An x-ray imaging apparatus and associated methods are provided to execute multi-pass imaging scans for improved quality and workflow. An imaging scan can be segmented into multiple passes that are faster than the full imaging scan. Data received by an initial scan pass can be utilized early in the workflow and of sufficient quality for treatment setup, including while the another scan pass is executed to generate data needed for higher quality images, which may be needed for treatment planning. In one embodiment, a data acquisition and reconstruction technique is used when the detector is offset in the channel and/or axial direction for a large FOV during multiple passes.

A neutron capture therapy system includes an accelerator for generating a charged particle beam, a neutron generator for generating a neutron beam having neutrons after irradiation by the charged particle beam, and a beam shaping assembly for shaping the neutron beam. The beam shaping assembly includes a moderator and a reflecting assembly surrounding the moderator. The neutron generator generates the neutrons after irradiation by the charged particle beam. The moderator moderates the neutrons generated by the neutron generator to a preset energy spectrum. The reflecting assembly includes a plurality of reflectors configured to guide deflected neutrons back to the neutron beam and a supporting member to support the plurality of reflectors. A lead-antimony alloy is for the reflecting assembly to mitigate a creep effect that occurs when only a lead material is for the plurality of reflectors, thereby improving the structural strength of a beam shaping assembly.

The invention provides a charged particle irradiation apparatus including: a collimator apparatus provided in an irradiation nozzle that emits a charged particle beam to an irradiation target; and a collimator control unit that controls the collimator apparatus. The collimator apparatus includes a collimator mechanism having one or more arm-shape collimators extending from a base part and a drive mechanism that moves the collimator mechanism on a plane perpendicular to a traveling direction of a charged particle beam. The arm-shape collimator includes one or more movable leaves that rotate independently of each other on the perpendicular plane. By moving the collimator mechanism and/or rotating the movable leaves so that the arm-shape collimators are arranged along a shape of an edge of an irradiation target on the perpendicular plane, the collimator control unit causes the arm-shape collimators to block a charged particle beam that would otherwise irradiate outside of the edge of the irradiation target.

A charged particle beam irradiation system irradiating an irradiation target in an object with a charged particle beam, includes a scanning electromagnet, an irradiator irradiating the irradiation target with the charged particle beam by performing scanning with the charged particle beam with the scanning electromagnet, an adjusting member adjusting a penumbra of the charged particle beam with the scanning performed, and a holder provided on the irradiator and holding the adjusting member.

An example system includes a particle accelerator to produce a particle beam to treat a patient and a carrier having openings including a first opening and a second opening. The carrier is made of a material that inhibits transmission of the particle beam and the carrier is located between the particle accelerator and the patient. A control system is configured to control movement of the particle beam to the first opening to enable at least part of the particle beam to reach the patient, to change an energy of the particle beam while the particle beam remains stationary at the first opening, and to control movement of the particle beam from the first opening to the second opening. The example system also includes an energy degrader that includes at least some boron carbide.

Disclosed is a moderator for moderating neutrons, including a substrate and a surface treatment layer or a dry inert gas layer or a vacuum layer coated on the surface of the substrate, wherein the substrate is prepared from a moderating material by a powder sintering device through a powder sintering process from powders or by compacting powders into a block, and the moderating material includes 40% to 100% by weight of aluminum fluoride; wherein the surface treatment layer is a hydrophobic material; and the surface treatment layer or the dry inert gas layer or the vacuum layer is used for isolating the substrate from the water in the environment in which the substrate is placed. The surface treated moderator can avoid the hygroscopic or deliquescence of the moderating material during use, improve the quality of the neutron source and prolong the service life.

Multimodal imaging apparatus and methods include a rotatable gantry system with multiple sources of radiation comprising different energy levels (for example, kV and MV). Fast slip-ring technology and helical scans allow data from multiple sources of radiation to be combined or utilized to generate improved images and workflows, including for IGRT. Features include large field-of-view (LFOV) MV imaging, kV region-of-interest (ROI) imaging, and scalable field-of-view (SFOV) dual energy imaging.

A radiotherapy delivery device is provided. The device includes a source of therapeutic radiation and a first detector positioned to receive radiation from the source of therapeutic radiation. The device also includes a source of imaging radiation and a second detector positioned to receive radiation from the source of imaging radiation. A collimator assembly is positioned relative to the second source of radiation to selectively control a shape of a radiation beam emitted by the second radiation source to selectively expose part or the whole of the second radiation detector. A reconstruction processor can be operatively coupled to the detector and configured to generate patient images based on radiation received by the second detector from the second source of radiation. The device is configured to move from one imaging geometry to another using all or part of the second detector.

An example computer-implemented method for tuning a beam spot in a radiation therapy system based on radiation field measurements has been disclosed. The example method includes configuring an electron beam to generate a first beam spot on an electron-beam target of the radiation therapy system, determining a value for one or more radiation field quality metrics for a first radiation beam that originates from the first beam spot, and based on the value, determining whether the first radiation beam is outside a specified quality range.

A dynamic pinhole aperture is configured for use with charged particle therapy systems, such as proton therapy systems. In general, the dynamic pinhole aperture includes a small and mobile pinhole aperture. The dynamic pinhole aperture is designed to be movable with the beam during irradiation, which allows for reducing the size of each discrete spot and, therefore, the target dose penumbra. The dynamic pinhole aperture is carefully designed to balance the reduction of spot sizes (thus target dose penumbra) and the reduction of beam transmission ratios, which allows for the device to be used clinically to treat large tumors.