Particle beam nozzle transport system
AssigneeVarian Medical Systems Technologies, Inc.
InventorsTimothy Guertin, Marcel R. Marc
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved particle beam treatment system optionally includes exchangeable particle beam nozzles. These particle beam nozzles may be automatically moved from a storage location to a particle beam path or between particle beam paths for use in medical applications. Movement may be achieved using a conveyance, gantry, rail system, or the like. The improved particle beam treatment system optionally also includes more than two alternative particle beam paths. These alternative particle beam paths may be directed to a patient from a variety of different angles and in different planes.
Claims21
A system comprising:
- a first treatment station for particle beam treatment of a patient;
- a particle accelerator configured to generate a particle beam;
- a first particle beam path along which the particle beam can be delivered to the patient;
- a second particle beam path along which the particle beam can be delivered to the patient;
- a particle beam nozzle configured to modify the particle beam;
- and
- a transport system configured to automatically move the particle beam nozzle from the first particle beam path to the second particle beam path.
A method comprising:
- generating a first particle beam of high-energy particles;
- directing the first particle beam of high-energy particles along a first particle beam path having first particle beam transport optics;
- modifying the first particle beam of high-energy particles using a particle beam nozzle;
- treating a first patient using the first particle beam of high-energy particles modified using the particle beam nozzle;
- selecting a second particle beam path having second particle beam transport optics;
- moving the particle beam nozzle from the first particle beam path to the second particle beam path under control of a processing unit;
- generating a second particle beam of high-energy particles;
- directing the second particle beam of high-energy particles along the second particle beam path;
- modifying the second particle beam of high energy particles using the particle beam nozzle;
- and
- treating the first patient or a second patient using the second particle beam of high-energy particles modified using the particle beam nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.