnet includes R (which is at least one of the rare-earth elements), B, TM (which is at least one transition element and includes Fe) and inevitably contained impurity elements. The magnet is a sintered magnet that has been magnetized to a permeance coefficient of 0.5 or more and that has a coercivity HcJ of 1.6 MA/m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Makita, Eiji Sugiyama, Masaaki Aoiki, Kaichi Murakami, Tadamichi Kawakubo, Eiji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7560715
    Abstract: A process for an intensity-modulated proton therapy of a predetermined volume within an object includes discretising the predetermined volume into a number of iso-energy layers each corresponding to a determined energy of the proton beam. A final target dose distribution is determined for each iso-energy layer. The final target dose distribution or at least a predetermined part of this final target dose distribution is applied by parallel beam scanning by controlling the respective beam sweepers, thereby scanning one iso-energy layer after the other using an intensity-modulated proton beam while scanning a predetermined iso-energy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Paul Scherrer Institute
    Inventor: Eros Pedroni
  • Publication number: 20090146587
    Abstract: A completely sealed microwave sulfur lamp is made possible by removing the heat generated from the magnetron and high voltage direct-current power supply via heat conducting oil, rubber and resin. An oil pump is used to circulate the heated oil to the metallic housing of the lamp for natural cooling. No forced air cooling is needed. High efficiency power supply is used to reduce the heat generated. The low ripple direct-current high voltage generated also contributes to lower heat generation at the magnetron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: Zhenda Li
  • Publication number: 20090140672
    Abstract: A synchrocyclotron includes magnetic structures to provide a magnetic field to a cavity, a particle source to provide a plasma column to the cavity, where the particle source has a housing to hold the plasma column, and where the housing is interrupted at an acceleration region to expose the plasma column, and a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the cavity to accelerate particles from the plasma column at the acceleration region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Kenneth Gall, Gerrit Townsend Zwart
  • Patent number: 7521674
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for trapping uncharged multi-pole particles comprises a bound cavity for receiving the particles, and a multiplicity of electrodes coupled to the cavity for producing an electric field in the cavity. In a preferred embodiment, the electrodes are configured to produce in the electric field potential both a multi-pole (e.g., dipole) component that aligns the particles predominantly along an axis of the cavity and a higher order multi-pole (e.g., hexapole) component that forms a trapping region along the axis. In one embodiment, the electrodes and/or the particles are cooled to a cryogenic temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley Pau
  • Publication number: 20090091274
    Abstract: A new concept is presented along with different embodiments to produce improved duty cycle of electron beams and multiple beams of different energy from WF, FFAG and other betatron and induction accelerators. These variations are achieved by using the induction core in both directions of induction core swing to accelerate beams in different magnetic guide regions to improve beam repetition rates and duty cycle. The beams may have different energies and intensities. Multiple guide field regions may be used with an induction core while the field is varying in one direction to also produce multiple beams, each differing in energy and intensity. The use of a single core allows improved duty cycle and multiple beams with a substantial increase in performance and reduction of cost in those cases where the induction core, associated power supplies and control are a significant fraction of the cost of such an accelerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: William Bertozzi, Robert J. Ledoux
  • Patent number: 7501640
    Abstract: A low energy electron cooling system and method for increasing the phase space intensity and overall intensity of low energy ion beams, including a vacuum chamber to allow electron beam and ion beam merging and separation, a cathode to generate the electron beam, a collector to collect the electron beam, magnetic field generation devices to guide the electrons on their desired trajectories, and electrodes to accelerate and decelerate the electron beam. By overlapping the electron and ion beams, thermal energy is transferred from the ion beam to the electron beam, which allows an increase in the phase space density and overall density of the ion beams. Advantageously, the low energy electron cooling system uses electrodes to set up electrostatic potentials that trap non-beam neutralizing-background-ions longitudinally within the electron cooling region and solenoidal fields that trap the non-beam neutralizing-background-ions radially within the electron cooling region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Inventor: Delbert J. Larson
  • Publication number: 20090033249
    Abstract: A magnetic field crosses non-uniform rotating electric radial fields which are generated between a central electrode and a series of circumferential outer electrodes. Synchronous charging and partial discharging is applied to the outer electrodes, generating a rotating non-axisymmetric field. Charged particles may then be accelerated and held in a circular orbit, regulated by the magnitude and frequency of the charging of the electrodes, with a radius given by Bqwr=Eq+mw2r. The circular beam of particles so formed may be used for a variety of applications, which also includes fusion energy applications due to the high kinetic energy possible in the apparatus and the mechanism of energy recovery of scattered particles. Isotopic separation by charge to mass ratio is also possible, the device being essentially a cyclotron with radial electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventor: Christopher James MacDonald-Bradley
  • Patent number: 7471053
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-beam klystron apparatus. In the above-described multi-beam klystron apparatus, the magnetic field generating element of the electron-gun-unit-side magnetic field generating unit is disposed around the electron gun unit, and a plurality of magnetic gaps are provided in the inner peripheral surface of the magnetic pole, which covers the magnetic field generating element, in the direction of travel of the electron beams. Therefore, lines of magnetic force, which are parallel to the center axis of the radio-frequency interaction unit, can be generated. Thus, even the electron beam, which is generated from the location apart from the center axis of the electron gun unit, can be guided to the radio-frequency interaction unit in the same manner as in the location at the canter axis of the electron gun unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Setsuo Miyake
  • Patent number: 7466085
    Abstract: An apparatus for an improved cyclotron for producing radioisotopes especially for use in association with medical imaging. The improved cyclotron is configured without a conventional electromagnetic coil. A plurality of dees and a plurality of permanent magnets are alternately disposed in a circular array, each defining a channel through which ions travel. The vacuum chamber wall defines an opening disposed at the center of the array, the opening being configured to receive an ion source. Positive ions flowing from the ion source are exposed to the magnetic field generated by permanent magnets. The positive ions are repelled as they exit a positively charged dee. Negatively charged dees pull the ions. Each time the particles pass through the gap approaching the dees and as they leave the dee and pass through the magnets, they gain energy, so the orbital radius continuously increases and the particles follow an outwardly spiraling path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Advanced Biomarker Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald Nutt
  • Patent number: 7456591
    Abstract: The invention concerns a cyclotron for accelerating a charged particle beam circulating in the median plane essentially in the form of two poles inducing a magnetic field and having a so-called axial injector, that is an injector arranged outside the cyclotron substantially along the main axis of the cyclotron and hence perpendicular to the median plane thereof and which is combined with deflecting means which enable the particle beam to be deflected until it is positioned in the median plane. The invention is characterized in that the deflecting means consist of a magnetic deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Ion Beam Applications S.A.
    Inventor: Yves Jongen
  • Patent number: 7453076
    Abstract: A system for treating target cells with both positive and negative ions comprises a bi-polar beam delivery system configured to create and deliver both positive ion beams and negative ion beams. The bi-polar beam delivery system comprises a bi-polar accelerator configured to accelerate positive and negative ions in the same direction making such a bi-polar beam delivery system practical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Nanolife Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Welch, Ray Winn
  • Patent number: 7446490
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cyclotron which can produce a beam of accelerated charged particles that are intended for the irradiation of at least one target (200). The inventive cyclotron consists of a magnetic circuit which essentially comprises: an electromagnet with at least two poles (1, 1?), namely an upper pole (1) and a lower pole (1?), which are disposed symmetrically in relation to a mid-plane (110) which is perpendicular to the central axis (100) of the cyclotron and which are separated by a gap (120) containing the circulating charged particles and return flux (2) in order to close the aforementioned magnetic circuit; and a pair of main induction coils (5, 5?) which are used to create an essentially-constant main induction field in the gap between poles 1 and 1?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Ion Beam Appliances S.A.
    Inventors: Yves Jongen, Frédéric Genin
  • Patent number: 7432516
    Abstract: A medical synchrotron which cycles rapidly in order to accelerate particles for delivery in a beam therapy system. The synchrotron generally includes a radiofrequency (RF) cavity for accelerating the particles as a beam and a plurality of combined function magnets arranged in a ring. Each of the combined function magnets performs two functions. The first function of the combined function magnet is to bend the particle beam along an orbital path around the ring. The second function of the combined function magnet is to focus or defocus the particle beam as it travels around the path. The radiofrequency (RF) cavity is a ferrite loaded cavity adapted for high speed frequency swings for rapid cycling acceleration of the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen G. Peggs, J. Michael Brennan, Joseph E. Tuozzolo, Alexander Zaltsman
  • Publication number: 20080231215
    Abstract: An undulator comprises a first magnetic circuit (11) for forming a periodic magnetic field, a first support body (21) for supporting the first magnetic circuit (11), a second magnetic circuit (12) arranged opposite to the first magnetic circuit (11), for forming a periodic magnetic field, a second support body (22) for supporting the second magnetic circuit (12), a space (13) formed between the oppositely arranged first magnetic circuit (11) and the second magnetic circuit (12), for passing an electron beam, a vacuum chamber (1) for vacuum-sealing the first magnetic circuit (11) and the second magnetic circuit (12), and a refrigerant passing tube (30) for cooling a permanent magnet (m) constituting the first magnetic circuit (11) and the second magnetic circuit (12) below the room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Hideo Kitamura, Toru Hara, Takashi Tanaka, Tsutomu Kohda, Yutaka Matsuura
  • Patent number: 7420182
    Abstract: This invention features a combined radio frequency (RF) and Hall Effect ion source and plasma accelerator system including a plasma accelerator having an anode and a discharge zone, the plasma accelerator for providing plasma discharge. A gas distributor introduces a gas into the plasma accelerator. A cathode emits electrons attracted to the anode for ionizing the gas and neutralizing ion flux emitted from the plasma accelerator. An electrical circuit coupled between the anode and the cathode having a DC power source provides DC voltage. A magnetic circuit structure including a magnetic field source establishes a transverse magnetic field in the plasma accelerator that creates an impedance to the flow of the electrons toward the anode to enhance ionization of the gas to create plasma and which in combination with the electric circuit establishes an axial electric field in the plasma accelerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Busek Company
    Inventors: Vladimir Hruby, Kurt Hohman, Thomas Brogan
  • Publication number: 20080191144
    Abstract: The charged-particle beam system includes a non-axisymmetric diode forms a non-axisymmetric beam having an elliptic cross-section. A focusing element utilizes a magnetic field for focusing and transporting the non-axisymmetric beam, wherein the non-axisymmetric beam is approximately matched with the channel of the focusing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Ronak J. Bhatt, Chiping Chen, Jing Zhou
  • Patent number: 7400093
    Abstract: A method for generating an electron beam includes prescribing a location, and generating an envelope of electrons, the envelope having a waist, wherein the generating is performed such that the waist of the envelope is at or adjacent to the prescribed location. A device for generating an electron beam includes a gun source for generating electrons, and a plurality of electromagnetic cavities coupled in series to form a body, the electromagnetic cavities configured to accelerate at least some of the electrons to create a beam of electrons at an energy level having a value between 5 MeV and 20 MeV, the beam of electrons having a cross sectional dimension that is 0.02 ? (or 2 mm) or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Salop, David H. Whittum, Michael A. Kauffman, Mark E. Trail, Gard E. Meddaugh
  • Patent number: 7397206
    Abstract: A phase switch (energy switch) comprising a three-cavity system (an end-coupled cavity+side-passed accelerate cavity+an end-coupled cavity) and a separate single couple cavity is disclosed. The phase shift between the adjacent accelerate cavities is ? when the three-cavities system is disordered (state ‘0’); and a microwave pass through the three-cavities system to the adjacent accelerate cavities, the phase between the adjacent accelerate cavities is change to 2? (or 0) when the single couple cavity is disordered (state ‘1’). When the state 0 changes to state 1, the field phase in the structure behind the system is changed to ?, thereby to switch the phase. In the two states, the entire structure operates in ?/2 mode, that is very stable. That is very important for the medical accelerator. The detaining components have been moved outside the cavity when the single couple cavity or the three-cavity system is in the operate state, without warring about high frequency breakdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Mian Yang Gao Xin Qu Twin Peak Technology Development Inc.
    Inventor: Chongguo Yao
  • Patent number: 7385203
    Abstract: A charged particle beam extraction system and method capable of ensuring higher safety when extraction of an ion beam is on/off-controlled during irradiation of the ion beam for treatment. The charged particle beam extraction system comprises a charged particle beam generator including a synchrotron, a range modulation wheel (RMW) for forming a Bragg peak width of a charged particle beam extracted from the charged particle beam generator, a gate signal generator for controlling start and stop of extraction of the charged particle beam from the charged particle beam generator in accordance with a rotational angle of the RMW, and an irradiation control/determination section for determining whether the start and stop of extraction of the charged particle beam is controlled at desired timing by the gate signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahide Nakayama, Takayoshi Natori, Masaki Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 7385354
    Abstract: A multi-beam klystron apparatus is disclosed. A radio-frequency interaction unit pole piece is arranged between a main magnetic field generator and an output-side magnetic field generator. The magnetic circuit formed in the neighborhood of an output cavity of a radio-frequency interaction unit is separated from the magnetic circuit of the main magnetic field generator by the radio-frequency interaction unit pole piece. The output-side magnetic field generator increases the axial magnetic flux density in the neighborhood of the output cavity without curving the electron beams and thus prevents the spread of the electron beams in the neighborhood of the output cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignees: Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Setsuo Miyake
  • Patent number: 7381967
    Abstract: The charged-particle beam system includes a non-axisymmetric diode forms a non-axisymmetric beam having an elliptic cross-section. A focusing element utilizes a magnetic field for focusing and transporting the non-axisymmetric beam, wherein the non-axisymmetric beam is approximately matched with the channel of the focusing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ronak J. Bhatt, Chiping Chen, Jing Zhou
  • Publication number: 20080122390
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter provides a system for producing isotopes, such as fluorine-18, that includes a means for splitting a particle beam provided by a particle accelerator into a plurality of split beans and for directing the split beams onto a plurality of targets. In one embodiment, the means for splitting a particle beam is a dual charge beam splitter that receives a particle beam having a negative polarity and creates a single particle beam with a dual charge. In another embodiment, the means for splitting a particle beam is a single charge beam splitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph Lidestri
  • Patent number: 7355357
    Abstract: A plasma accelerator is provided. The plasma accelerator includes a chamber having a closed top, an opened bottom and a lateral surface, a first coil section comprising a plurality of coils that are connected to one another in series and are wound around the lateral surface of the chamber in opposite directions, and a second coil section comprising a plurality of coils that are wound around the lateral surface of the chamber between coils of the first coil section in opposite directions. Accordingly, it is possible to make the mutual inductance between the coils small, to accurately adjust levels and phase differences of currents to be applied to the coils, and also to simplify the driving circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-taek Park, Vasily Pashkovski, Yuri Tolmachev
  • Patent number: 7332880
    Abstract: The present invention provides a particle beam accelerator for accelerating charged particles along a traveling direction of the charged particles. The invention provides a particle beam accelerator, in which the charged particle beam deflected by spiral-shaped-deflecting electromagnet 3, is accelerated by an accelerating unit 5, the charged particle beam circulating in an annular vacuum passageway of a vacuum duct 1 a plurality of times differing in orbit. And gap 9 is formed in the accelerating unit 5 of the vacuum duct 1, and gap-constituting face of the vacuum duct 1 is formed to be perpendicular to each of the traveling directions of the charged particle beam orbiting on a first orbit and on a second orbit. In the above accelerator, vibrations of the charged particle beam can be brought under control and loss of the charged particle beam can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Ina, Yuichi Yamamoto, Takahisa Nagayama
  • Patent number: 7297967
    Abstract: The present invention provides an increased degree of uniformity of radiation dose distribution for the interior of a diseased part. A particle beam therapy system includes a charged particle beam generation apparatus and an irradiation apparatus. An ion beam is generated by the charged particle beam generation apparatus. The irradiation apparatus exposes a diseased part to the generated ion beam. A scattering device, a range adjustment device, and a Bragg peak spreading device are installed upstream of a first scanning magnet and a second scanning magnet. The scattering device and the range adjustment device are combined together and moved along a beam axis, whereas the Bragg peak spreading device is moved independently along the beam axis. The scattering device moves to adjust the degree of ion beam scattering. The range adjustment device moves to adjust ion beam scatter changes caused by an absorber thickness adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Yanagisawa, Hiroshi Akiyama, Koji Matsuda, Hisataka Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 7262566
    Abstract: A particle accelerator system, including apparatuses and methods, for producing a beam of bunched charged particles at high intensities and with minimal energy dispersion comprises a bunching section having a plurality of bunching cavities, an accelerating section having a plurality of accelerating and coupling cavities, and an electromagnetic drive subsystem having a single radio-frequency (RF) generator coupled to the accelerating section at a single location. The accelerating and bunching sections are directly coupled and share a common wall, which may have a resonant coupling cavity therein, such that charged particles bunch in the bunching section and travel through the common wall into the accelerating section where they are accelerated and exit the particle accelerator system as a beam of bunched charged particles. Preferably, a phase shift of one hundred-eighty degrees (180°) (or it radians) is created between the electric fields of successive bunching cavities in the bunching section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: ScanTech Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Vitaly M. Pirozhenko, Gary F. Bowser, Vladimir M. Belugin, Nikolay E. Rozanov
  • Patent number: 7259529
    Abstract: The present invention provides a charged particle accelerator comprising a charged particle generating apparatus, a bending magnet, accelerating means and a vacuum duct, wherein first and second acceleration periods (22), (23) are provided, accelerating electric field of the accelerating means is applied from the start time (25) of the first acceleration period (22) until the end time of the second acceleration period (23), and bending magnetic field is applied at a fixed value during the first accelerating period while, during the second acceleration period, it is applied so as to increase until the end time of the second acceleration period. Accordingly, there is provided a compact and high power charged particle accelerator which can perform large-current acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirofumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7253572
    Abstract: An electromagnetic induced accelerator based on coil-turn modulation, including inner and outer cylinders with different diameters, the cylinders being coaxially disposed to form a channel which is a spatial portion therebetween; a discharging coil wound spirally inward along the upper surface of the channel for generating plasma by inducing a magnetic field and secondary current in the channel; and inner and outer coils wound helically around along the inner surface of the inner cylinder and the outer surface of the outer cylinder in parallel with each other for accelerating plasma in the direction of a common axis of the inner and outer cylinders by offsetting the magnetic field induced in the direction of the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-taek Park, Vladimir Volynets, Young-eal Kim
  • Patent number: 7208890
    Abstract: A particle accelerator system, including apparatuses and methods, that is configurable through repositioning of shorting devices therein to operate at different charged particle beam currents while maintaining optimum transfer of electromagnetic power from electromagnetic waves to one or more accelerating sections thereof, and reducing or eliminating reflections of electromagnetic waves. The particle accelerator system includes at least two accelerating sections and an electromagnetic drive subsystem with portions of the electromagnetic drive subsystem being interposed physically between the accelerating sections, thereby making the particle accelerator system compact. The electromagnetic drive subsystem includes, among other components, a 3 dB waveguide hybrid junction having a coupling window in a narrow wall thereof which is shared by the junction's rectangular-shaped waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Scan Tech Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Alexandre A. Zavadtsev, Gary F. Bowser
  • Patent number: 7206379
    Abstract: The present invention is an RF cavity for accelerating electrons in imaging applications such as x-ray tubes and CT applications. An RF cavity having electron emitters placed therein accelerates the electrons across the cavity. The geometric shape of the cavity determines the electromagnetic modes that are employed for the acceleration of electrons. The fast electrons are used to generate x-rays by interacting with a target, either a solid or a liquid target. The electron accelerator may be used in an arc source for a stationary computed tomography application, in an x-ray tube, as a booster for an electron gun, and other imaging applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Sergio Lemaitre
  • Patent number: 7154107
    Abstract: A particle therapy system, as one example of a particle beam irradiation system, comprises a charged particle beam generator and an irradiation field forming apparatus. An ion beam from the charged particle beam generator is irradiated to a diseased part in the body of a patient through the irradiation field forming apparatus. A scattering compensator and a range modulation wheel (RMW) are disposed on the upstream side in a direction of beam advance and are movable along a beam axis. The movement of the scattering compensator and the RMW adjusts a size of the ion beam entering a scatterer device, whereby a change in scattering intensity of the ion beam in the scatterer device is adjusted. As a result, a penumbra in dose distribution is reduced and a more uniform dose distribution in a direction perpendicular to the direction of beam advance is obtained in the diseased part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Yanagisawa, Hiroshi Akiyama, Koji Matsuda, Hisataka Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 7129807
    Abstract: In an undulator for the generation of synchrotron radiation from a particle beam introduced into the undulator, two partial undulators are provided each comprising a conductor of superconductive material which, when a current is conducted therethrough, generates an undulator field that extends perpendicularly to the current flow, and the superconductive conductors are arranged in the individual partial undulators such that the undulator fields generated are not parallel, whereby, by controlling the energization of the two partial undulators, the polarization direction of the synchrotron radiation can be adjusted without mechanical movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Rossmanith, Uwe Schindler
  • Patent number: 7084572
    Abstract: The invention relates to various advantageous embodiments of a plasma-accelerator configuration, especially for the configuration and design of electron sources used for ionizing the working gas and/or neutralizing the discharged plasma jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Thales Electron Devices GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Kornfeld, Werner Schwertfeger, Roland Lenz, Gregory Coustou
  • Patent number: 7071479
    Abstract: The present invention provides an increased degree of uniformity of radiation dose distribution for the interior of a diseased part. A particle beam therapy system includes a charged particle beam generation apparatus and an irradiation apparatus. An ion beam is generated by the charged particle beam generation apparatus. The irradiation apparatus exposes a diseased part to the generated ion beam. A scattering device, a range adjustment device, and a Bragg peak spreading device are installed upstream of a first scanning magnet and a second scanning magnet. The scattering device and the range adjustment device are combined together and moved along a beam axis, whereas the Bragg peak spreading device is moved independently along the beam axis. The scattering device moves to adjust the degree of ion beam scattering. The range adjustment device moves to adjust ion beam scatter changes caused by an absorber thickness adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Yanagisawa, Hiroshi Akiyama, Koji Matsuda, Hisataka Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 7054801
    Abstract: A radiation exposure region to be irradiated with particle beams and a peripheral region thereof are respectively divided into pluralities of exposure regions, radiation treatment simulation for applying particle beams according to the shape of each divided exposure region is performed, and a radiation treatment condition is obtained for causing the flatness of the radiation exposure region to be in a desired range, and a dose of particle beams applied to the unit exposure region of the peripheral region to be minimum. Thus, the problem of low efficiency of radiation is solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenobu Sakamoto, Yuehu Pu
  • Patent number: 7049613
    Abstract: A particle therapy system, as one example of a particle beam irradiation system, comprises a charged particle beam generator and an irradiation field forming apparatus. An ion beam from the charged particle beam generator is irradiated to a diseased part in the body of a patient through the irradiation field forming apparatus. A scattering compensator and a range modulation wheel (RMW) are disposed on the upstream side in a direction of beam advance and are movable along a beam axis. The movement of the scattering compensator and the RMW adjusts a size of the ion beam entering a scatterer device, whereby a change in scattering intensity of the ion beam in the scatterer device is adjusted. As a result, a penumbra in dose distribution is reduced and a more uniform dose distribution in a direction perpendicular to the direction of beam advance is obtained in the diseased part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Yanagisawa, Hiroshi Akiyama, Koji Matsuda, Hisataka Fujimaki