An ion therapy system comprises a particle accelerator (1) mounted on a rotatable gantry (2). The particle accelerator includes a superconducting coil (17) which rotates about its axis as the particle accelerator rotates about the gantry axis in use to direct an output beam towards a target from dif
An ion therapy system comprises a particle accelerator (1) mounted on a rotatable gantry (2). The particle accelerator includes a superconducting coil (17) which rotates about its axis as the particle accelerator rotates about the gantry axis in use to direct an output beam towards a target from different directions. The particle accelerator is rotatable through (180) degrees to move the beam through a corresponding arc. The particle accelerator includes cooling system arranged to cool the coil as the coil rotates. The superconducting coil (17) is mounted in a coil support (25). The coil is surrounded by a cryogen chamber (32) which is located radially outwardly from the coil (17) on the other side of the support (25). The cryogen chamber is in fluid communication with a cryogen recondensing unit (29) whereby vaporized cryogen may flow from the cryogen chamber (32) to the cryogen recondensing unit (29) to be recondensed in use before returning to the cryogen chamber. Thermally conductive means (40) is arranged to facilitate heat transfer from the superconducting coil (17) to the cryogen chamber (32) to vaporize cryogen contained therein in use and thereby remove heat from the coil.
대표청구항▼
1. A system comprising: a support; anda particle accelerator mounted to the support for producing an output beam of charged particles in use, the particle accelerator comprising at least one annular superconducting coil for generating a magnetic field in use;means for cooling the superconducting coi
1. A system comprising: a support; anda particle accelerator mounted to the support for producing an output beam of charged particles in use, the particle accelerator comprising at least one annular superconducting coil for generating a magnetic field in use;means for cooling the superconducting coil in use, the cooling means comprises: a cryogen chamber situated local to the at least one superconducting coil for containing cryogen in use, the cryogen does not directly contact the at least one superconducting coil,thermally conductive means arranged to facilitate heat transfer from the at least one superconducting coil to the cryogen chamber to vaporize cryogen contained therein in use and thereby remove heat from the at least one superconducting coil, the thermally conductive means being highly thermally conductive at cryogenic temperatures, anda cryogen recondensing unit in fluid communication with the cryogen chamber, wherein vaporized cryogen may flow from the cryogen chamber to the cryogen recondensing unit to be recondensed in use before returning to the cryogen chamber;wherein the system is arranged such that the particle accelerator is movable to change the direction of the output beam in use, wherein the particle accelerator is rotatable to permit movement of the output beam through an arc in use;and wherein the cooling means is operable to cool the superconducting coil as the coil rotates about its axis upon said movement of the particle accelerator in use, wherein the cooling means including the cryogen chamber, recondensing unit and thermally conductive means is arranged to rotate with the coil as the coil rotates about its axis. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein: the support is arranged to be rotatable about a support axis of rotation, and the particle accelerator is mounted to the support such that it will rotate with the support about the support axis of rotation in use. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein: the support is a gantry. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein: the system is a system for delivering charged particle therapy, and wherein the system further comprises a patient support, and the system is arranged such that the output beam may be incident upon a target in the region of the patient support from different directions as the particle accelerator is moved in use. 5. A particle accelerator system comprising: a particle accelerator having at least one annular superconducting coil for generating a magnetic field in use; andcooling means for cooling the coil in use, the cooling means comprises: a cryogen chamber situated local to the at least one superconducting coil for containing cryogen in use, the cryogen does not directly contact the at least one superconducting coil;thermally conductive means arranged to facilitate heat transfer from the at least one superconducting coil to the cryogen chamber to vaporize cryogen contained therein in use and thereby remove heat from the at least one superconducting coil, the thermally conductive means being highly thermally conductive at cryogenic temperatures, anda cryogen recondensing unit in fluid communication with a cryogen chamber, wherein vaporized cryogen may flow from the cryogen chamber to the cryogen recondensing unit to be recondensed in use before returning to the cryogen chamber;wherein the particle accelerator is rotatable to permit movement of an output beam through an arc in use; andwherein the cooling means is operable to cool the at least one superconducting coil upon movement of the particle accelerator resulting in rotation of the coil about its axis in use, wherein the cooling means including the cryogen chamber, recondensing unit and thermally conductive means is arranged to rotate with the coil as the coil rotates about its axis. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein: the particle accelerator is mounted to a support, wherein the support is arranged to be rotatable about a support axis of rotation, and the particle accelerator is mounted to the support such that it will rotate with the support about the support axis of rotation in use. 7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the highly thermally conductive means is arranged to provide a direct thermal conduction path between a surface of the superconducting coil and the interior of the cryogen chamber. 8. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the highly thermally conductive means is arranged such that it may conduct heat from a part of the cryogen chamber which does not contain cryogen in use to a part of the cryogen chamber which does contain cryogen in use as the coil rotates about its axis in use. 9. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the cryogen chamber has a circumferential extent about the axis of the at least one superconducting coil, and is located axially and/or radially adjacent to the at least one superconducting coil. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein: the cryogen chamber at least partially circumferentially surrounds the at least one superconducting coil. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein: the cryogen chamber extends circumferentially at least 50% around the axis of the at least one superconducting coil. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein: the cryogen chamber extends circumferentially at least 70% around the axis of the at least one superconducting coil. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein: the cryogen chamber extends substantially completely around the axis of the at least one superconducting coil. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein: the system is arranged such that recondensed cryogen may return to the cryogen chamber under the influence of gravity. 15. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the system further comprises external support means for supporting the coil, the support means at least partially circumferentially surrounding the coil. 16. The system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: cryogen in the cryogen chamber, and wherein the chamber contains liquid cryogen which fills the cryogen chamber to a level of less than 50% of the height of the chamber. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein: the cooling means is operable to cool the coil as the coil rotates through an angle of at least 90 degrees upon movement of the particle accelerator. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein: the cooling means is operable to cool the coil as the coil rotates through an angle of up to 180 degrees upon movement of the particle accelerator. 19. A system for delivering charged particle therapy in use, the system comprising: a patient support,a particle accelerator support;a particle accelerator mounted to the particle accelerator support and being arranged to output a beam of charged particles towards a target in the region of the patient support in use, the particle accelerator comprising at least one annular superconducting coil for generating a magnetic field in use; andmeans for cooling the superconducting coil in use, the means for cooling comprises: a cryogen chamber situated local to the at least one superconducting coil for containing cryogen in use, the cryogen does not directly contact the at least one superconducting coil,thermally conductive means arranged to facilitate heat transfer from the at least one superconducting coil to the cryogen chamber to vaporize cryogen contained therein in use and thereby remove heat from the at least one coil, the thermally conductive means being highly thermally conductive at cryogenic temperatures, anda cryogen recondensing unit in fluid communication with the cryogen chamber, wherein vaporized cryogen may flow from the cryogen chamber to the cryogen recondensing unit to be recondensed in use before returning to the cryogen chamber;wherein the system is arranged such that the particle accelerator is movable to change the direction of the output beam in use;wherein the particle accelerator is rotatable to permit movement of the output beam through an arc in use;wherein the cooling means is operable to cool the superconducting coil as the coil rotates about its axis upon said movement of the particle accelerator in use, wherein the cooling means including the cryogen chamber, recondensing unit and thermally conductive means is arranged to rotate with the coil as the coil rotates about its axis. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein: the particle accelerator support is arranged to be rotatable about a particle accelerator support axis of rotation, and the particle accelerator is mounted to the particle accelerator support such that it will rotate with the particle accelerator support about the particle accelerator support axis of rotation in use. 21. The system of claim 1 further comprising: the cryogen recondensing unit is in fluid communication with the cryogen chamber via a connecting pipe. 22. The particle accelerator system of claim 5 further comprising: the cryogen recondensing unit is in fluid communication with the cryogen chamber via a connecting pipe. 23. The system of claim 19 further comprising: the cryogen recondensing unit is in fluid communication with the cryogen chamber via a connecting pipe. 24. The system of claim 1 further comprising: the cryogen recondensing unit is in fluid communication with the cryogen chamber via a connecting pipe, the connecting pipe being tapered towards the cryogen recondensing unit. 25. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the system further comprises external support means for supporting the coil, the support means at least partially circumferentially surrounding the coil, wherein the support means is located between the superconducting coil and the cryogen chamber.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (4)
McBride John J. (Gibsonia PA), Method and apparatus for shimming tubular supermagnets.
Blosser Henry G. (East Lansing MI) Johnson David A. (Williamston MI) Riedel Jack (East Lansing MI) Burleigh Richard J. (Berkeley CA), Rotatable superconducting cyclotron adapted for medical use.
Blosser Henry G. (East Lansing MI) Blosser Gabe F. (Haslett MI) Jemison Emanuel B. (Lansing MI) Purcell John R. (San Diego CA), Vented 360 degree rotatable vessel for containing liquids.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.