Simultaneous multi-axes imaging apparatus and method of use thereof

An apparatus for imaging a tumor of a patient using positively charged particles and X-rays, comprising:

• a rotatable X-ray imaging system, configured to deliver the X-rays, around both a first rotation axis and the patient;
• an X-ray imaging system configured to image the patient using the X-rays;
• an exit port nozzle of a nozzle system connected to a synchrotron via a beam transport line, said exit port configured to pass the positively charged particles, the positively charged particles passing, during use, into the patient from the exit port along a z-axis to treat the tumor;
• a gantry configured to move said exit port along an arc, the z-axis maintaining a path from the exit port to the patient as said exit port moves along the arc;
• a main controller configured to rotate a source end of said X-ray imaging system and a detector end of said X-ray imaging system about the first rotation axis, the first rotation axis perpendicular to a z-axis, wherein, while said gantry moves said exit port along said arc and said main controller rotates said X-ray imaging system, said main controller configured to:
• (1) collect a first set of images of the patient using the positively charged particles and (2) collect a second set of images of the patient using the X-rays.