Neutron irradiation therapy machine

Patent · Tue Sep 05 04:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:5776369

Nunan, C S

In a neutron irradiation therapy machine for treating patients with a beam of high energy neutrons, a gantry is provided which supports a non-superconducting cyclotron proton accelerator and target for generating a neutron beam and which permits rotation of the accelerator and neutron beam around an axis of revolution coaxial with a patient treatment zone. A counter-weight is carried from the gantry in a diametrically opposed relation to the cyclotron and behind the support bearing for counter-weighting the cyclotron and its associated equipment rotationally and longitudinally. The cyclotron includes an enclosing magnetic return yoke. The enclosing magnetic return yoke and any additional surrounding material provide radiation shielding to protect the patient. An alternative patient table is coaxially mounted of the gantry and supported from a rotor portion thereof via a bearing assembly so that the rotor rotates around the stationary patient table. A neutron beam stopper is carried from the rotator of the gantry in axial alignment with the neutron beam and diametrically opposed to the cyclotron for absorbing neutrons passing through the patient treatment zone. Evacuable radio frequency transmission lines are provided for feeding RF power to the cyclotron and which pass through the yoke and are connected in gas communication with a vacuum pump for evacuating the cyclotron via the intermediary of the RF transmission lines. The cyclotron accelerates a beam of charge particles, to bombard a target formed of first and second materials. Tungsten shielding elements are disposed surrounding the neutron producing target and other regions for attenuation of neutrons falling outside of the desired neutron beam lobe. An adjustable and rotatable neutron beam collimator is arranged for varying the orientation and cross sectional dimensions of the neutron beam as applied to the patient treatment zone. 26 claims.

• Assignee: Varian Associates, Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4112306
• OSTI ID: 5776369
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440100* -- Radiation Instrumentation
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
BEAMS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COLLIMATORS
CYCLOTRON RADIATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EQUIPMENT
MEDICINE
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRON THERAPY
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEON BEAMS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PATIENTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RF SYSTEMS
SHIELDING MATERIALS
THERAPY