Method and apparatus for proton therapy

Abstract

A method of proton tomotherapy provides uniform dose placement within a tumorous area on a slice by slice basis by locating a Bragg peak of the proton beam at the distal edge of the tumor and irradiating the tumor from a number of different angles without sweeping the range of the protons at the given angle. Uniform dose is provided by simultaneous intensity modulation of the beams. Treatment of the tumor in slices eliminates the need for a rotating gantry but allows the patient to be rotated instead. Accurate range placement is provided by a preliminary proton verification tomogram obtainable on the same equipment. A set of standard blocks permits this technique to be used with standard irradiation zones without additional range or intensity adjusting mechanism.

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