Compact lightweight high-performance proton therapy beamline

Abstract

A compact lightweight gantry for a proton therapy system that has a source-to-axis distance (SAD) of less than (2) m and can deliver a proton beam of superior quality. The reduced SAD leads to reducedrequirements on the maximum magnetic fields that can be generated by the bend magnets in the gantry beamline. Correspondingly, lightweight bend magnets can be used. The various components in the gantry beamline are optimized to achieve a beam spot size of approximately (4) mm sigma or less through a pencil beam scanning nozzle disposed downstream of the final bending magnet. In addition, the proton therapy system is configured to operate at a maximum beam energy in the range of (220-230) MeV.

Description

technical field [0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of radiation therapy systems, and more particularly to the field of proton therapy systems. Background technique [0002] For example, in a general proton therapy system for tumor radiation therapy, a proton beam is generated, and the proton beam having a certain initial energy is output from an accelerator (eg, a cyclotron or a synchrotron). The initial energy determines the maximum penetration depth of the proton beam and is typically 235 MeV or higher. As the proton beam passes through the beam delivery system or beam line, the beam energy is precisely adjusted by an energy selection mechanism (eg, energy reducer or energy notch). The delivery system includes multiple magnets for beam redirection (bending), focusing and steering. A rotating gantry equipped with radiation nozzles is located at the end of the beam delivery system. Finally, the beam is delivered to the treatment station based on ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Such a gantry system may offer a relatively small footprint, unfortunately with a considerable penalty in beam precision, delivery accuracy, and many other aspects of system performance and quality of treatment

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