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Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies
Published on: February 6, 2019
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Large energy acceptance gantry for proton therapy utilizing superconducting technology
K P Nesteruk1,2, C Calzolaio1, D Meer1
1Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
Physics in Medicine and Biology
|July 5, 2019
Summary
Superconducting (SC) magnets enable smaller, lighter proton therapy gantries with a large energy acceptance. This design allows rapid energy variations for faster patient treatments, potentially benefiting moving tissue therapy.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Particle Accelerator Technology
- Radiation Oncology
Background:
- Proton therapy gantries utilizing superconducting (SC) magnets offer potential for reduced size and weight.
- Optimizing beam optics and energy modulation is crucial for efficient proton therapy delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the design of a novel proton therapy gantry incorporating SC magnets.
- To demonstrate the advantages of large beam momentum and energy acceptance for treatment efficiency.
- To enable rapid energy variations for faster proton beam delivery.
Main Methods:
- Iterative design process for magnets and beam transport using COSY Infinity, OPAL, and Opera.
- Development of achromatic beam optics with a large momentum acceptance of ~15%.
- Integration of a 2D lateral scanning system and a fast degrader within the gantry.
Main Results:
- Achieved a proton pencil beam momentum acceptance of ~15% (~30% energy domain).
- Demonstrated that ~70% of treatments can be performed without magnetic field adjustments for energy modulation.
- Validated beam optics calculations with particle tracking in 3D magnetic field maps.
Conclusions:
- The designed SC gantry facilitates a significantly smaller cyclotron facility footprint by eliminating external degrader and energy selection systems.
- The gantry enables rapid proton beam delivery sequences, advantageous for treating moving tissues.
- This innovative gantry design enhances proton therapy efficiency and treatment speed.
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