Radiotherapy device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12382571-B2
Application number	US-202118005541-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2021
Priority date	Jul 16, 2020
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A particle accelerator comprises a waveguide configured to accelerate a beam of electrons along an acceleration path. A diversion channel is configured to convey a beam of electrons along a diversion path. A first magnet arrangement is configured to, at a first location, direct electrons from the acceleration path to the diversion path. A second magnet arrangement is configured to, at a second location, direct electrons from the diversion path to the acceleration path.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A particle accelerator comprising:
a waveguide configured to accelerate a beam of electrons along an acceleration path;
a diversion channel configured to convey the beam of electrons along a diversion path, wherein the diversion channel comprises a solenoid arrangement;
a first magnet arrangement configured to, at a first location, direct electrons from the acceleration path to the diversion path;
a second magnet arrangement configured to, at a second location, direct electrons from the diversion path to the acceleration path; and
an electromagnetic kicker magnet, wherein the electromagnetic kicker magnet is positioned between a second end of the waveguide and the first magnet arrangement, and wherein the electromagnetic kicker magnet comprises:
a first state; and
a second state, wherein when the electromagnetic kicker magnet is set to the first state, the beam of electrons continues to travel along a central axis of the waveguide towards a target, wherein when the electromagnetic kicker magnet is set to the second state, the beam of electrons is removed from the waveguide and inserted into the diversion channel, and wherein a first end of the diversion channel is positioned adjacent to the electromagnetic kicker magnet.

2. The particle accelerator of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide comprises a first end and second end, wherein the diversion channel comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first magnet arrangement is configured to remove the beam of electrons from the second end of the waveguide and insert the beam of electrons into the first end of the diversion channel at the first location, and wherein the second magnet arrangement is configured to remove the beam of electrons from the second end of the diversion channel and insert the beam of electrons into the first end of the waveguide at the second location.

3. The particle accelerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a source of electrons configured to input electrons into a first end of the waveguide and wherein the waveguide is configured to direct the electrons along the acceleration path towards a second end of the waveguide.

4. The particle accelerator of claim 3 , wherein the second magnet arrangement is located at an intersection between the source of electrons and the first end of the waveguide.

5. The particle accelerator of claim 2 , further comprising:
a target configured to produce X-rays when hit by the beam of electrons, wherein the target is proximate the second end of the waveguide.

6. The particle accelerator of claim 5 , wherein the first magnet arrangement is located at an intersection between the second end of the waveguide and the target.

7. The particle accelerator of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is configured such that beam of electrons travels in a primary direction along the central axis of the waveguide, wherein the diversion channel is configured such that the beam of electrons travels in a secondary direction along the diversion channel, wherein the secondary direction is parallel and opposite to the primary direction, and wherein the diversion channel comprises a second waveguide configured to accelerate a beam of electrons along a second acceleration path.

8. The particle accelerator of claim 7 , comprising:
a source of electrons which is positioned at a location offset from the central axis of the waveguide.

9. The particle accelerator of claim 1 , wherein the first magnet arrangement and second magnet arrangement each comprise at least one alpha magnet, the alpha magnet comprising:
an entrance point configured to receive electrons travelling in a first direction; and
a magnetic field of increasing strength in a direction away from the entrance point, such that received electrons travel along a beam path and exit the magnet at the entrance point travelling in a second direction.

10. The particle accelerator of claim 9 , wherein the second direction is angled at 270 degrees to the first direction.

11. The particle accelerator of claim 9 , wherein the first magnet arrangement and second magnet arrangement each comprise:
a first alpha magnet and a second alpha magnet, wherein the first alpha magnet is positioned to receive electrons from the waveguide, wherein the second alpha magnet is positioned to receive electrons from the first alpha magnet, and wherein the first alpha magnet is angled at 90 degrees to the second alpha magnet.

12. The particle accelerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a source of electromagnetic radiation configured to supply electromagnetic radiation to the waveguide to accelerate the beam of electrons.

Assignees

• Elekta ltd

Inventors

• Shinton Ian
• Bourne Duncan
• Doherty Peter
• Wooldridge Emma

Classifications

• H05H2277/11

  Radiotherapy · CPC title

• H05H2007/084

  Electron sources · CPC title

• H05H2007/065

  Multi-beam merging, e.g. funneling · CPC title

• H05H2007/045

  for beam bending · CPC title

• H05H9/00

  Linear accelerators · CPC title