Radiotherapy device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023262868-A1
Application number	US-202118005541-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 15, 2021
Priority date	Jul 16, 2020
Publication date	Aug 17, 2023
Grant date	—

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

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

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

5 . The particle accelerator of any of claims 2 to 4 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 the intersection between the second end of the waveguide and the target.

7 . The particle accelerator of any preceding claim, wherein the waveguide is configured such that beam of electrons travels in a primary direction along the central axis of the waveguide; and 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.

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

9 . The particle accelerator of any preceding claim 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 or 10 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, the second alpha magnet is positioned to receive electrons from the first alpha magnet, and first alpha magnet is angled at 90 degrees to the second alpha magnet.

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

13 . The particle accelerator of any preceding claim, wherein the diversion channel comprises a solenoid arrangement.

14 . The particle accelerator of any preceding claim, further comprising an electromagnetic kicker magnet.

15 . The particle accelerator of claim 14 , wherein the electromagnetic kicker magnet is positioned between a second end of the waveguide and the first magnet arrangement.

16 . The particle accelerator of claim 14 or 15 , 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 the central axis of the waveguide towards the target, and 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.

17 . The particle accelerator of any of claims 14 to 16 , wherein a first end of the diversion channel is positioned adjacent to the electromagnetic kicker magnet.

18 . The particle accelerator of any of claims 1 to 12 wherein the division channel comprises a second waveguide configured to accelerate a beam of electrons along a second acceleration path.

19 . A method for use in a particle accelerator, the method comprising:
accelerating a beam of electrons along the central axis of a waveguide; directing, using a first magnet arrangement, electrons from the beam of electrons from the waveguide and into a diversion channel; conveying electrons along the diversion channel; and directing, using a second magnet arrangement, electrons from the diversion channel to the waveguide; and accelerating the electrons along the central axis of the waveguide.

20 . A dual-mode particle accelerator comprising:
a waveguide configured to accelerate a beam of electrons along a first acceleration path; a secondary channel configured to transmit a beam of electrons along a second path; a magnet arrangement configured to direct electrons between the waveguide and the secondary channel; wherein the particle accelerator comprising two modes; wherein when in the first mode, the magnet arrangement is turned off and the beam of electrons passes along the first acceleration path; wherein when in the second mode, the magnet arrangement is turned on and the beam of electrons passes along the first acceleration path and the second path.

21 . A particle accelerator comprising:
a first waveguide configured to accelerate a beam of electrons along a first acceleration path; a first source of electrons configured to input electrons into the first waveguide; a second waveguide configured to accelerate a beam of electrons along a second acceleration path; a second source of electrons configured to input electrons into the second waveguide; and a magnet arrangement configured to direct electrons from the second acceleration path to the first acceleration path.

22 . The particle accelerator of claim 21 , wherein
the first waveguide comprises a first end and second end, wherein the first source is electrons is located proximate the first end; the second waveguide comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the second source is electrons is located proximate the second end; and the first magnet arrangement is configured to remove the beam of electrons from the second end of the second waveguide and the insert the beam of electrons into the first end of the first waveguide.

23 . The particle accelerator of claim 21 or 22 wherein the magnet arrangement comprises at least one alpha magnet, the alpha magnet comprising:
an entrance point configured to receive electrons travelling in a first direction; and
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Assignees

• Elekta ltd

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H05H7/04 Primary

  Magnet systems {, e.g. undulators, wigglers (free-electron laser H01S3/0903)}; Energisation thereof · CPC title

• H05H9/00

  Linear accelerators · CPC title

• H05H7/08

  Arrangements for injecting particles into orbits · CPC title

• H05H7/06

  Two-beam arrangements; Multi-beam arrangements {storage rings}; Electron rings · CPC title

• H05H7/16

  of the waveguide type · CPC title