Synchrocyclotron Variable Magnetic Field for Particle Energy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current particle therapy systems face limitations in efficiently varying the energy of particle beams to treat complex, three-dimensional target volumes, requiring multiple devices and lengthy adjustments, which can disrupt treatment continuity and beam quality.
Innovation Solution
A synchrocyclotron-based particle accelerator with a superconducting coil system that generates a variable magnetic field by adjusting electrical current, allowing continuous or step-wise variation of particle energy up to 250 MeV, and an RF voltage sweeping mechanism to match energy levels, enabling precise and rapid energy adjustments without additional degraders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are used to vary particle beam energy, then energy variation capability is improved, but device complexity and treatment time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the energy variation function and beam delivery function into a single synchrocyclotron system with variable magnetic field capability. The synchrocyclotron directly produces particles with variable energies through magnetic field adjustment, eliminating the need for separate energy variation devices that would otherwise be required in conventional systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchrocyclotron system performs multiple functions: particle acceleration, energy variation, and beam delivery all within a single device. The variable magnetic field capability allows the same accelerator to produce different energy levels (e.g., 70 MeV to 250 MeV) without requiring additional specialized equipment for each energy level.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are used to vary particle beam energy, then energy variation capability is improved, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The synchrocyclotron enables continuous energy variation during the beam delivery process. The magnetic field can be adjusted to change particle energy while the beam is being delivered to the target, allowing seamless transitions between different energy levels without interrupting the treatment process or requiring time for device reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic magnetic field adjustment to vary particle energy in real-time during treatment. The magnetic field strength can be continuously modified to change the acceleration energy of particles produced by the synchrocyclotron, enabling adaptive energy variation without stopping the treatment process.
3Measurement precision
If additional devices are used for energy adjustment, then energy precision is improved, but beam quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy adjustment function from separate external devices and integrates it directly into the synchrocyclotron's magnetic field system. This eliminates the need for additional energy adjustment equipment that would otherwise be required, thereby maintaining beam quality while achieving precise energy control through the synchrocyclotron's inherent variable magnetic field capability.
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
Enables flexible and efficient energy variation of particle beams, reducing treatment time, minimizing the need for additional devices, and maintaining beam quality, allowing for continuous and precise irradiation of complex target volumes with reduced interruptions.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to a cavity to accelerate particles from a particle source
Implementation Method 2
a coil to receive a variable electrical current and to generate a magnetic field that is at least 4 Tesla to cause the particles to move orbitally within the cavity
Implementation Method 3
generate a magnetic field that is at least 4 Tesla to cause the particles to move orbitally within the cavity
Implementation Method 4
The coil can include a superconducting coil. The coil can include one or more sets of coils, and at least one set of coils can be superconducting and can consist of between 2 and 10 million ampere turns
Data Source
AI summary
An example synchrocyclotron includes the following: a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to a cavity to accelerate particles from a particle source; a coil to receive a variable electrical current and to generate a magnetic field that is at least 4 Tesla to cause the particles to move orbitally within the cavity; and an extraction channel to receive the accelerated particles and to output the received particles from the cavity. The particles that are output from the cavity have an energy that is variable based at least on the variable electrical current applied to the coil.