Particle beam system including exchangeable particle beam nozzle
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.
Claims22
A system comprising:
- a treatment station for particle beam treatment of a patient;
- a particle accelerator configured to generate a particle beam;
- a first particle beam path through which the particle beam can be delivered to the patient;
- and
- a transport system configured to automatically move a first of a plurality of different particle beam nozzles to the first particle beam path, and to separately move at least a second of the plurality of different particle beam nozzles to the first 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 particle beam path;
- modifying the first particle beam of high-energy particles using a first particle beam nozzle;
- treating a first patient using the first particle beam of high-energy particles modified using the first particle beam nozzle;
- exchanging the first particle beam nozzle for a second particle beam nozzle 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 particle beam path;
- modifying the second particle beam of high energy particles using the second particle beam nozzle;
- and
- treating the first patient or a second patient using the second particle beam of high-energy particles modified using the second particle beam nozzle.
A system comprising:
- a first particle beam nozzle configured for use in a first treatment type;
- a second particle beam nozzle configured for use in a second treatment type;
- and
- a transport system configured to alternatively position, under control of a processing unit, the first particle beam nozzle and the second particle beam nozzle between a particle accelerator and a treatment station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.