The disclosed embodiments include downhole gamma-ray generators and methods to utilize downhole gamma-ray generators in a downhole environment. In one embodiment, a downhole gamma-ray generator includes a target foil formed from a first material. The downhole gamma-ray generator also includes a second layer deposited along a back surface of the target foil. The downhole gamma-ray generator further includes a laser system operable to direct optical pulses onto a front surface of the target foil to ionize atoms of the first material, where electrons produced by ionization of the first material propagate through the target foil and decelerates when the electrons interact with the high density material, and where the deceleration of the electrons produces gamma-rays that are utilized to obtain one or more formation properties of a downhole formation.

A radioisotope production apparatus (RI) comprising an electron source arranged to provide an electron beam (E). The electron source comprises an electron injector (10) and an electron accelerator (20). The radioisotope production apparatus (RI) further comprises a target support structure configured to hold a target (30) and a beam splitter (40) arranged to direct the a first portion of the electron beam along a first path towards a first side of the target (30) and to direct a second portion of the electron beam along a second path towards a second side of the target (30).

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for tracking and/or imaging impact of a particle beam treating a tumor using one or more imaging systems positionable about the tumor, such as a positron emission tracking and/or imaging system, where resulting tracking/imaging data: dynamically determines a treatment beam position, tracks a history of treatment beam positions, guides the treatment beam, and/or images a tumor before, during, and/or after treatment with the charged particle beam.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for tracking and/or imaging impact of a particle beam treating a tumor using one or more imaging systems positionable about the tumor, such as a positron emission tracking and/or imaging system, where resulting tracking/imaging data: dynamically determines a treatment beam position, tracks a history of treatment beam positions, guides the treatment beam, and/or images a tumor before, during, and/or after treatment with the charged particle beam.

The invention comprises a fiducial markerfiducial detector based treatment room position determination/positioning system apparatus and method of use thereof. A set of fiducial markers and fiducial detectors are used to mark/determine relative position of static and/or moveable objects in a treatment room using photons passing from the markers to the detectors. Further, position and orientation of at least one of the objects is calibrated to a reference line, such as a zero-offset beam treatment line passing through an exit nozzle, which yields a relative position of each fiducially marked object in the treatment room. Treatment calculations are subsequently determined using the reference line and/or points thereon. The treatment calculations are optionally and preferably performed without use of an isocenter point, such as a central point about which a treatment room gantry rotates, which eliminates mechanical errors associated with the isocenter point being an isocenter volume in practice.

The invention comprises a fiducial markerfiducial detector based treatment room position determination/positioning system apparatus and method of use thereof. A set of fiducial markers and fiducial detectors are used to mark/determine relative position of static and/or moveable objects in a treatment room using photons passing from the markers to the detectors. Further, position and orientation of at least one of the objects is calibrated to a reference line, such as a zero-offset beam treatment line passing through an exit nozzle, which yields a relative position of each fiducially marked object in the treatment room. Treatment calculations are subsequently determined using the reference line and/or points thereon. The treatment calculations are optionally and preferably performed without use of an isocenter point, such as a central point about which a treatment room gantry rotates, which eliminates mechanical errors associated with the isocenter point being an isocenter volume in practice.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor, comprising the steps of: (1) a main controller sequentially delivering charged particles from a synchrotron along a first beam transport line, through a nozzle system, and to the tumor according to a current version of the radiation treatment plan; (2) concurrent with the step of delivering, generating an image of the tumor using an imaging system; (3) the main controller automatically generating an updated version of the radiation treatment plan using the image, the updated version of the radiation treatment plan becoming the current version of the radiation treatment plan; and (4) repeating the steps of: delivering grouped bunches of the charged particles, generating an image of the tumor, and automatically generating the updated or current version of the radiation treatment plan with optional intervening doctor approval.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor, comprising the steps of: (1) a main controller implementing an initial radiation treatment plan, as a current radiation treatment plan, using positively charged particles delivered from a synchrotron, along a beam transport line, through a nozzle system proximate the treatment room, and into the tumor; (2) concurrent with the step of implementing, imaging the tumor, such as with protons, to generate a current image; (3) upon detection of movement of the tumor relative to surrounding constituents of the patient using the current image, the main controller, using computer implemented code, automatically generating an updated treatment plan, the updated treatment plan becoming the current radiation treatment plan; and (4) repeating the steps of implementing, imaging, and generating an updated treatment plan at least n times, where n is a positive integer of at least one.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor, comprising the steps of: (1) a main controller implementing an initial radiation treatment plan, as a current radiation treatment plan, using positively charged particles delivered from a synchrotron, along a beam transport line, through a nozzle system proximate the treatment room, and into the tumor; (2) concurrent with the step of implementing, imaging the tumor, such as with protons, to generate a current image; (3) upon detection of movement of the tumor relative to surrounding constituents of the patient using the current image, the main controller, using computer implemented code, automatically generating an updated treatment plan, the updated treatment plan becoming the current radiation treatment plan; and (4) repeating the steps of implementing, imaging, and generating an updated treatment plan at least n times, where n is a positive integer of at least one.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor with positively charged particles, comprising the steps of: (1) transporting the positively charged particles sequentially from an accelerator, along a beam transport path, through a nozzle system, and along a treatment beam path and (2) while scanning the treatment beam path along each of a set of vectors for treating the tumor, on average for the set of vectors, intentionally deviating the treatment beam path from a current vector of the set of vectors off of the current vector by at least one-eighth of a treatment beam diameter at least once for every twenty movements of the treatment beam.