When IMRT technology for a radiation therapy system utilizing an X-ray or the like is applied to a particle beam therapy system having a conventional wobbler system, it is required to utilize two or more boluses. The present invention solves the problem of excess irradiation in IMRT by a particle beam therapy system. More specifically, the problem of excess irradiation in IMRT by a particle beam therapy system is solved by raising the irradiation flexibility in the depth direction, without utilizing a bolus. A particle beam irradiation apparatus has a scanning irradiation system that performs scanning with a charged particle beam accelerated by an accelerator and is mounted in a rotating gantry for rotating the irradiation direction of the charged particle beam. The particle beam irradiation apparatus comprises a columnar-irradiation-field generation apparatus that generates a columnar irradiation field by enlarging the Bragg peak of the charged particle beam.

Techniques are described herein for delivering a particle beam from a continuously rotating gantry towards a target according to a determined patient state. The determined patient state and an identified gantry angle of a gantry may be used to deliver a set of beamlets (e.g., a pattern of radiation dose) to the target. The particle beam may rotate through a range of gantry angles. The set of beamlets may be delivered continuously while the gantry rotates.

A radiation system includes a first ring, a radiation source capable of providing radiation suitable for treating a patient, the radiation source secured to the first ring, a second ring located behind the first ring, and an imager secured to the second ring. A radiation system includes a first device having a radiation source capable of generating a radiation beam suitable for treating a patient, and a second device having imaging capability, wherein the first device is oriented at an angle that is less than 180° relative to the second device. A radiation system includes a structure having a first opening, a radiation source rotatably coupled to the structure, an imaging device rotatable relative to the structure, and a processor for controlling a rotation of the radiation source and a rotation of the imaging device, wherein the radiation source is rotatable relative to the imaging device.

Systems and apparatuses for providing particle beams for radiation therapy with a compact design and suitable to a single treatment room. The radiation system comprises a stationary cyclotron coupled to a rotating gantry assembly through a beam line assembly. The system is equipped with a single set of dipole magnets that are installed on the rotating gantry assembly and undertakes the dual functions of beam energy selection and beam deflection. The energy degrader may be exposed to the air pressure. The beam line assembly comprises a rotating segment and a stationary segment that are separated from each other through an intermediate segment that is exposed to an ambient pressure.

First ions and second ions that are heavier than first ions are generated in an ion source. One kind of ions of the first ions and second ions is injected into an accelerator by action of a switching magnet and accelerated in the accelerator. An ion beam including the one kind of ions is extracted from the accelerator to a beam transport system and a tumor volume of a patient is irradiated with the ion beam from an irradiation nozzle. In the irradiation of the ion beam, a tumor volume depth and the largest underwater range of each ion species are compared, and an ion species in which the tumor volume depth becomes the longest underwater range or lower is injected into the accelerator, and accelerated by the accelerator. The tumor volume is irradiated with the ion species.

A rotatable targeting magnet apparatus and method of use thereof is described where the rotatable targeting magnet rotates independently of a beamline arc at the end of the beamline arc, where the arc is after an accelerator and before the patient in a cancer therapy system. The rotatable targeting magnet directs the charged particle beam, such as vertically, using applied current to the targeting magnet while rotation of the magnet allows scanning across the tumor. Rotation of the patient relative to the charged particle allows distribution of trailing Bragg peak energy within and/or circumferentially about the tumor.

Particle radiation therapy and planning utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Radiation therapy prescription information and patient MRI data can be received and a radiation therapy treatment plan can be determined for use with a particle beam. The treatment plan can utilize the radiation therapy prescription information and the patient MRI data to account for interaction properties of soft tissues in the patient through which the particle beam passes. Patient MRI data may be received from a magnetic resonance imaging system integrated with the particle radiation therapy system. MRI data acquired during treatment may also be utilized to modify or optimize the particle radiation therapy treatment.

A radiation treatment system is described, including a linear accelerator (LINAC), having a housing, to emit a treatment beam to a target location and a Cerenkov emission detector, coupled to the housing of the LINAC, to capture a set of images of optical Cerenkov emission generated at the target location by charged particles of the treatment beam. A method is described including emitting the treatment beam from the LINAC to the target location and capturing, using the Cerenkov emission detector coupled to the LINAC, the set of images of optical Cerenkov emission generated at the target location by the treatment beam.

A radiation therapy system comprises a treatment pod having an internal treatment room, and a beam delivery system comprising a particle accelerator for generating a radiation beam. The beam delivery system is carried by the treatment pod with the particle accelerator outside of the pod, and is configured to deliver the radiation beam to the treatment room. The beam delivery system, including the accelerator is movable around the treatment pod in order to adjust the position of the radiation beam with respect to the treatment room. The movement of the beam delivery system is counterbalanced. The treatment pod, together with the beam delivery system, may be moved in order to service multiple waiting rooms.

A system and method for image-guided radiotherapy are provided. The system may include a treatment assembly and an imaging assembly. The treatment assembly may include a first radiation source configured to deliver a treatment beam. The treatment assembly may have a treatment region relating to an object. The imaging assembly may include a second radiation source and a radiation detector. The second radiation source may be configured to deliver an imaging beam, and the radiation detector may be configured to detect at least a portion of the imaging beam. The imaging assembly may have an imaging region relating to the object. The first radiation source may be rotatable in a first plane, and the second radiation source may be rotatable in a second plane different from the first plane, such that the treatment region and the imaging region at least partially overlap.