A proton therapy system based on a compact superconducting cyclotron, including: a superconducting cyclotron system, an energy selection system, a beam transport system, a fixed therapy room subsystem and a rotating frame therapy subsystem; a fixed-energy proton beam extracted from a superconducting cyclotron of the superconducting cyclotron system is adjusted into a continuous and adjustable proton beam of 70 MeV to 200 MeV by the energy selection system, thus realizing a longitudinal adjustment for a proton range during treating a tumor, and the continuous and adjustable proton beam is respectively transmitted to the fixed therapy room subsystem and the rotating frame therapy subsystem by the beam transport system. The cooperative control of the superconducting cyclotron system, the energy selection system, the beam transport system and the therapy head realizes the transverse expansion of proton beams, thus realizing intensity modulated radiation therapy for the tumor.

An example particle therapy system may include: a synchrocyclotron to produce a particle beam; a scanner to move the particle beam in one or more dimensions relative to an irradiation target; and an energy degrader that is between the scanner and the irradiation target. The energy degrader may include multiple plates that are movable relative to a path of the particle beam, with the multiple plates each being controllable to move while in the path of the particle beam and during movement of the particle beam. An aperture may be between the energy degrader and the irradiation target. The aperture being may be to trim the particle beam prior to the particle beam reaching the irradiation target.

An example particle therapy system may include: a synchrocyclotron to produce a particle beam; a scanner to move the particle beam in one or more dimensions relative to an irradiation target; and an energy degrader that is between the scanner and the irradiation target. The energy degrader may include multiple plates that are movable relative to a path of the particle beam, with the multiple plates each being controllable to move while in the path of the particle beam and during movement of the particle beam. An aperture may be between the energy degrader and the irradiation target. The aperture being may be to trim the particle beam prior to the particle beam reaching the irradiation target.

A synchrocyclotron includes magnetic structures to provide a magnetic field to a cavity, a particle source to provide a plasma column to the cavity, where the particle source has a housing to hold the plasma column, and where the housing is interrupted at an acceleration region to expose the plasma column, and a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the cavity to accelerate particles from the plasma column at the acceleration region.

A synchrocyclotron includes magnetic structures to provide a magnetic field to a cavity, a particle source to provide a plasma column to the cavity, where the particle source has a housing to hold the plasma column, and where the housing is interrupted at an acceleration region to expose the plasma column, and a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the cavity to accelerate particles from the plasma column at the acceleration region.

An accelerator includes: a plurality of ion sources 221, 222, and 233 that generate a plurality of different types of ions; an electromagnet 11 that generates a magnetic field; and a high frequency cavity 21 that generates a high frequency electric field. The center of an orbit of the ion is eccentric with acceleration, the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet 11 is a magnetic field distribution that decreases outward in a radial direction of the orbit, the high frequency cavity 21 accelerates the ion up to a predetermined energy by the high frequency electric field adjusted to an orbital frequency in response to a nuclide of the incident ion, and a frequency of the high frequency electric field changes following an energy of the ion. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an accelerator and a particle therapy system capable shortening an irradiation time with a small size.

Disclosed is a method of utilizing deuterons (nuclear particles consisting of a proton and a neutron) for charged particle radiotherapy. Compared with proton therapy, at their maximum treatment depth of 66 mm, 125 MeV deuterons possess 82-85% less beam straggling than protons. This difference enables better protection of radiosensitive critical tissues that may be in contact with a tumor. Alternatively, it enables higher doses to be delivered to the tumor, resulting in better tumor control. The implementation of deuteron therapy interchangeably alongside proton therapy requires minor modifications at modest cost to many existing proton therapy systems and provides a clinically useful hybrid particle therapy facility. A free-standing deuteron therapy facility that employs only deuterons is also described.

A system includes a patient support and an outer gantry on which an accelerator is mounted to enable the accelerator to move through a range of positions around a patient on the patient support. The accelerator is configured to produce a proton or ion beam having an energy level sufficient to reach a target in the patient. An inner gantry includes an aperture for directing the proton or ion beam towards the target.

A system includes a patient support and an outer gantry on which an accelerator is mounted to enable the accelerator to move through a range of positions around a patient on the patient support. The accelerator is configured to produce a proton or ion beam having an energy level sufficient to reach a target in the patient. An inner gantry includes an aperture for directing the proton or ion beam towards the target.

A proton therapy system based on a compact superconducting cyclotron, including: a superconducting cyclotron system, an energy selection system, a beam transport system, a fixed therapy room subsystem and a rotating frame therapy subsystem; a fixed-energy proton beam extracted from a superconducting cyclotron of the superconducting cyclotron system is adjusted into a continuous and adjustable proton beam of 70 MeV to 200 MeV by the energy selection system, thus realizing a longitudinal adjustment for a proton range during treating a tumor, and the continuous and adjustable proton beam is respectively transmitted to the fixed therapy room subsystem and the rotating frame therapy subsystem by the beam transport system. The cooperative control of the superconducting cyclotron system, the energy selection system, the beam transport system and the therapy head realizes the transverse expansion of proton beams, thus realizing intensity modulated radiation therapy for the tumor.