A computer implemented method of determining spot positioning for each field associated with a planning target volume (TV) is disclosed. The method includes accessing said dose volume constraints and information associated with a TV structure and associated organs at risk (OAR) structure. The method further includes determining a density map for each structure. Also, the method includes using a minimum number of Monitor Units (MU) per spot constraint, computing a minimum distance between spots for a portion of a field that overlaps with the TV structure and a portion of the field that overlaps with the OAR structure. The method further includes applying a rendering process to convert the density map for each of the portions into a set of points. Using the set of points and the minimum distance between spots computed, the method includes determining a spot map for each of the portions.

An example particle therapy system includes a particle accelerator to output a particle beam having a spot size; a scanning system for the particle accelerator to scan the particle beam in two dimensions across at least part of a treatment area of an irradiation target; and an adaptive aperture between the scanning system and the irradiation target. The adaptive aperture includes structures that are movable relative to the irradiation target to approximate a shape to trim part of the treatment area. The part of the treatment area has a size that is based on an area of the spot size.

Apparatus and methods for controlling a radiotherapy electron beam. Exemplary embodiments provide for focusing the electron beam at different depths by altering parameters of a plurality of magnets. Exemplary embodiments can also provide for focusing the electron beam at different depths while maintaining the energy level of the electron beam at a consistent level.

Embodiments of the present invention disclose methods and systems for producing an adaptive pencil beam having an adjustable lateral beam size and Bragg-peak width. According to one disclosed embodiment, an apparatus for producing an adaptive pencil beam is disclosed. The apparatus includes a set of momentum band expanders configured to widen a momentum spread of a pencil beam, where a momentum band expander is selected from the set of momentum band expanders to receive the pencil beam, and a slit at dispersive focus of two dipole magnets to adjust a width of a Bragg-peak of the pencil beam. According to another disclosed embodiment, a method for producing an adaptive pencil beam with an adjustable lateral beam is disclosed. The method includes selecting a scatter foil, or setting of a defocusing/focusing magnet, and adjusting a lateral size of the pencil beam.

Radiation treatment planning includes accessing values of parameters such as a number of beams to be directed into sub-volumes in a target, beam directions, and beam energies. Information that specifies limits for the radiation treatment plan are accessed. The limits include a limit on irradiation time for each sub-volume outside the target. Other limits can include a limit on irradiation time for each sub-volume in the target, a limit on dose rate for each sub-volume in the target, and a limit on dose rate for each sub-volume outside the target. The values of the parameters are adjusted until the irradiation time for each sub-volume outside the target satisfies the maximum limit on irradiation time.

A radiation therapy system includes an accelerator and beam transport system that generates a beam of particles. The accelerator and beam transport system guides the beam on a path and into a nozzle that is operable for aiming the beam toward an object. The nozzle includes a scanning magnet operable for steering the beam toward different locations within the object, and also includes a beam energy adjuster configured to adjust the beam by, for example, placing different thicknesses of material in the path of the beam to affect the energies of the particles in the beam.

Techniques are described herein for delivering a particle beam composed of a plurality of beamlets from a continuously rotating gantry towards a target, by determining a plurality of predefined spots on the target and configuring them into a set of smaller spots on the outside of the target and a set of larger spots on the inside of the target, optimizing the delivery of the rotating particle beam such that the inside edge and the outside edge of the arc of the rotating beam are delivered to the spots located at the center of the target, and the central component of the arc of the beam is delivered to the spots located at the outside of the target.

A computing system comprising a central processing unit (CPU), and memory coupled to the CPU and having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to execute operations to generate a radiation treatment plan. The operations include accessing a minimum prescribed dose to be delivered into and across the target, determining a number of beams and directions of the beams, and determining a beam energy for each of the beams, wherein the number of beams, the directions of the beams, and the beam energy for each of the beams are determined such that the entire target receives the minimum prescribed dose. The operations further include prescribing a dose rate and optimizing dose rate constraints for FLASH therapy, and displaying a dose rate map of the FLASH therapy.

A hadron therapy system that provides 3D scanning and rapid delivery of a high dose. Such systems can include a hadron source and accelerator with an RF energy modulator and an RF deflector that operate in combination to provide 3D scanning of a targeted tissue. The systems can include a permanent magnet quadrupole for magnification of the beam. The systems can include high energy hadron sources that utilize a multi-cell, multi-klystron design that achieves scanning of high energy hadron beams, for example a fixed energy of 200 MeV protons. Such systems can provide full irradiation of a liter scale tumor within one second or less.

A charged particle beam treatment apparatus includes: an ion source that generates charged particles; an accelerator that accelerates the charged particles generated in the ion source and emits a charged particle beam; an irradiator that irradiates an irradiation target with the charged particle beam; and a controller that controls the ion source, in which the controller stores operating parameters of the ion source when the irradiation of the irradiation target with the charged particle beam is interrupted, and the controller operates the ion source, based on the stored operating parameters, when the irradiation of the irradiation target with the charged particle beam is resumed.