William Davis Lee

William Davis Lee: Pioneering the Cancer Therapy System with Novel Patents

William Davis Lee, a prolific inventor based in Rockport, Maine, has been credited with 107 patents. The scientific community views him as a genius in the field of multi-layer multi-color scintillation-based detection systems, a technology for detecting positively charged particles. Lees newest patented invention, the multi-color charged particle detector apparatus, boasts the ability to image a tumor of a patient. The technology achieves this by using a process of determining residual energies of positively charged particles after they pass through the patient. The method involves transmitting positively charged particles at known energies through the patient and into a multi-layer detector element. The invention detects first and second secondary photons, each at different layer depths of a first and second scintillation material, respectively. The detected photons differ in their wavelength ranges. The outputs generated from this process are used to determine the residual energies of the positively charged particles, which correspond to body densities. Thus, an image of the tumor is generated, which helps diagnose a cancer patient and helps physicians administer cancer treatment.

Another invention of Lee's is the Gantry charged particle nozzle system, which utilizes a rolling floor interface technique. This segmented rolling floor apparatus and methodology are used for charged-particle cancer therapy. The therapy system comprises a segmented rolling floor apparatus, which has a first spool and a second spool fixed at opposite ends of the rolling floor. The spools wind and unwind the rolling floor to circumferentially cover a nozzle system. The nozzle system penetrates through an aperture in the segmented rolling floor and supplies positively charged particles, such as protons, to the body of a patient. The rolling floor and the nozzle systems move at different rates ensuring a comfortable and safe floor surface for a gantry system above and shot protons from various angles and above/below the patient's body. This opens up innovative treatment options for cancer patients.

Lee worked at two companies, Applied Materials GmbH, a manufacturer of semiconductor devices, and Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc., a major producer of ion implantation systems. He collaborated with James P. Bennett and Mark R. Amato, some of the pioneers in related technology fields.

In conclusion, Lee's work in developing innovative solutions for cancer therapy holds great promise. His inventions have drastically improved the medical technology industry, and consequently, thousands of cancer patients can hope to live healthier and longer lives because of his work.