Rotatable superconducting cyclotron adapted for medical use

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:865388

Blosser, Henry G ^[1]; Johnson, David A ^[2]; Riedel, Jack ^[1]; Burleigh, Richard J ^[3]

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1. East Lansing, MI
2. Williamston, MI
3. Berkeley, CA

A superconducting cyclotron (10) rotatable on a support structure (11) in an arc of about 180.degree. around a pivot axis (A--A) and particularly adapted for medical use is described. The rotatable support structure (13, 15) is balanced by being counterweighted (14) so as to allow rotation of the cyclotron and a beam (12), such as a subparticle (neutron) or atomic particle beam, from the cyclotron in the arc around a patient. Flexible hose (25) is moveably attached to the support structure for providing a liquified gas which is supercooled to near 0.degree. K. to an inlet means (122) to a chamber (105) around superconducting coils (101, 102). The liquid (34) level in the cyclotron is maintained approximately half full so that rotation of the support structure and cyclotron through the 180.degree. can be accomplished without spilling the liquid from the cyclotron. With the coils vertically oriented, each turn of the winding is approximately half immersed in liquid (34) and half exposed to cold gas and adequate cooling to maintain superconducting temperatures in the section of coil above the liquid level is provided by the combination of cold gas/vapor and by the conductive flow of heat along each turn of the winding from the half above the liquid to the half below.

• Research Organization: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-80ER10579
• Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)
• Patent Number(s): US 4507616
• OSTI ID: 865388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

rotatable
superconducting
cyclotron
adapted
medical
10
support
structure
11
180
degree
pivot
axis
a-a
particularly
described
13
15
balanced
counterweighted
14
allow
rotation
beam
12
subparticle
neutron
atomic
particle
patient
flexible
25
moveably
attached
providing
liquified
gas
supercooled
near
inlet
means
122
chamber
105
coils
101
102
liquid
34
level
maintained
approximately
half
accomplished
spilling
vertically
oriented
winding
immersed
exposed
cold
adequate
cooling
maintain
temperatures
section
coil
provided
combination
vapor
conductive
flow
heat
below
superconducting coils
liquified gas
superconducting temperatures
superconducting coil
particularly adapted
vertically oriented
particle beam
liquid level
support structure
cold gas
inlet means
conducting coils
superconducting temperature
superconducting cyclotron
pivot axis
/315/250/313/505/600/