Irradiation device and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016279447-A1
Application number	US-201414909780-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 15, 2014
Priority date	Dec 17, 2013
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Irradiation device for irradiating an irradiation object with heavy charged particles, comprising a support for the irradiation object, and an irradiation nozzle irradiating a charged particle beam towards the irradiation object, wherein the beam is deflected within the irradiation nozzle. The support for the irradiation object is moveable at least horizontally, and the irradiation nozzle is moveable at least vertically and rotatable around a nozzle swivel axis along which the particle beam enters into the irradiation nozzle.

First claim

1 . An irradiation device for irradiating an irradiation object with heavy charged particles, comprising a support for the irradiation object, and an irradiation nozzle irradiating a charged particle beam towards the irradiation object, wherein the beam is deflected within the irradiation nozzle, characterized in that the support for the irradiation object is moveable at least horizontally and the irradiation nozzle is moveable at least vertically and rotatable around a nozzle swivel axis along which the particle beam enters into the irradiation nozzle.

2 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the nozzle swivel axis is horizontal.

3 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the vertical and the rotary movement of the nozzle are coordinated by control means controlling the position and direction of the particle beam irradiated from the irradiation nozzle.

4 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least two of the three movements
(i) horizontal movement of the support (ii) vertical movement of the nozzle (iii) rotary movement of the nozzle
are coordinated by control means in such way that the particle beam keeps impinging onto the irradiation object when the support and/or nozzle is moved.

5 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the horizontal movement of the support and the vertical and rotary movement of the nozzle are coordinated by control means in such way that the particle beam impinges onto the irradiation object at a defined distance from the irradiation nozzle when the support and/or the nozzle are moved.

6 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the angle between the direction of the beam impinging onto the irradiation object and the vertical direction can be varied between 0° and +180°.

7 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the support for the irradiation object is rotatable around a vertical axis by 180°.

8 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the device comprises a pivotable cantilever arm for effecting the vertical movement of the irradiation nozzle, the cantilever arm being pivotable around a cantilever arm swivel axis and comprising beam guidance means guiding the beam to the irradiation nozzle forming the end portion of the cantilever arm, wherein the particle beam enters into the cantilever arm along the cantilever arm swivel axis, and wherein the cantilever arm comprises a first beam deflector deflecting the entering particle beam away from the cantilever arm swivel axis by 90°, and wherein the cantilever arm comprises, downstream from the first deflector, a second deflector deflecting the particle beam into the irradiation nozzle.

9 . The irradiation device according to claim 8 , characterized in that the cantilever arm swivel axis and/or the nozzle swivel axis are horizontal and/or the first deflector and/or the second deflector deflect the particle beam by 90°.

10 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the device comprises a telescope arm for effecting vertical movement of the irradiation nozzle, the telescope arm comprising beam guidance means for guiding the beam to the irradiation nozzle forming the end portion of the telescope arm, wherein the telescope arm comprises a telescope section of variable length (L) and, at the downstream end of the telescope section, a deflector deflecting the beam into the irradiation nozzle, wherein the irradiation nozzle is moved vertically by variation of the length (L) of the telescope section.

11 . The irradiation device according to claim 10 , characterized in that the nozzle swivel axis is horizontal and/or the beam enters into the telescope arm in horizontal direction and is deflected into the telescope section.

12 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the vertical movement of the irradiation nozzle is effected by arranging the beam source and the beam guidance means guiding the beam into the irradiation nozzle and the irradiation nozzle on a platform, the platform beam at least movable vertically.

13 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the device comprises upstream from the irradiation nozzle a beam deflector allowing to deflect the beam to variable inclinations compared to the horizontal plane in such way that the beam can enter into the irradiation nozzle at various vertical elevations.

14 . A method for irradiating an irradiation object with heavy charged particles from various angular directions, comprising placing the irradiation object onto a support, which is moveable at least horizontally, and irradiating a charged particle beam from an irradiation nozzle along a certain irradiation direction towards the irradiation object, and deflecting the beam within the irradiation nozzle, characterized by changing the irradiation direction by moving the support at least horizontally and by moving the irradiation nozzle at least vertically and rotating the irradiation nozzle around a swivel axis, along which the particle beam enters the nozzle.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , characterized in that the distance from the irradiation nozzle to the irradiation object is maintained constant while the irradiation direction is changed by moving and/or rotating the irradiation nozzle and/or moving the support.

16 . The irradiation device according to claim 2 , characterized in that the vertical and the rotary movement of the nozzle are coordinated by control means controlling the position and direction of the particle beam irradiated from the irradiation nozzle.

17 . The irradiation device according to claim 2 , characterized in that at least two of the three movements
(iv) horizontal movement of the support (v) vertical movement of the nozzle (vi) rotary movement of the nozzle
are coordinated by control means in such way that the particle beam keeps impinging onto the irradiation object when the support and/or nozzle is moved.

18 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the horizontal movement of the support and the vertical and rotary movement of the nozzle are coordinated by control means in such way that the particle beam impinges onto the irradiation object at a defined, constant distance from the irradiation nozzle when the support and/or the nozzle are moved.

19 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the angle between the direction of the beam impinging onto the irradiation object and the vertical direction is configured to be varied between −180° and +180°.

20 . The irradiation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the angle between the direction of the beam impinging onto the irradiation object and the vertical direction can be continuously varied between 0° and +180°.

21 . The irradiation device according to claim 10 , characterized in that the nozzle swivel axis is horizontal and/or the beam enters into the telescope arm in horizontal direction and is deflected into the telescope section which is vertical.

22 . The irradiation device of claim 1 , wherein the beam is deflected within the irradiation nozzle by 90°.

Assignees

• Varian Medical Systems Particle Therapy Gmbh

Inventors

• Timmer Jan
• Schultheiss Juergen
• Cruz Luis Alberto
• Schillo Michael

Classifications

• H05H7/001

  Arrangements for beam delivery or irradiation (irradiation systems per se G21K5/00) · CPC title

• H05H2007/002

  for modifying beam trajectory, e.g. gantries · CPC title

• A61N5/1067

  in real time, i.e. during treatment · CPC title

• A61N5/107

  in real time, i.e. during treatment · CPC title

• A61N2005/1087

  Ions; Protons · CPC title