A proton linear accelerator system that irradiates tissue with improved beam energy control, providing RF energy from a first RF energy source during on-time of the proton beam operating cycle for changing the energy of the proton beam, and providing RF energy from a second distinct RF energy source during off-time of the proton beam operating cycle for increasing or maintaining the temperature of the cavity. Each RF source is operated independently, allowing higher RF pulse rates to reach the cavity, supporting a smaller time between proton beam energy pulses. In addition, the peak power requirements for the second RF energy source may, in general, be less than for the second RF energy source, allowing a less costly type to be used for the second source. The use of a first and second RF source may reduce the cavity settling time from minutes to less than 10 seconds.

An ion implantation system, including an ion source and extraction system, arranged to generate an ion beam at a first energy, and a linear accelerator, disposed downstream of the ion source, the linear accelerator arranged to receive the ion beam as a bunched ion beam accelerate the ion beam to a second energy, greater than the first energy. The linear accelerator may include a plurality of acceleration stages, wherein a given acceleration stage of the plurality of acceleration stages comprises: a drift tube assembly, arranged to conduct the ion beam; a resonator, electrically coupled to the drift tube assembly; and an RF power assembly, coupled to the resonator, and arranged to output an RF signal to the resonator. As such, the given acceleration stage does not include a quadrupole element.

A linear accelerator system comprising a source arranged to produce a pulsed beam of charged particles, a linear accelerator string arranged to accelerate the pulsed beam up to a predetermined range of energies, and a pre-acceleration stage interposed between the source and the linear accelerator string and arranged to accelerate the pulsed beam up to an energy suitable for beam insertion into the linear accelerator string and perform bunching of the pulsed beam. An average current detector is arranged to measure an average current in the pulsed beam, the average current detector comprising at least one non-interceptive sensor placed at an input side of the linear accelerator string, downstream of the pre-acceleration stage, the sensor being responsive to the pulsed beam passing thereby.

A linear accelerator system comprising a source arranged to produce a pulsed beam of charged particles, a linear accelerator string arranged to accelerate the pulsed beam up to a predetermined range of energies, and a pre-acceleration stage interposed between the source and the linear accelerator string and arranged to accelerate the pulsed beam up to an energy suitable for beam insertion into the linear accelerator string and perform bunching of the pulsed beam. An average current detector is arranged to measure an average current in the pulsed beam, the average current detector comprising at least one non-interceptive sensor placed at an input side of the linear accelerator string, downstream of the pre-acceleration stage, the sensor being responsive to the pulsed beam passing thereby.

An ion implantation system, including an ion source and extraction system, arranged to generate an ion beam at a first energy, and a linear accelerator, disposed downstream of the ion source, the linear accelerator arranged to receive the ion beam as a bunched ion beam accelerate the ion beam to a second energy, greater than the first energy. The linear accelerator may include a plurality of acceleration stages, wherein a given acceleration stage of the plurality of acceleration stages comprises: a drift tube assembly, arranged to conduct the ion beam; a resonator, electrically coupled to the drift tube assembly; and an RF power assembly, coupled to the resonator, and arranged to output an RF signal to the resonator. As such, the given acceleration stage does not include a quadrupole element.

Proton beams are a promising alternative to X-rays for therapeutic purposes because they may also destroy cancer cells, but with a greatly reduced damage to healthy tissue. The energy dose in tissue may be concentrated at the tumor site by configuring the beam to position the Bragg Peak proximate the tumor. The longitudinal range of a proton beam in tissue is generally dependent upon the energy of the beam. However, after switching energies, the proton-beam system requires some time for the beam energy to stabilize before it may be used for therapy. A proton linear accelerator system is provided for irradiating tissue with an improved beam energy control, configured to provide RF energy from a first RF energy source during the on-time of the proton beam operating cycle for changing the energy of the proton beam, and to provide RF energy from a second distinct RF energy source during the off-time of the proton beam operating cycle for increasing or maintaining the temperature of the cavity. Each RF source is operated independently, allowing higher RF pulse rates to reach the cavity, supporting a smaller time between proton beam energy pulses. In addition, the peak power requirements for the second RF energy source may, in general, be less than for the second RF energy source, allowing a less costly type to be used for the second source. The use of a first and second RF source may reduce the cavity settling time from minutes to less than 10 seconds.

A system (12) is proposed for the acceleration of ions to treat Atrial Fibrillation (AF), arteriovenous malformations (AVMS) and focal epileptic lesions; this system (12) includes a pulsed ion source (1), a pre-accelerator (3) and one or more linear accelerators or linacs (5, 6, 7) operating at frequencies above 1 GHz with a repetition rate between 1 Hz and 500 Hz. The particle beam coming out of the complex (12) can vary (i) in intensity, (ii) in deposition depth and (iii) transversally with respect to the central beam direction. The possibility of adjusting in a few milliseconds and in three orthogonal directions, the location of each energy deposition in the body of the patient makes that system of accelerators (12) perfectly suited to irradiation of a beating heart.

Disclosed is a knuckle boom crane for offshore application, wherein the crane includes a knuckle boom, carried by a support structure and equipped with an operating unit. The knuckle boom includes a main boom and a terminal boom. The operating unit of the knuckle boom include at least one downstream linear actuator, arranged between the main boom and the terminal boom, for the rotational operation of the terminal boom about a downstream articulation axis. And the at least one downstream linear actuator is fastened to one of the lateral faces of the main boom and to one of the lateral faces of the terminal boom, in order to provide an improved lever arm between the main boom and the terminal boom.

A time-of-fight measurement system for measuring energy of a pulsed hadron beam, wherein each pulse of the beam is structured into a series of bunches of charged particles, said bunches being repeated according to a repetition rate of the order of magnitude of radiofrequency. The system comprises a first detector, a second detector and a third detector arranged along a beam path, each of the detectors being configured to detect the passage of a bunch of charged particles and provide an output signal dependent on phase of the detected bunch, wherein the second detector is spaced apart from the first detector by a first distance and wherein the third detector is spaced apart from the second detector by a second distance, wherein the first distance is set out in such a way as that time of flight of the bunch from the first detector to the second detector is approximately equal to, or lower than a repetition period of the bunches, and wherein the second distance is set out in such a way as that time of flight of the bunch from the second detector to the third detector is greater than a multiple of the repetition period of the bunches, and a processing unit configured to a) calculate phase shifts between the output signals of the detectors, and b) calculate energy of the pulse based on the calculated phase shifts.

One of the obstacles to the widespread use of proton therapy is the availability of affordable and compact proton sources and accelerators. The use of linear accelerators allow the construction of such a compact source which may be installed in existing medical facilities. However, instability occurs after accelerating units are turned on or off. A proton linear accelerator system configured to provide RF energy during the off-time of the proton beam operating cycle may be used for increasing or maintaining the temperature of cavities. A method of operating a proton beam is also provided which is suitable for irradiating tissue. These may provide an improved settling time.