An energy degrading device for attenuating energy of a particle beam with reduced emittance growth. An energy degrader comprises an emittance control material that can preferentially scatter the beam particles that is incident on a surface with a shallow angle. In one approach, the energy degrader may include alternating layers of a low-Z and a high-Z material, wherein the low Z material serves to attenuate energy of the beam particles by virtue of scattering and the high Z material serves to suppress the emittance increase by scattering back the beam particles toward the beam axis. In another approach, the energy degrader may be composed of carbon nanotubes or a material with oriented crystalline structure that is substantially orientated in the incident direction of the particle beam. The carbon nanotubes may serve to preferentially scatter beam particles towards the central beam axis as well as attenuate energy thereof.

A high-energy radiation treatment system can comprise a laser-driven accelerator system, a patient monitoring system, and a control system. The laser-driven accelerator system, such as a laser-driven plasma accelerator or a laser-driven dielectric microstructure accelerator, can be constructed to irradiate a patient disposed on a patient support. The patient monitoring system can be configured to detect and track a location or movement of a treatment volume within the patient. The control system can be configured to control the laser-driven accelerator system responsively to the location or movement of the treatment volume. The system can also include a beam control system, which generates a magnetic field that can affect the radiation beam and/or secondary electrons produced by the irradiation beam. In some embodiments, the beam control system and the patient monitoring system can comprise a magnetic resonance imaging system.

An IORT device (10) for radiotherapy treatment of cancer patients, comprising a source of particles, an accelerating device (11), which sends a beam of particles (12) on a target (14) through an applicator (15), a scattering filter (16), which allows the distance between the source of particles and the target (14) to be kept within a range compatible with the use of IORT devices (10) in standard operating rooms, and an optical system for collimating the beam of particles (12), which is placed between the scattering filter (16) and the applicator (15); specifically, the optical collimating system of the beam of particles comprises a primary screen (17), configured to shield the radiation produced by the scattering filter (16), a secondary screen (18), configured to shield the photons produced on the primary screen (17), and a collimating apparatus (19), which provides for housing the monitor chambers (20).

Systems and methods for using electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) as absolute radiation beam measuring devices and as radiation beam alignment devices without implementation of elaborate and complex calibration procedures.

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.

A high-energy radiation treatment system can comprise a laser-driven accelerator system, a patient monitoring system, and a control system. The laser-driven accelerator system, such as a laser-driven plasma accelerator or a laser-driven dielectric microstructure accelerator, can be constructed to irradiate a patient disposed on a patient support. The patient monitoring system can be configured to detect and track a location or movement of a treatment volume within the patient. The control system can be configured to control the laser-driven accelerator system responsively to the location or movement of the treatment volume. The system can also include a beam control system, which generates a magnetic field that can affect the radiation beam and/or secondary electrons produced by the irradiation beam. In some embodiments, the beam control system and the patient monitoring system can comprise a magnetic resonance imaging system.

A particle beam guiding system (1a, 1b, 1c) for receiving an incoming particle beam (6a, 6b, 6c) along an incoming trajectory (T1) and controlling an exit energy level and an exit trajectory (T3) of the particle beam, wherein the particle beam guiding system comprises an attenuator (22) for adjusting the energy level of the particle beam; a first beam guide (26) positioned downstream of the attenuator, comprising first and second guiding dipoles, each comprising two magnets for creating magnetic fields for deflecting the particle beam from the incoming trajectory into an intermediate trajectory (T2), wherein the first dipole of the first beam guide is arranged to deflect the particle beam in a first plane, and the second dipole of the first beam guide is arranged to deflect the particle beam in a second plane which is orthogonal to the first plane; and a second beam guide (28) positioned downstream of the first beam guide, comprising first and second guiding dipoles, each comprising two magnets for creating magnetic fields for deflecting the particle beam from the intermediate trajectory into the exit trajectory, wherein the first dipole of the second beam guide is arranged to deflect the particle beam in a first plane and the second dipole of the second beam guide is arranged to deflect the particle beam in a second plane which is orthogonal to the first plane. A radiotherapy system comprising such particle beam guiding systems is also disclosed.

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 system for MRI-guided radiotherapy is disclosed herein. The system includes a radiotherapy apparatus in the form of a linear accelerator or heavy ion system, an MRI portion, and a patient platform. The linear accelerator portion includes a stand, a gantry coupled to the stand, and a treatment head. The gantry is configured to rotate about the stand. The treatment head is coupled to the gantry. The treatment head is configured to deliver a radiotherapy beam. A system for MRI-guided radiotherapy is disclosed herein. The system includes a radiotherapy portion and an MRI portion adjacent to the radiotherapy portion. The MRI portion includes a magnet configured to generate an inhomogeneous magnetic field.

In the present disclosure, embodiments of dual-stage syringes are disclosed along with delivery systems incorporating the dual-stage syringes. Embodiments of the dual-stage syringes described herein include sleeved dual-stage syringes, turn-key dual-stage syringes and dual-stage syringes including one or more one-way valves.