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US 8,311,187 B2Granted
Magnetron powered linear accelerator for interleaved multi-energy operation
AssigneeAccuray Incorporated
InventorsPaul Dennis Treas, Roger Heering Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to systems and methods for interleaving operation of a linear accelerator that use a magnetron as the source of electromagnetic waves for use in accelerating electrons to at least two different ranges of energies. The accelerated electrons can be used to generate x-rays of at least two different energy ranges. In certain embodiments, the accelerated electrons can be used to generate x-rays of at least two different energy ranges. The systems and methods are applicable to traveling wave linear accelerators.
Claims35
A method for generating electrons of different ranges of energies using a traveling wave linear accelerator, the method comprising:
- (a) generating electrons having a first range of energies by performing the steps of:
- coupling a first electromagnetic wave generated by a magnetron into the traveling wave linear accelerator;
- ejecting a first beam of electrons with a first electron beam current and a first pulse length from an electron gun into the accelerator;
- accelerating the first beam of electrons with the first electromagnetic wave to the first range of energies, the first range of energies being based upon the first electron beam current;
- and
- outputting the first beam of electrons from the accelerator at a first dose based on the first pulse length and at a first captured electron beam current;
- (b) generating electrons having a second range of energies value by performing the steps of:
- coupling a second electromagnetic wave generated by the magnetron into the accelerator;
- ejecting a second beam of electrons with a second electron beam current and a second pulse length from the electron gun into the accelerator, the second electron beam current being different from the first electron beam current, the second pulse length being different from the first pulse length;
- accelerating the second beam of electrons with the second electromagnetic wave to the second range of energies, the second range of energies being based upon the second electron beam current, a central value of the second range of energies being different from a central value of the first range of energies;
- and
- outputting the second beam of electrons from the accelerator at a second dose based on the second pulse length and at a second captured electron beam current,
- wherein a magnitude of the second captured electron beam current is different from a magnitude of the first captured electron beam current;
- and
- (c) interleaving the first and second ranges of energies by repeating steps (a) and (b).
12 more elements
A method for generating x-rays at different ranges of x-ray energies using a traveling wave linear accelerator and an x-ray target, the method comprising:
- (a) generating x-rays having a first range of x-ray energies by performing the steps of:
- coupling a first electromagnetic wave generated by a magnetron into the traveling wave linear accelerator;
- ejecting a first beam of electrons with a first electron beam current and a first pulse length from an electron gun into the accelerator;
- accelerating the first beam of electrons with the first electromagnetic wave to a first range of energies, the first range of energies being based upon the first electron beam current;
- outputting the first beam of electrons from the accelerator at a first dose based on the first pulse length and at a first captured electron beam current;
- and
- contacting the x-ray target with the outputted first beam of electrons, thereby generating a first beam of x-rays having energies in the first range of x-ray energies;
- (b) generating x-rays having a second range of x-ray energies by performing the steps of:
- coupling a second electromagnetic wave generated by the magnetron into the accelerator;
- ejecting a second beam of electrons with a second electron beam current and a second pulse length from the electron gun into the accelerator, the second electron beam current being different from the first electron beam current, the second pulse length being different from the first pulse length;
- accelerating the second beam of electrons with the second electromagnetic wave to a second range of energies, the second range of energies being based upon the second electron beam current;
- outputting the second beam of electrons from the accelerator at a second dose based on the second pulse length and at a second captured electron beam current,
- wherein a magnitude of the second captured electron beam current is different from a magnitude of the first captured electron beam current;
- and
- contacting the x-ray target with the outputted second beam of electrons, thereby generating a second beam of x-rays having energies in the second range of x-ray energies, a central value of the second range of x-ray energies being different from a central value of the first range of x-ray energies;
- and
- (c) interleaving the first and second ranges of x-ray energies by repeating steps (a) and (b).
14 more elements
A traveling wave linear accelerator comprising:
- a traveling wave linear accelerator structure having an input and an output;
- a magnetron coupled to the accelerator structure and configured to provide an electromagnetic wave to the accelerator structure;
- an electron gun interfaced with the input of the accelerator structure;
- and
- a controller interfaced with the electron gun,
- wherein the controller is configured to transmit a first signal to cause the electron gun to eject a first beam of electrons at a first electron beam current and a first pulse length into the input of the accelerator structure, wherein the accelerator structure is configured to accelerate the first beam of electrons to a first range of energies using the electromagnetic wave and to output the accelerated first beam of electrons at a first dose based on the first pulse length and at a first captured electron beam current, the first range of energies being based on the first electron beam current,
- wherein the controller is configured to transmit a second signal to cause the electron gun to eject a second beam of electrons at a second electron beam current different from the first electron beam current and a second pulse length different from the first pulse length into the input of the accelerator structure, wherein the accelerator structure is configured to accelerate the second beam of electrons to a second range of energies using the electromagnetic wave and to output the accelerated second beam of electrons at a second dose based on the second pulse length and at a second captured electron beam current, the second range of energies being based on the second electron beam current,
- wherein a magnitude of the second captured electron beam current is different from a magnitude of the first captured electron beam current, and
- wherein a central value of the second range of energies is different from a central value of the first range of energies,
- the controller further being configured to repeatedly transmit the first and second signals to the electron gun so as to interleave the first and second ranges of energies.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.