Betatron Patents (Class 315/504)
  • Patent number: 11862320
    Abstract: A control device (110) for controlling at least one collimator is disclosed, wherein the collimator has a plurality of parts being designed for collimating and shaping rays, wherein the rays are generated for treating a predefined body part of a patient, wherein the control device (110) comprises a programmable logic controller (112), a plurality of controller nodes (114), a plurality of device controllers (118), and a plurality of real-time bus interfaces (116). Herein, the programmable logic controller (112) is designated as a first master device (122) with respect to each of the controller nodes (114), wherein the programmable logic controller (112) is designed for superordinate control of the plurality of parts of the collimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum
    Inventors: Steffen Seeber, Joao Graca
  • Patent number: 9974156
    Abstract: A circular accelerator that accelerates charged particles orbiting along an orbital path to a predetermined energy to perform, by deviating the path from the orbital path to an extraction path, extraction of the charged particles exceeding a stable region formed by multipole electromagnets, includes a multipole electromagnet energization control unit setting energization of the multipole electromagnets so that part of the charged particles are deviated to a discarding path other than the extraction path to discard unwanted charged particles, and then setting energization of the multipole electromagnets so that the charged particles orbiting in the orbital path are deviated to the extraction path to perform extraction of the charged particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo Sugahara, Shuhei Odawara
  • Patent number: 9408290
    Abstract: A method for controlling beam quality degradation from ISR and CSR and stabilizing the microbunching instability (?BI) in a high brightness electron beam. The method includes providing a super-periodic second order achromat line with each super period being individually linearly achromatic and isochronous, setting individual superperiod tunes to rational fractions of an integer (such as 4th or 6th integers), setting individual bend angles to be as small as practical to reduce driving terms due to dispersion and dispersive angle, and setting bend radii as large enough to suppress ISR but not negatively affect the radial dependence of CSR. The method includes setting the structure of the individual superperiods to minimize bend plane beam envelope values in the dipoles to reduce betatron response to a CSR event at a dispersed location, increasing beam angular divergence, and creating dispersion nodes in the dipoles to similarly reduce response to CSR events, and limit R56 modulation in order to mitigate ?BI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: JEFFERSON SCIENCE ASSOCIATES, LLC
    Inventors: David R. Douglas, Christopher Tennant
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150043717
    Abstract: Variable pulse frequency during an output session of a betatron device and adjustable energy from pulse to pulse are provided. A different bias magnetic field may be used for different cycles of an output session, thereby providing different pulse energies. In one example, the bias field can be switched from a positive value to zero, with energy stored in a storage device when the bias field is zero. The bias field can also be used to expand electrons from a stable orbit when the bias field is decreased. For variable pulse frequency, when a current in the swing coils decreases to zero, the swing coils can be disengaged from a storage device for an adjustable time before re-engaging for a next cycle, thereby adjusting the frequency. In addition, radiation dose output can be adjusted by varying a length of time for the injection of electrons into a betatron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gongyin Chen, Robert Drubka
  • 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: 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: 8836249
    Abstract: A method is described wherein a beam of charged particles is confined to an orbit within a compact region of space as it is accelerated across a wide range of energies. This confinement is achieved using a non-scaling magnetic field based on the Fixed Alternating Gradient principle where the field strength includes non-linear components. Examples of magnet configurations designed using this method are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Passport Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Bertozzi, Wilbur Franklin, Carol Johnstone, Robert J. Ledoux
  • Patent number: 8823291
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dual-frequency resonant cavity (6) for cyclotron which includes a dee (10), a pillar (20), and a conducting enclosure (40) surrounding the pillar and the dee, an end of the pillar being connected to the base of the conducting enclosure and an opposite end of the pillar (20) supporting the dee (10). The conducting enclosure and the pillar form a transmission line comprising at least three portions (20a, 20b, 20c), each portion having a characteristic impedance (Zc1, Zc2, Zc3). The characteristic impedance Zc2 of the intermediate portion (20b) is substantially lower than the characteristic impedances Zc1 et Zc3 of the two other portions (20a, 20b), which makes it possible to have the cavity resonate according to two modes in order to produce two distinct frequencies, without having to make use of moving components such as for example sliding short-circuits or mobile plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ion Beam Applications, S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Abs
  • Patent number: 8803453
    Abstract: A method for generating stabilized particle acceleration by a radio-frequency (RF) accelerator is described, comprising operating the accelerator in a warm-up mode during a warm-up time period, without injecting charged particles or without accelerating injected charged particles, and operating the accelerator in a beam-on mode during a beam-on time period after the warm-up time period, to accelerate charged particles injected by the charged particle source. Automatic frequency control to match an expected frequency of the accelerator during the beam-on time period, prior to the start of the beam-on time period, for stability, is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Eaton, Gongyin Chen, Timothy R. Fox
  • Patent number: 8771480
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff
  • Patent number: 8760086
    Abstract: An accelerator for accelerating two beams of charged particles and for producing a collision of the beams includes: an apparatus for producing an electrostatic potential field such that the two beams are acceleratable or deceleratable by the electrostatic field, a reaction zone for collision of the charged particles; first and second acceleration distances for the first and second beams, each acceleration distance directed towards the reaction zone, wherein the reaction zone is arranged geometrically with respect to the potential field and to the acceleration distances such that the particles of the beams are acceleratable towards the reaction zone along the first and second acceleration distances and, after interaction in the reaction zone and passage through the reaction zone, are deceleratable in the potential field, such that energy used by the potential field apparatus for accelerating the beams towards the reaction zone can be at least partially recovered by the deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Oliver Heid
  • Patent number: 8747624
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff
  • Patent number: 8736198
    Abstract: A circular accelerator comprises a target current value memory which stores a target current value of a beam current of charged particle which is extracted from an extracting device; and a frequency determination part in which a frequency change ratio is obtained by performing a feedback control based on an error signal between a detection signal of a beam current detector and a target current value which is stored in a target current value memory, and determines a subsequent frequency from the obtained frequency change ratio and a current frequency, wherein the subsequent frequency which is determined by the frequency determination part is stored in a frequency memory and a radio-frequency generator generates the subsequent radio-frequency of frequency which is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Haruna, Katsuhisa Yoshida, Masahiro Ikeda, Kengo Sugahara, Hirofumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8680792
    Abstract: An accelerator assembly includes a first chip and a second chip. An acceleration channel is formed into a surface of a first side of the first chip. The first side of the first chip is covalently bonded to a first side of the second chip such that the channel is a tubular void between the first and second chips. The channel has a tubular inside sidewall surface, substantially no portion of which is a metal surface. The channel has length-to-width ratio greater than five, and a channel width less than one micron. There are many substantially identical channels that extend in parallel between the first and second chips. In one specific example, the assembly is part of a Direct Write On Wafer (DWOW) printing system. The DWOW printing system is useful in semiconductor processing in that it can direct write an image onto a 300 mm diameter wafer in one minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Transmute, Inc.
    Inventors: Kim L. Hailey, Robert O. Conn
  • Patent number: 8643313
    Abstract: An actuator assembly for use within the vacuum field of a cyclotron, one embodiment of which comprises an interactor which is moveable between a first position and a second position, at least one support structure for supporting the interactor in the first and second positions, a shape memory alloy (SMA) element connected to the interactor and/or support structure and being adapted to exert a force on the interactor and/or support structure so as to urge the interactor from the first position to the second position, an electromagnetic activator operatively associated with the SMA element for causing the element to exert the force when the electromagnetic activator is selectably activated, and a return mechanism operatively connected to the interactor, the support structure and/or the SMA element so as to urge the interactor from the second position to the first position when the electromagnetic activator is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Johan Larsson
  • Patent number: 8643314
    Abstract: A particle accelerator that is a synchrocyclotron accelerating charged particles and which includes an acceleration electrode that accelerates the charged particles; a high frequency power source that supplies the electric power to the acceleration electrode; a control unit that adjusts the frequency of the electric power supplied from the high frequency power source based on energy of the charged particle which is accelerated; and a matching circuit that has a coil and a capacitor, and performing impedance matching between the acceleration electrode and the high frequency power source, wherein the matching circuit has an inductance adjustment unit electrically adjusting the inductance of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Touchi
  • Patent number: 8629633
    Abstract: A DC high voltage source may include: (a) a capacitor stack having a first electrode which can be brought to a first potential, a second electrode concentric with the first electrode and which can be brought to a second potential different from the first potential, and a plurality of intermediate electrodes concentric with respect to each other and concentrically between the first and second electrodes and which can be brought to a sequence of increasing potential levels between the first and second potentials, and (b) a switching device to which the electrodes of the capacitor stack are connected and which is configured such that, during operation of the switching device, the electrodes of the capacitor stack can be brought to the increasing potential levels, wherein the distance of the electrodes of the capacitor stack decreases toward the central electrode. An accelerator comprising such a DC high voltage source is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Oliver Heid, Timothy Hughes
  • Patent number: 8624528
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to treatment of solid cancers. More particularly, the invention relates to enhancing synchrotron acceleration cycle usage efficiency by adjusting the synchrotron's acceleration cycle to correlate with a patient's respiration rate where efficiency refers to the duty cycle or the percentage of acceleration cycles used to deliver charged particles to the tumor. The system senses patient respiration and controls timing of negative ion beam formation, injection of charged particles into a synchrotron, acceleration of the charged particles, and extraction to yield delivery of the particles to the tumor at a predetermine period of the patient's respiration cycle. Independent control of charged particle energy and intensity is maintained during the timed irradiation therapy. Multi-field irradiation ensures efficient delivery of Bragg peak energy to the tumor while spreading ingress energy about the tumor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8614429
    Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus for treatment of solid cancer. More particularly, the invention comprises a multi-axis and/or multi-field charged particle cancer therapy system. The system independently controls patient translation position, patient rotation position, two-dimensional beam trajectory, delivered beam energy, delivered beam intensity, timing of charged particle delivery, and/or distribution of radiation striking healthy tissue. The system operates in conjunction with a negative ion beam source, synchrotron, patient positioning, imaging, and/or targeting method and apparatus to deliver an effective and uniform dose of radiation to a tumor while distributing radiation striking healthy tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8581215
    Abstract: The invention comprises a patient positioning method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The patient positioning system is used to translate the patient and/or rotate the patient into a zone where the proton beam can scan the tumor using a targeting system. The patient positioning system is optionally used in conjunction with systems used to constrain movement of the patient, such as semi-vertical, sitting, or laying positioning systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8575867
    Abstract: A charged particle accelerator having a curvilinear beam trajectory maintained solely by a laterally directed, constant electric field; requiring no magnetic field. A method for controlling the trajectory of a charged particle in an accelerator by applying only a constant electric field for beam trajectory control. Curvilinear steering electrodes held at a constant potential create the beam path. A method for making a chip-scale charged particle accelerator involves integrated circuit-based processes and materials. A particle accelerator that can generate 110 KeV may a footprint less than about 1 cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Amit Lal, Shi Yue
  • Patent number: 8564225
    Abstract: An accelerator assembly includes an acceleration channel that passes in a straight line through a plurality of accelerator cells. Each cell includes an acceleration region and a drift region. The drift region includes a high voltage plate and a grid electrode, where the grid electrode is disposed between the high voltage plate and the channel. In each cell, a large DC voltage is present on the high voltage plate. A voltage on the grid electrode is controlled such that at a first time an ion in the channel is attracted toward the high voltage plate, and such that at a second time the ion is shielded and is not attracted toward the high voltage plate. In one specific example, the assembly is part of a Direct Write On Wafer (DWOW) printing system that can direct write an image onto a 300 mm diameter wafer in one minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Transmute, Inc.
    Inventors: Kim L. Hailey, Robert O. Conn
  • Patent number: 8525449
    Abstract: A charged particle beam extraction method according to the present invention is featured in that, in a circular accelerator which accelerates a charged particle beam, a pulse voltage is applied to a part of the accelerated charged particle beam to generate a momentum deviation only in the part of the charged particle beam, in that the charged particles of a part of the charged particle beam, the charged particles having a large momentum deviation, are located in a non-stable region and in an extraction region in a horizontal phase space with respect to the traveling direction of the charged particle beam, and in that a group of the charged particles located in the non-stable region and in the extraction region are largely deviated in the horizontal direction so as to be extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nat'l University Corporation Gunma University
    Inventors: Kota Torikai, Satoru Yamada
  • Patent number: 8421041
    Abstract: The invention comprises intensity control of a charged particle beam acceleration, extraction, and/or targeting method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Particularly, intensity of a charged particle stream of a synchrotron is described. Intensity control is described in combination with turning magnets, edge focusing magnets, concentrating magnetic field magnets, winding and control coils, and extraction elements of the synchrotron. The system reduces the overall size of the synchrotron, provides a tightly controlled proton beam, directly reduces the size of required magnetic fields, directly reduces required operating power, and allows continual acceleration of protons in a synchrotron even during a process of extracting protons from the synchrotron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8399866
    Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle beam extraction method and apparatus optionally used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The system uses a radio-frequency (RF) cavity system to induce 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 element of a set of foils. 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 where thickness of a selected foil is a function of energy of circulating charged particles. The physically separated charged particle stream is then removed from the system by use of an applied field and deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8378311
    Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle cancer therapy system or synchrotron system using one or more switches to introduce a corresponding one or more resistors into a circuit linking a power supply to a magnet or an inductor during an applied power recovery phase between acceleration cycles of the synchrotron, which reduces time of reduction in power from an active applied power to a power suitable for use with a subsequent injection of charged particles into the synchrotron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8373145
    Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle beam acceleration, extraction, and/or targeting method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Novel design features of a synchrotron are described. Particularly, turning magnets, edge focusing magnets, concentrating magnetic field magnets, winding and control coils, and extraction elements are described that minimize the overall size of the synchrotron, provide a tightly controlled proton beam, directly reduce the size of required magnetic fields, directly reduces required operating power, and allow continual acceleration of protons in a synchrotron even during a process of extracting protons from the synchrotron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8368038
    Abstract: The invention comprises intensity control of a charged particle beam acceleration, extraction, and/or targeting method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Particularly, intensity of a charged particle stream of a synchrotron is described. Intensity control is described in combination with turning magnets, edge focusing magnets, concentrating magnetic field magnets, winding and control coils, and extraction elements of the synchrotron. The system reduces the overall size of the synchrotron, provides a tightly controlled proton beam, directly reduces the size of required magnetic fields, directly reduces required operating power, and allows continual acceleration of protons in a synchrotron even during a process of extracting protons from the synchrotron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8362717
    Abstract: A betatron magnet, the betatron magnet comprising at least one electron injector positioned approximate an inside of a radius of an betatron orbit, such that electrons are injected into the betatron orbit with the at least one electron injector positioned within an electron acceleration passageway, whereby the electron acceleration passageway is located within a vacuum chamber; and wherein the at least one electron injector is driven with an inductive means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Felix K. Chen
  • Patent number: 8311186
    Abstract: A multi-directional dispenser cathode has a cathode body that supports a plurality of electron emitters which spanning open portions of the cathode body. Each electron emitter has an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface wherein the inward facing surfaces and an interior wall of the body define an interior volume that contains a heater. To selectively accelerate emitted electrons, an electrically distinct biasing electrode is in spaced relationship to the outward facing surface of each electron emitter and coupled to a biasing power supply effective to provide an intermittent positive voltage potential to the biasing electrode. The distinct biasing electrodes are provided with a positive voltage potential at different times thereby causing an intermittent burst of electrons. Among the applications for intermittent bursts of accelerated electrons are to generate radiation from a particle accelerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Luke T. Perkins
  • Publication number: 20120274242
    Abstract: A circular accelerator comprises a target current value memory which stores a target current value of a beam current of charged particle which is extracted from an extracting device; and a frequency determination part in which a frequency change ratio is obtained by performing a feedback control based on an error signal between a detection signal of a beam current detector and a target current value which is stored in a target current value memory, and determines a subsequent frequency from the obtained frequency change ratio and a current frequency, wherein the subsequent frequency which is determined by the frequency determination part is stored in a frequency memory and a radio-frequency generator generates the subsequent radio-frequency of frequency which is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Haruna, Katsuhisa Yoshida, Masahiro Ikeda, Kengo Sugahara, Hirofumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8274243
    Abstract: Target respiration information is created in which a patient respiration pattern is set in advance to a cycle suitable for an operation cycle of a synchrotron, and the target respiration information is informed to the patient, so that a patient respiration timing becomes a state suitable for an operation of the synchrotron in such a manner that the patient consciously matches with the informed information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Harada, Akihiko Hoshi
  • Patent number: 8258724
    Abstract: A tunable LC circuit is used to trigger an electron discharge from an accelerator device, such as a Betatron. The circuit includes a coil as a first inductor having a first inductance electrically coupled in series with a capacitor. A second inductor having a variable inductance is electrically coupled, either in series or parallel, to the first inductor. The time to capacitor discharge is governed by: ?LC=?{square root over ((L+LTUNE)C)}. Adjusting the inductance of the variable inductor (LTUNE) facilitates continuous adjustment of the discharge time. This is particularly useful when the LC values change in response to external stimuli, such as borehole temperature when a Betatron is used to log borehole features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Vincent Ernst
  • Patent number: 8198607
    Abstract: The invention comprises a tandem accelerator method and apparatus, which is part of an ion beam injection system used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The negative ion beam source includes an injection system vacuum system and a synchrotron vacuum system separated by a 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. Having the foil physically separating the vacuum chamber into two pressure regions allows for fewer and/or smaller pumps to maintain the lower pressure system in the synchrotron as the inlet hydrogen gas is extracted in a separate contained and isolated space by the injection partial vacuum system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8188688
    Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle beam acceleration, extraction, and/or targeting method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Novel design features of a synchrotron are described. Particularly, turning magnets, edge focusing magnets, concentrating magnetic field magnets, winding and control coils, flat surface incident magnetic field surfaces, and extraction elements are described that minimize the overall size of the synchrotron, provide a tightly controlled proton beam, directly reduce the size of required magnetic fields, directly reduces required operating power, and allow continual acceleration of protons in a synchrotron even during a process of extracting protons from the synchrotron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8178859
    Abstract: The invention comprises a proton beam positioning method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The proton beam verification system allows for monitoring of the actual proton beam position in real-time without destruction of the proton beam. The system includes a coating or thin layer substantially in contact with a foil covering the end of an exit nozzle or is a layer located after the x- and y-axis proton beam scanning controllers and before the patient. The coating yields a measurable spectroscopic response, spatially viewable by the detector, as a result of transmission by the proton beam. The proton beam position is monitored by the detector and compared to the calibration and/or treatment plan to verify accurate proton delivery to the tumor and/or as a proton beam shutoff safety indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Publication number: 20120013274
    Abstract: A method is described wherein a beam of charged particles is confined to an orbit within a compact region of space as it is accelerated across a wide range of energies. This confinement is achieved using a non-scaling magnetic field based on the Fixed Alternating Gradient principle where the field strength includes non-linear components. Examples of magnet configurations designed using this method are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: William Bertozzi, Wilbur Franklin, Carol Johnstone, Robert J. Ledoux
  • Patent number: 8089054
    Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle beam acceleration and/or extraction method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Novel design features of a synchrotron are described. Particularly, turning magnets, edge focusing magnets, and extraction elements are described that minimize the overall size of the synchrotron, provide a tightly controlled proton beam, directly reduce the size of required magnetic fields, directly reduces required operating power, and allow continual acceleration of protons in a synchrotron even during a process of extracting protons from the synchrotron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8084965
    Abstract: An accelerator that can accelerate by itself all ions up to any energy level allowed by the magnetic fields for beam guiding, and provides an all-ion accelerator in which with trigger timing and a charging time of an induced voltage applied to an ion beam injected from a preinjector by induction cells for confinement and acceleration used in an induction synchrotron, digital signal processors for confinement and acceleration and pattern generators for confinement and acceleration generate gate signal patterns for confinement and acceleration on the basis of a passage signal of the ion beam and an induced voltage signal for indicating the value of the induced voltage applied to the ion beam, and intelligent control devices for confinement and acceleration perform feedback control of on/off of the induction cells for confinement and acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Inter-University Research Institute Corporation High Energy Accelerator Research Organization
    Inventors: Ken Takayama, Yoshito Shimosaki, Kota Torikai, Yoshio Arakida
  • Patent number: 8073107
    Abstract: A betatron, especially in X-ray testing apparatus is provided, that includes a rotationally symmetrical inner yoke having two interspaced parts, an outer yoke connecting the two inner yoke parts, at least one main field coil, a toroidal betatron tube arranged between the opposing front sides of the inner yoke parts, and at least one contraction and expansion coil. An individual CE coil is respectively arranged between the front side of the inner yoke part and the betatron tube, and the radius of the CE coil is essentially the same as the nominal orbital radius of the electrons in the betatron tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Bermuth, Georg Geus, Gregor Hess, Urs Viehboeck
  • Patent number: 8035321
    Abstract: An electron acceleration portion of a Betatron having a vacuum chamber with an interior wall spaced from an exterior wall with a main electron orbit located approximate to the exterior wall and the interior wall. An electron injector has an anode structured and arranged adjacent a wall selected from the group consisting of the interior wall and the exterior wall that is shaped so as to not impede the main electron orbit. There is at least one electron deflection plate disposed approximate an anode end of the anode and the main electron orbit. There can be two electron deflection plates spaced apart that form a gap of a width effective to receive emitted electrons from the electron injector. Such that, there is a voltage potential between the two electron deflection plates that is effective to deflect emitted electrons towards the main electron orbit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Felix Chen, Christian Stoller, Olivier Philip, Luke T. Perkins
  • Patent number: 8029684
    Abstract: A self-emission panel and a method of manufacturing a self-emission panel which can prevent emission failures from occurring due to various factors, thereby achieving a self-emission panel that is free from emission failures. The self-emission panel is manufactured by forming a first conductive layer on a substrate directly or via other layers, forming a deposition layer including a luminescent layer on the first conductive layer, and forming a second conductive layer on the deposition layer. This manufacturing method includes: a first step of forming a sectioning layer for sectioning an opening for making a emission area on the first conductive layer after the formation of the first conductive layer; a second step of applying surface treatment to at least the surface of the first conductive layer inside the opening; and a third step of depositing a deposition layer on the first conductive layer given surface treatment in the second step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Tohoku Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Nakajima, Yusuke Nakajima, Toshinao Yuki
  • Patent number: 8013546
    Abstract: A betatron, especially for an X-ray testing apparatus is provided that includes a rotationally symmetrical inner yoke having two interspaced parts, at least one round plate that is arranged between the inner yoke parts in such a way that the longitudinal axis thereof coincides with the rotational symmetrical axis of the inner yoke, an outer yoke connecting the two inner yoke parts, at least one main field coil, a toroidal betatron tube arranged between the inner yoke parts, at least one tune coil in the region of the at least one round plate, and an electronic control system for controlling a current flow through the tune coil during the injection phase of the electrons into the betatron tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Bermuth, Georg Geus, Gregor Hess, Urs Viehboeck
  • Patent number: 7994739
    Abstract: A betatron magnet having at least one electron injector positioned approximate an inside of a radius of a betatron orbit, the betatron magnet further includes a first guide magnet having a first pole face and a second guide magnet having a second pole face. Both the first and the second guide magnet have a centrally disposed aperture and the first pole face is separated from the second pole face by a guide magnet gap. A core is disposed within the centrally disposed apertures in an abutting relationship with both guide magnets. The core has at least one core gap. A drive coil is wound around both guide magnet pole faces. An orbit control coil has a core portion wound around the core gap and a field portion wound around the guide magnet pole faces. The core portion and the field portion are connected but in opposite polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Felix K. Chen
  • Patent number: 7994740
    Abstract: A betatron is provided, particularly in an x-ray inspection station, comprising an accelerator block that is provided with a rotationally symmetrical inner yoke composed of two spaced-apart pieces, at least one main field coil, and a toroidal betatron tube which is disposed between the pieces of the inner yoke. The betatron further comprises an outer yoke which embraces the accelerator block, connects the two pieces of the inner yoke, and has at least one lateral opening, as well as a lead shield that accommodates the accelerator block and the outer yoke. The outer yoke is composed of at least two parts which are movable relative to one another between an open and a closed position. The accelerator block can be laterally removed from the opening of the outer yoke that is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Bermuth, Georg Geus, Gregor Hess, Urs Viehboeck
  • Patent number: 7982416
    Abstract: In a circular accelerator, a magnetic pole edge portion of a bending electromagnet into and from which a charged particle beam enters and exits is provided with endpacks. A first protrusion is provided at that part of each end pack which is radially outside the equilibrium orbit of a center energy beam, while a second protrusion is provided at that part of each end pack which is radially inside the equilibrium orbit of the center energy beam. The shapes of the first and second protrusions are set so that the betatron oscillation numbers of beams of different acceleration energies may be held constant or become linear to the energies. In case of emitting the charged particle beam out of the circular accelerator, the change of a tune attributed to the change of the beam orbit can be statically corrected, the tune is linearly changed, and an adjustment of the emission of the beam becomes easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Tanaka, Takashi Hifumi, Katsuhisa Yoshida, Kazuo Yamamoto, Yoichi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7983393
    Abstract: A betatron is provided for producing pulses of accelerated electrons, particularly in an x-ray testing device, comprising at least one main field coil, one expansion coil for transferring the accelerated electrons to a target, and one electronic control system of the expansion coil for applying an expansion pulse to the expansion coil. The electronic control system of the expansion coil is designed such that the time of the expansion pulse for adjusting the final energy of the electrons is variable relative to the main field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Bermuth, Georg Geus, Gregor Hess, Urs Viehboeck
  • Patent number: 7939809
    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 (RF) 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: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 7928672
    Abstract: Described herein is a modulator circuit for generating discrete energy pulses in a device. The circuit includes a high voltage power source intermittently coupled to a saturable first inductor, a second inductor and a capacitor coupled in parallel between the high voltage power source and the saturable first inductor and second inductor. When the first inductor is unsaturated, its inductance is high and it isolates the capacitor from the second inductor. When the first inductor saturates, the inductance collapses and the capacitor discharges a high energy pulse into the second coil. By controlling the time to saturation, the timing of the pulses is controlled. The modulator circuit is effective to control pulses applied to a circular induction accelerator, such as a Betatron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Vincent Ernst