Programmable particle scatterer for radiation therapy beam formation

A radiation treatment apparatus, comprising:

• a source of charged particles that provides a charged particle beam;
• and a charged particle beam scatterer/range modulator, that includes a liquid high Z material having an adjustable path length in a particle beam path;
• in series with a liquid low Z material having an adjustable path length in the particle beam path;
• and a programmable controller that independently adjusts the high Z and low Z path lengths during exposure of a target to the beam.

A method of scattering and/or modulating a range of a charged particle beam, comprising:

• directing a charged particle beam through a liquid high Z material having an adjustable path length in a particle beam path;
• directing the charged particle beam through a liquid low Z material having an adjustable path length in the particle beam path;
• wherein the high Z and low Z materials are in series;
• and independently adjusting the high Z and low Z path lengths during exposure of a target to the beam under control by a programmable controller.

A method of treating a patient by directing a charged particle beam at a target within said patient, comprising:

• producing a charged particle beam;
• directing the charged particle beam through a liquid high Z material having an adjustable path length in a particle beam path;
• directing the charged particle beam through a liquid low Z material having an adjustable path length in the particle beam path;
• wherein the high Z and low Z materials are in series;
• and independently adjusting the high Z and low Z path lengths during exposure of a target to the beam under control by a programmable controller.

A radiation treatment apparatus, comprising:

• a synchrocyclotron that provides a charged particle beam;
• and a charged particle beam scatterer/range modulator, that includes liquid high Z material in an extraction channel of the synchrocyclotron having an adjustable path length in a particle beam path;
• in series with a liquid low Z material in an extraction channel of the synchrocyclotron having an adjustable path length in the particle beam path;
• and a programmable controller that independently adjusts the high Z and low Z path lengths during exposure of a target to the beam.

A radiation treatment apparatus, comprising:

• a synchrocyclotron that provides a charged particle beam;
• and a charged particle beam scatterer/range modulator, that includes high Z material in an extraction channel of the synchrocyclotron having an adjustable path length in a particle beam path;
• low Z material in an extraction channel of the synchrocyclotron having an adjustable path length in the particle beam path;
• wherein the high Z and low Z materials are in series;
• and a programmable controller that independently adjusts the high Z and low Z path lengths during exposure of a target to the beam.