Negative Ion Source for Synchrotron Cancer Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current particle beam therapy systems face challenges in efficiently generating, focusing, and injecting negative ions, as well as controlling the energy, intensity, and timing of charged particle delivery for precise and noninvasive cancer treatment with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.
Innovation Solution
A negative ion source system integrated with a synchrotron, featuring a novel ion source, ion beam focusing lens, and tandem accelerator, along with magnetic field concentration and correction coils, to minimize synchrotron size and power requirements, allowing precise control of charged particle beams for effective cancer treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional particle beam therapy systems are used, then cancer treatment can be provided, but the equipment size and power consumption are excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by utilizing negative hydrogen ions (H-) instead of conventional positive protons (H+), and by operating the synchrotron at lower energies (up to 250 MeV/c) compared to traditional high-energy systems. This fundamental parameter change allows for reduced magnetic field strengths and smaller equipment dimensions while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness through the Bragg peak phenomenon.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by using negative ions (H-) rather than positive protons (H+). This inversion enables the use of a converting foil to transform negative ions to positive ions at the target, allowing the synchrotron to operate at lower energies and reducing overall system size and power requirements while achieving the same therapeutic goal.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise control of charged particle delivery is implemented, then minimal damage to surrounding tissue is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical beam delivery systems with a more elegant solution based on the Bragg peak phenomenon and negative ion conversion. By using H- ions that can be converted to H+ at the target location, the system achieves precise depth control through energy selection without requiring complex mechanical scanning or positioning mechanisms, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high precision.
3Volume of stationary object
If synchrotron size is minimized, then power requirements are reduced, but ion source integration becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ion source directly with the synchrotron vacuum chamber, eliminating the need for complex beam transfer lines and additional vacuum systems. The negative ion source is positioned to inject directly into the synchrotron's circulating beam path, and the converting foil is integrated within the same vacuum environment, simplifying the overall system architecture and making compact design feasible.
4Quantity of substance
If negative ion generation is optimized, then beam intensity is improved, but focusing and injection efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a converting foil as an intermediary element that transforms negative hydrogen ions (H-) to positive protons (H+) at the target location. This intermediary approach allows the synchrotron to efficiently accelerate negative ions to high intensities, then convert them to positive ions for precise delivery, thereby maintaining both high beam intensity and injection efficiency while avoiding the limitations of direct positive ion acceleration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables efficient, precise, and accurate delivery of charged particles to tumors with reduced damage to healthy tissue, achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes while minimizing equipment size and power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
A negative ion source system integrated with a synchrotron
Implementation Method 2
ion beam focusing lens
Implementation Method 3
tandem accelerator
Implementation Method 4
magnetic field concentration and correction coils
Implementation Method 5
correction coils
Data Source
AI summary
The invention comprises a negative ion source method and apparatus used as part of an ion beam injection system, which is used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The negative ion source preferably includes an inlet port for injection of hydrogen gas into a high temperature plasma chamber. In one embodiment, the plasma chamber includes a magnetic material, which provides a magnetic field barrier between the high temperature plasma chamber and a low temperature plasma region on the opposite side of the magnetic field barrier. An extraction pulse is applied to a negative ion extraction electrode to pull the negative ion beam into a negative ion beam path, which proceeds through a first partial vacuum system, through an ion beam focusing system, into the tandem accelerator, and into a synchrotron.