A high gradient linear accelerating structure can propagate high frequency waves at a negative harmonic to accelerate low-energy ions. The linear accelerating structure can provide a gradient of 50 MV/m for particles at a β of between 0.3 and 0.4. The high gradient structure can be a part of a linear accelerator configured to provide an energy range from an ion source to 450 MeV/u for .sup.12C.sup.6+ and 250 MeV for protons. The linear accelerator can include one or more of the following sections: a radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ) accelerator operating at the sub-harmonic of the S-band frequency, a high gradient structure for the energy range from ˜45 MeV/u to ˜450 MeV/u.

A dose rate-volume histogram can be generated for a target volume. The dose rate-volume histogram can be stored in computer system memory and used to generate a radiation treatment plan. The radiation treatment plan can be used as the basis for treating a patient using a radiation treatment system.

This patent application claims the use of directed energy in the form of electronically scanned ion beams to form plastic parts by selectively curing commodity or engineering resin in the shape of the part. Polymerization is limited to the vicinity of the controlled Bragg-peak of the ion beam (i.e., where linear energy transfer is maximized), if necessary, by the use of chemical polymerization inhibitors or conditions that inhibit polymerization.

A particle beam apparatus includes: an electromagnet to which each ion beam from a plurality of ion sources having different ion species is capable of being introduced, and from which one of the ion beams is capable of selectively exiting to a device on a downstream side by switching a magnetic field intensity, in which the electromagnet is capable of deflecting the one of the ion beam to be exited to the device on the downstream side toward the device on the downstream side, and is capable of reducing exit of a different type of beam mixed in the ion beam to the device on the downstream side, the different type of beam being different from the one of the ion beam.

To enable an appropriate and quick detection of a change in an internal structure of a patient, a computer program causes a computer to detect a change in an internal structure of a patient. The process includes calculating a second water equivalent thickness obtained from a second three-dimensional image being a three-dimensional image of a patient, which is newly obtained; a process of calculating a change of a first water equivalent thickness from the second water equivalent thickness, the first water equivalent thickness being obtained from a first three-dimensional image being a three-dimensional image of the patient in treatment planning; and a process of calculating a dose volume histogram change for calculating a change in a dose volume histogram from the treatment plan, based on the calculated water equivalent thickness change and correlation information indicating a correlation between a water equivalent thickness change value and dose distribution information.

A method for treating a tumor, comprising identifying a tumor as a squamous cell carcinoma and implanting in the tumor identified as a squamous cell carcinoma tumor, as least one diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT) source with a suitable radon release rate and for a given duration, such that the source provides during the given duration a cumulated activity of released radon between 3.5 Mega becquerel (MBq) hour and 8 MBq hour, per centimeter length.

A proton treatment system including a proton accelerator structured to generate a proton beam, a beamline pathway configured to direct the proton beam from the proton accelerator to at least one treatment room, a magnet assembly, including superconducting magnets, located in the beamline pathway and configured to transport the proton beam away from the accelerator into the at least one treatment room, an achromat, configured as an achromatic superconducting magnet assembly, that bends the proton beam away from the proton accelerator toward the at least one treatment room, and a collimator provided inside the achromat and configured to select the proton beam with desired energy levels.

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.

A method for treating a tumor, comprising identifying a tumor as a pancreatic cancer tumor and implanting in the tumor identified as a pancreatic cancer tumor, as least one diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT) source with a suitable radon release rate and for a given duration, such that the source provides during the given duration a cumulated activity of released radon between 5.6 Mega becquerel (MBq) hour and 9.5 MBq hour, per centimeter length.

A method for treating a tumor, comprising identifying a tumor as a glioblastoma tumor and implanting in the tumor identified as a glioblastoma tumor, as least one diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT) source with a suitable radon release rate and for a given duration, such that the source provides during the given duration a cumulated activity of released radon between 3.7 Mega becquerel (MBq) hour and 8.8 MBq hour, per centimeter length.