Gesellschaft Fuer Schwerionenforschung Mbh

Gsi Helmholtzzentrum Fur Schwerionenforschung Gmbh

Hartmut Eickhoff

Thomas Haberer

Eugen Badura

Klaus Poppensieker

Dieter Schardt

Marius Pavlovic

Gerhard Kraft

Ulrich Ratzinger

Bernhard Schlitt

Ulrich Weber

Wolfgang Enghardt

Bernhard Franczak

Hans-Georg Essel

Wilma Kraft-Weyrather

Ludwig Dahl

Peter Spiller

Klaus Poppensiecker

Joerg Pawelke

Rainer Hinz

Aleksiy Dolinski

Udo Krause

Juergen Klabunde

Michael Kraemer

Michael Krämer

Jörg Pawelke

Jürgen Klabunde

The invention relates to a method of checking the beam generation means and beam acceleration means of an ion beam therapy system that comprises a grid scanner device, arranged in a beam guidance system, having vertical deflection means and horizontal deflections means for the vertical and horizontal deflection of a treatment beam perpendicular to its beam direction, with the result that the treatment beam is deflected by the grid scanner device to an isocentre of the irradiation site, and a specific area surrounding the isocentre is scanned, wherein the type of ion, the ion beam energy, the ion beam intensity and the blocking of the accelerator and also the means for terminating extraction are checked.

Method for checking beam generation and beam acceleration means of an ion beam therapy system

The present invention relates to a scanning System for a heavy ion gantry comprising a scanner magnet ( ) for a high energy ion beam used in a heavy ion cancer therapy facility having a maximal bending angle (&agr;) of about 1.5. degree; a curvature radius of about 22 m; a path length of about 0.6 m and a gap height (h) and a gap width (w) in the range of 120 mm to 150 mm. Further each scanner magnet ( ) comprises one glued yoke element made of steel plates having a thickness of up to 0.3 mm and being alloyed with up to 2% silicon. This yoke element has a width in the range of 300 mm to 400 mm, a height in the range of 200 mm to 250 mm and a length in the range of 500 to 600 mm. A coil for each scanner magnet ( ) has a number of windings in the range of 50 to 70. Further the system ( ) comprises a 90 degree dipole ( ) positioned downstream of said scanner magnets ( ) having an aperture adapted to the scanning area, and enclosing a yoke element with gaps to increase the homogeneity of the electric field. Additionally the system encloses beam diagnostic plate type detectors ( ) stapled downstream of said 90 degree bending magnet ( ).

Beam scanning system for a heavy ion gantry

An ion beam therapy system and method for operating the system includes a source of ions ( ), an accelerator system ( ) and an ion beam transport system ( ) for directing an ion beam to a plurality of treatment stations ( ) to treat patients. The ion beam transport system ( ) includes a gantry ( ) carrying a vertical deflection system ( ) and horizontal deflection system ( ) positioned upstream from a last bending magnet (65) so as to provide a parallel scanning mode by an edge focusing effect.

Ion beam therapy system and a method for operating the system

The invention relates to a method of checking the beam guidance of an ion beam therapy system that comprises a grid scanner device, arranged in a beam guidance system ( ), having vertical deflection means ( ) and horizontal deflection means ( ) for the vertical and horizontal deflection of a treatment beam ( ) perpendicular to its beam direction, with the result that the treatment beam ( ) is deflected by the grid scanner device to an isocentre ( ) of the irradiation site, and a specific area surrounding the isocentre ( ) is scanned, wherein redundancy means are used for a redundant termination of extraction and their functionality is checked and checking of the ability of beam guidance dipoles in the beam guidance to connect and disconnect is carried out.

Method for checking beam steering in an ion beam therapy system

A method for the operation of an ion beam therapy system that comprises a grid scanner device, arranged in a beam guidance system ( ), having vertical deflection means ( ) and horizontal deflection means ( ) for the vertical and horizontal deflection of a treatment beam ( ) perpendicular to its beam direction, with the result that the treatment beam ( ) is deflected by the grid scanner device to an isocentre ( ) of the irradiation site and scans a specific area surrounding the isocentre ( ). For monitoring the operational stability and operational safety of the therapy system, the beam position of the treatment beam ( ) in the region of the isocentre ( ) is monitored and evaluated, intervention in the ion beam therapy system being carried out if the evaluation of the beam position shows a departure, from a predetermined desired value, that exceeds a specific tolerance value based on a required half-value width of the beam profile. That tolerance value is especially &plusmn;25 % of the required half-value width.

Method of operating an ion beam therapy system with monitoring of beam position

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Darmstadt, Germany

Hartmut Eickhoff