Rigid apparatus to replace beam steering

A proton beam delivery system for a proton treatment system, comprising:

• a proton beam nozzle to emit a proton beam to a targeted region of a patient;
• a beamline deflector having a plurality of deflecting members to deflect the proton beam along a curvilinear path of the beamline deflector, the deflecting members each having a distinct linear slope to transport a proton beam having a predetermined energy level through the curvilinear path from a proton beam generator to the proton beam nozzle using a predetermined power setting of the beamline deflector;
• and
• a common housing rigid structure connected to the beamline deflector to maintain the distinct linear slopes of the curvilinear path.

A method of delivering a proton beam in a proton treatment system, the method comprising:

• rotating a gantry wheel, the gantry wheel being configured to rotate a proton beam nozzle supported proximate a circumferential surface of the gantry wheel about a rotation axis of the gantry wheel such that a proton beam nozzle is positioned to emit a proton beam to an isocenter of the gantry wheel corresponding to a targeted region of a patient;
• transporting the proton beam by a beamline deflector along a curvilinear path from the rotation axis to the proton beam nozzle using a predetermined power setting of the beamline deflector to direct the proton beam having a predetermined energy level along the curvilinear path, the beamline deflector being supported by a common housing rigid support structure such that when the gantry wheel is rotated to a plurality of positions around the isocenter, the proton beam nozzle directs the proton beam from each position to the isocenter;
• and
• emitting the proton beam having the predetermined energy level through the beamline deflector using the same predetermined power setting to the targeted region of the patient.