Title: Ion beam facility
Abstract: An ion beam facility has a first ion beam system for a first ion type that contains a first ion beam generator and a first ion transport line with at least one first ion switch for one of at least two first irradiation stations and has a second ion beam system for a second ion species with a second ion transport line or is fashioned expandable therewith. At least one of the first irradiation stations also can be operated with the second ion type or the ion transport lines are arranged proceeding essentially parallel to one another. For the expansion, the first ion transport line is conducted along a wall of a building of the ion beam facility and the wall is prepared for openings, so that at least one of the first irradiation stations also can be operated with the second ion type via the subsequently installable, second ion transport line at the other side of the wall, or space is reserved behind the wall for at least the second, subsequently installable ion transport line.
Patent Number: 6,894,300 Issued on 05/17/2005 to Reimoser, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Reimoser; Stefan (Dresden, DE);
Solbrig; Michael (Munich, DE)
|
| Assignee:
|
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (Münich, DE)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
371892 |
| Filed:
|
February 21, 2003 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Dec 20, 2002[DE] | 102 61 099 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
250/505.1; 250/423R; 250/492.3; 250/517.1 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A61N 005/10; H01J033/00 |
| Field of Search: |
250/5051,517.1,492.3,423. R
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4870287 | Sep., 1989 | Cole et al.
| |
| 5585642 | Dec., 1996 | Britton et al.
| |
| 2004/0069958 | Apr., 2004 | Dahl.
| |
| 2004/0183033 | Sep., 2004 | Moriyama et al.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| OS 100 10 523 | Sep., 2001 | DE.
| |
| 0 986 070 | Mar., 2000 | EP.
| |
| 0 986 071 | Mar., 2000 | EP.
| |
Other References
"The High-Energy beam-Transport System for HIMAC," Mizota et al., Mitsubishi
Electric Advance, vol. 62 (1995) pp. 2-4.
"An H light Ion Synchrotron for Radiation Therapy," Arduini et al. Nuclear Instruments
and Methods in Physics Research A 365 (1995) pp. 542-552.
"Design of a Centre for Biologically Optimised Light Ion Therapy on Stockholm,"
Brahme et al., Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 184 (2001)
pp. 569-588.
"Cancer Therapy with Particle Accelerators," Amaldi, Nuclear Physics A654 (1999)
pp. 375c-399c.
"Tumortherapie mit Ionenstrahlen," Spektrum der Wissenschaft, vol. 1 (1999),
pp. 42-51.
"Engineering Design and Study of the Beam Position Accuracy in the "Riesenrad"
Ion Gantry," Reimoser et al.
|
Primary Examiner: Wells; Nikita
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schiff Hardin LLP
Claims
1. An ion beam facility comprising:
a first ion beam system for a first ion type having at least two first irradiation
stations, a first ion beam generator, a first ion transport line comprising at
least one first ion beam switch for communicating said first ion beam generator
with one of said first irradiation stations via said first ion transport line;
a building in which said first ion beam system is disposed, said building having
a building wall with a first side along which said first ion transport line is
conducted; and
said wall having an opening therein which is closed and which is prepared for
subsequent opening to allow communication of one of said first irradiation stations
with a second ion beam system for a second ion type via a subsequently-installable
second ion transport line disposed at a second side of said wall, opposite to said
first side.
2. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said building wall is an
outside wall of said building.
3. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second ion transport
line is subsequently installable parallel to said first ion transport line.
4. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wall has a removable
facing covering said openings.
5. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said openings are scored
in said wall.
6. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wall is a radiation-blocking
wall for said first and second types of radiation.
7. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wall is comprised
of concrete and has a thickness of several meters.
8. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein ions of said first ion
type are lighter than ions of said second ion type.
9. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first ion beam generator
generates hydrogen ions, as said ions of said first ion type.
10. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first ion transport
line proceeds substantially along a straight line.
11. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 10 wherein said building is adapted
to contain second irradiation stations for said second ion beam system following
said first irradiation stations along said first and second ion transport lines.
12. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 11 wherein said building is adapted
to contain a second ion beam generator, or said second ion beam system, next to
said first ion beam generator.
13. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein said building comprises
a plurality of rooms respectively containing said first irradiation stations, each
of said rooms having a ceiling, and the ceilings of the respective rooms being
substantially at ground level.
14. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first
irradiation stations produces an output of ions of said first ion type from said
first ion transport line in a rigidly prescribed direction.
15. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first
irradiation stations comprises a rotatable ion beam guidance mechanism in communication
with said first ion transport line, allowing an output of ions of said first ion
type in selected directions that are rotatable around at least one axis.
16. An ion beam facility comprising:
a first ion beam system for a first ion type having at least two first irradiation
stations, a first ion beam generator, a first ion transport line comprising at
least one first ion beam switch for communicating said first ion beam generator
with one of said first irradiation stations via said first ion transport line;
a building in which said first ion beam system is disposed, said building having
a building wall with a first side along which said first ion transport line is
conducted; and
said building being adapted to reserve space for at least one subsequently installable
second ion transport line of a second ion beam system for a second ion type at
a second side of said wall, opposite to said first side.
17. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein said building wall is
an outside wall of said building.
18. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein said second ion transport
line is subsequently installable parallel to said first ion transport line.
19. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein said wall has a removable
facing covering said openings.
20. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein said openings are scored
in said wall.
21. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein said wall is a radiation-blocking
wall for said first and second types of radiation.
22. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein said wall is comprised
of concrete and has a thickness of several meters.
23. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein ions of said first ion
type are lighter than ions of said second ion type.
24. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first ion beam generator
generates hydrogen ions, as said ions of said first ion type.
25. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first ion transport
line proceeds substantially along a straight line.
26. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 25 wherein said building is adapted
to contain second irradiation stations for said second ion beam system following
said first irradiation stations along said first and second ion transport lines.
27. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 26 wherein said building is adapted
to contain a second ion beam generator, or said second ion beam system, next to
said first ion beam generator.
28. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein said building comprises
a plurality of rooms respectively containing said first irradiation stations, each
of said rooms having a ceiling, and the ceilings of the respective rooms being
substantially at ground level.
29. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein at least one of said
first irradiation stations produces an output of ions of said first ion type from
said first ion transport line in a rigidly prescribed direction.
30. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 16 wherein at least one of said
first irradiation stations comprises a rotatable ion beam guidance mechanism in
communication with said first ion transport line, allowing an output of ions of
said first ion type in selected directions that are rotatable around at least one axis.
31. An ion beam facility comprising:
a first ion beam system for a first ion type comprising at least two first irradiation
stations, a first ion beam generator, and a first ion transport line comprising
at least one first ion beam switch for communicating said first ion beam generator
with one of said first irradiation stations;
a second ion beam system for a second ion type having a second ion beam generator
and a second ion transport line; and
a switching arrangement for selectively communicating at least one of said first
irradiation stations with said second ion beam generator via said second ion transport
line for operating said at least one of said first irradiation stations as a part
of said second ion beam system.
32. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said first and second
ion transport lines are disposed substantially parallel with each other.
33. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said first ion beam generator
generates ions of said first ion type that are lighter than ions of said second
ion type generated by said second ion generator.
34. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said first ion beam generator
generates hydrogen ions, as ions of said first ion type.
35. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said second ion generator
generates carbon ions, as said ions of said second ion type.
36. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein said second ion beam
system comprises at least one second irradiation station disposed in said building
and communicating with said second ion transport line.
37. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 36 wherein said at least one second
radiation station is disposed following said at least two first irradiation stations
in a direction of said first and second ion transport lines.
38. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 37 wherein said building comprises
rooms disposed next to each other respectively containing said ion beam generator
and said second ion beam generator.
39. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein at least one of said
first irradiation stations produces an output of ions of said first ion type from
said first ion transport line in a rigidly prescribed direction.
40. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 31 wherein at least one of said
first irradiation stations comprises a rotatable ion beam guidance mechanism in
communication with said first ion transport line, allowing an output of ions of
said first ion type in selected directions that are rotatable around at least one axis.
41. An ion beam facility comprising:
a first ion beam system for a first ion type, having at least two first irradiation
stations, a first ion beam generator, and a first ion transport line comprising
at least one first ion beam switch for communicating said first ion beam generator
with at least one of said first irradiation stations; and
a second ion beam system for a second ion type, having a second ion beam generator
and a second ion transport line communicating with said second ion generator, said
second ion transport line proceeding substantially parallel to said first ion transport
line.
42. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 41 wherein said first ion beam generator
generates ions of said first ion type that are lighter than ions of said second
ion type generated by said second ion generator.
43. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 41 wherein said first ion beam generator
generates hydrogen ions, as ions of said first ion type.
44. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 41 wherein said second ion generator
generates carbon ions, as said ions of said second ion type.
45. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 41 wherein said second ion beam
system comprises at least one second irradiation station disposed in said building
and communicating with said second ion transport line.
46. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 45 wherein said at least one second
radiation station is disposed following said at least two first irradiation stations
in a direction of said first and second ion transport lines.
47. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 46 wherein said building comprises
rooms disposed next to each other respectively containing said ion beam generator
and said second ion beam generator.
48. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 41 wherein at least one of said
first irradiation stations produces an output of ions of said first ion type from
said first ion transport line in a rigidly prescribed direction.
49. An ion beam facility as claimed in claim 41 wherein at least one of said
first irradiation stations comprises a rotatable ion beam guidance mechanism in
communication with said first ion transport line, allowing an output of ions of
said first ion type in selected directions that are rotatable around at least one axis.
50. A method for constructing an ion beam facility to allow for future expansion,
comprising the steps of:
constructing a building comprising a plurality of rooms including a first room
and a second room;
disposing a first ion beam generator of a first ion beam system for a first ion
type in said first room;
disposing a first irradiation station of said first ion beam system in said second
room;
at a first side of a wall of said building, constructing a first ion transport
line between said first room and said second room, allowing ions of said first
ion type to proceed from said first ion beam generator in said first room to said
first irradiation station in said second room via said first ion transport line;
and
providing at least one closed opening in said wall prepared for subsequent opening
of said opening to allow ions of a second ion type, generated by a subsequently
installed second ion beam generator of a second ion beam system, to proceed from
said second ion beam generator via a second ion transport line, disposed at a second
side of said wall, opposite to said first side, to said first irradiation station.
51. A method as claimed in claim 50 comprising opening said openings in said
wall and installing said second ion beam system with said second ion transport
line at said second side of said wall.
52. A method as claimed in claim 51 comprising constructing said second ion transport
line substantially parallel to said first ion transport line.
53. A method as claimed in claim 51 comprising providing a switching arrangement
allowing selective communication between said first irradiation station and one
of said first ion transport line and said second ion transport line at a time,
for selectively operating said first irradiation station with ions of said first
ion type or ions of said second ion type.
54. A method as claimed in claim 51 comprising generating ions of said first
ion type with said first ion generator that are lighter than ions of said second
ion type generated by said second ion generator.
55. A method as claimed in claim 54 comprising generating hydrogen ions, as ions
of said first ion type, with said first ion beam generator.
56. A method as claimed in claim 54 comprising generating carbon ions, as said
ions of said second ion type, with said second ion generator.
57. A method as claimed in claim 51 wherein the step of installing said second
ion beam system comprises constructing a third room of said building next to said
first room, and disposing said second ion beam generator in said second room.
58. A method as claimed in claim 57 wherein the step of installing said second
ion beam system further comprises constructing a fourth room in said building and
disposing a second irradiation station in said fourth room, said second ion transport
line being disposed between said third room and said fourth room, allowing said
ions of said second ion type to proceed from said second ion beam generator in
said third room to said second irradiation station in said fourth room.
59. A method as claimed in claim 50 comprising producing an output of ions of
said first ion type at said first irradiation station from said ion transport line
in a rigidly prescribed direction.
60. A method as claimed in claim 50 comprising producing an output of ions of
said first ion type at said first irradiation station from said first ion transport
line in selected directions that are rotatable around at least one axis.
61. A method as claimed in claim 50 comprising constructing said wall as a radiation-blocking
wall for ions of said first and second types.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an ion beam facility.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The article by U. Linz, "Tumortherapie mit lonstrahlen", Spektrum der Wissenschaft,
Dossier 1/1999, pages 42 through 51, for example, discloses that fast protons or
other charged particles release their energy in more concentrated form than X-ray
quanta of gamma rays, for example in the human or animal body. As a result thereof,
they are especially suited for combating tumors. Correctly controlled, they mainly
damage the tumor, whereas the surrounding, healthy tissue is unaffected. This yields
significant advantages such as less serious side effects, faster healing and fewer
late complications. Approximately twenty therapy centers, which are listed in the
article, are known worldwide for the aforementioned tumor therapy.
For an ion beam facility wherein a number of irradiation sites or stations proceed
fan-like from an ion beam generator, further, at least portions of the appertaining
floor plan are disclosed by German OS 100 10 523.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved ion beam facility
that, among other things, enables expansions and remodeling with optimally short
interruptions in the operations of the ion beam facility.
The above object is achieved in an ion beam facility according to the invention
having a first ion beam system for a first ion type, having at least two first
irradiation stations, a first ion beam generator, a first ion transport line, and
at least one first ion beam switch in the first ion transport line for one of the
first irradiation stations. The first ion transport line is conducted along a wall
of a building of the ion beam facility, and the wall is prepared for subsequently
making openings therein, so that at least one of the first irradiation stations
can also be operated by a second ion beam system for a second ion type, that will
have a second ion transport line subsequently installed at an opposite side of
the wall from the first ion transport line.
The above object also is achieved in accordance with the invention in an ion
beam facility having a first ion beam system for a first ion type, having at least
two first irradiation stations, a first ion beam generator, a first ion transport
line, and at least one first ion beam switch in the first ion transport line for
one of the first irradiation stations. In this ion beam facility as well, the first
ion transport line is conducted along a wall of a building of the ion beam facility.
Space for at least one subsequently installable second ion transport line, of a
subsequently installed second ion beam system for a second ion type, is reserved
on the opposite side of the wall from the first ion beam transport line.
As a result of the wall being prepared for openings, particularly given implementation
of the wall as a radiation-blocking wall, an expansion of the ion beam facility
from, for example, a first ion beam system for hydrogen atoms, to add a second
ion beam system, for example for carbon ions is facilitated. The expansion work
can be initially carried out without interrupting the operations of the first ion
beam system and, following the expansion, irradiation stations of the first ion
beam system can be easily and quickly re-equipped for a mixed operation in the
framework of both ion beam systems or for exclusive operation with the second ion
beam system because of the openings already provided in the wall. Since the second
ion beam system for the heavier ion type also can be operated with the first ion
type with appropriate readjustments, an alternating operation with the one or the
other ion types can ensue exclusively with second ion beam system. The aforementioned
readjustments are implemented with each change. In one embodiment, the ion beam
generator and the ion transport line of the first ion beam system can even be entirely
foregone as a result, but of course, the advantage of operations continuing with
the second or the first ion beam system given maintenance of the first or the second
ion beam system is lost, compared to a mixed operation with both ion beam systems.
The aforementioned advantages can likewise be achieved in the inventive ion beam
system, wherein an ion transport line of the first ion beam system is conducted
along a wall of a building of the ion beam facility and space is reserved behind
the wall for at least one subsequently installable second ion transport line of
the second ion beam systems.
For also equipping an ion beam facility at the outset for later operation with
heavier ions, it is in theory possible to replace the components of the first ion
beam system by the significantly larger components of the second ion beam system.
As a result, however, the initial investment would be disadvantageously burdened
due to the necessity of over-dimensioning spaces reserved for later use, and the
replacement of the components, moreover, would disadvantageously lead to long down
times of the ion beam facility. Fashioning the components to be "over-dimensioned"
from the outset for later operation with heavier ions as well would, in fact, prevent
the aforementioned, long down times but would additionally disadvantageously burden
the initial investment due to the expensive, "over-dimensioned" components in addition
to the large spaces. These disadvantages are avoided in the inventive systems described
above so that the investment for the first ion beam system and its construction
is burdened neither by excessively large spaces nor "over-dimensioned" components
of the ion beam system.
The aforementioned advantages also can be achieved in an inventive ion beam facility,
wherein at least one of the first irradiation stations of the first ion beam system
also can be operated at the second ion beam system, as well as in an inventive
ion beam facility, wherein the two ion transport lines of the first and second
ion beam system are separately conducted through a wall in parallel. The parallel
structure also produces a compact overall structure of the ion beam facility.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a first ion beam system in accordance with the invention in a perspective view.
FIG. 2 is a floor plan of the ion beam facility of FIG. 1 in a first stage of expansion.
FIG. 3 is a cross-section through the ion beam facility of FIG. 2 in a first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a cross-section through the ion beam facility of FIG. 2 in a second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a floor plan of the ion beam facility of FIG. 2 expanded by a second
ion beam system in a first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a floor plan of the ion beam facility of FIG. 2 expanded by a second
ion beam system in a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a floor plan of a further ion beam facility in accordance with the
inventive method having first and second ion beam systems.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As a component part of an ion beam facility serving as an exemplary embodiment
of the invention, FIG. 1 shows a first ion beam system
100 for the irradiation
of patients
109 with ions of a first ion type, particularly with protons,
which are also referred to as hydrogen ions. The first ion beam system
100
has an ion beam generator
110 with an ion source and an ion accelerator
that is connected to an ion transport line
120. The high-energy ions are
conducted via the ion transport line
120 to respective patients
109
at the selectable irradiation stations
101,
102 and
103. To
that end, the ion transport line
120 contains two ion beam switches
122
and an ion beam deflector
124. Each of the ion beam switches
122
is characterized by two switching states. In a first switching state, the ion beam
coming from the ion beam generator is deflected in the direction of one of the
irradiation stations
101 or
102, and, in a second switching state,
the ion beam passes through the ion beam switch
122 on a straight line.
The irradiation station
103 is fashioned such that the ion beam emerges
rigidly prescribed in the horizontal direction. The two other irradiation stations
101 and
102 each has an ion beam guidance mechanism
130 that
is rotatable around a horizontal axis that accepts the ion beam in the direction
of the axis, transports it away from the axis and aligns it at a right angle to
the axis, intersecting the axis. Among other things, the ion beam guidance mechanism
130 has a 45° ion beam deflector
132 and a 135° ion beam
deflector. The intersection of the ion beam with the axis represents the isocenter
of a target region in one of the patients
109, who is placed on a patient
support mechanism
105 in a prescribable direction. By rotating the beam
guidance mechanism
130, it steers the ion beam through the isocenter from
different angles during the irradiation of one of the patients
109.
In the ion beam system
100, conventional components corresponding to well-known
transport, acceleration and focusing techniques for ions are employed, in combination,
matched to one another and set such that the desired acceleration and injection
parameters are achieved.
As an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 shows the ion beam facility
in a first expansion stage. The ion beam system
100 of FIG. 1 is arranged
in a building
150, the floor plan of which is outlined in FIG.
2.
The ion beam line
120 is thereby conducted along a radiation-blocking wall
170 of the building
150 that simultaneously represents an outside
wall of the building
150 in the first expansion stage. The irradiation stations
101,
102 and
103, the ion beam generator
110 and the
ion transport line
120 are accommodated in rooms
151 through
155
of the building
150 that are shielded from one another in terms of radiation.
The radiation blocking is thereby assured by means of concrete walls a few meters
thick. The radiation blocking is necessary since ionizing secondary radiation arises
given the interaction of the ion beam with matter, for example with air or tissue
devices for measuring radiation parameters in the ion beam generator
110
and/or the ion beam transport line
120, etc. The ionizing secondary radiation
contains mainly fast neutrons, which have energy sufficient to damage human cells.
For protecting personnel and the public from this radiation, the rooms
151
through
155 are insulated by concrete walls or by the adjoining ground,
as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Dependent on, among other things, the ion type, the
radiation blocking must be dimensioned in thickness such that the radiation level
on the far side of the blocking is lowered to an acceptable level as prescribed
by law. Further rooms
161 of the building
150 are available for monitoring
the operation of the facility, for treating and caring for patients, as well as
for office activities connected therewith.
In its first expansion stage, the ion beam facility is already designed and configured
such that, without interrupting the operation of the ion beam system
100,
it can be expanded by a second ion beam system
200 for a second ion type
that is characterized by heavier ions than the first ion species, for example carbon
ions. The floor plan for a building expansion shown with a broken line is reserved
for this expansion. Further, the wall
170 is already configured for openings
172 so that, during the course of the expansion, at least some of the individual
irradiation stations
101,
102 and
103 can be redesigned for
operation only with the second ion beam system
200, or for a mixed operation
with both ion beam systems
100 and
200, with little time expenditure,
and thus without significant operating interruptions. For the openings
172,
the wall
170 can be provided, for example, with suitable wall facings or
scorings or panels. Until an expansion of the ion beam facility, the openings
172
are tightly closed with corresponding closures that have properties corresponding
to those of the wall
170 in terms of radiation attenuation. Further details
about the aforementioned expansion are described below with reference to FIG.
5.
FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through the ion beam facility shown as a floor
plan in FIG.
2. The cross-section is conducted roughly through the rooms
155 and
151. The building
150 is designed such that at least
the radiation-blocked rooms
151 through
155 have the upper edge of
their ceilings coinciding roughly to the surface of the ground, so that the ground
is additionally used as radiation protection, thereby achieving an optimally good
and simple, additional radiation protection. For example, a room
163 for
electrical operating equipment as well as a room
164 for air-conditioning
equipment, particularly for the rooms
151 through
155, are provided
in a further story above the rooms
151 through
161.
FIG. 4 shows another cross-section through the ion beam facility of FIG.
2.
Compared to FIG. 3, additional stories, for example for further hospital-oriented
functions, include the room
166 and a special room
164 for air-conditioning
equipment is provided.
Proceeding on the basis of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 shows the ion beam facility
after expansion by the second ion beam system
200. Similar to the first
ion beam system
100, the second ion beam system
200 has an ion beam
generator
210, an ion transport line
220 with corresponding ion beam
switches
222 and three irradiation stations
201,
202 and
203.
The irradiation stations
201 and
202 have a rigidly prescribed, horizontal
ion beam discharge, in contrast which the irradiation station
203 is fashioned
according to the irradiation station described in the article by S. Reimoser et
al., "Engineering design and study of beam position accuracy in the "Riesenrad"
ion gantry", Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A 456 (2001),
pages 390 through 410. In particular, the ion beam generator
210 and a rotatable
ion beam guidance mechanism for the irradiation station
203 as well are
thereby significantly bulkier than the comparable components for the first, lighter
weight ions due to the possibility of operating with the heavier ions, so that
particularly the rooms for the ion beam generator
210 and the irradiation
station occupy considerably more space than for the first ion beam system.
The ion beam line
220 is conducted along the wall
170. This has
the advantage that the irradiation stations
103,
102 and/or
101
of the first ion beam system
100 are simple to re-equip for mixed operation
with both ion beam systems
100 and
200 or an operation only with
the second ion beam system
200. Only the irradiation station
103,
or first the irradiation station
103 and then the irradiation station
102,
or first the irradiation station
103, and then the irradiation station
103
and finally the irradiation station
101, are refitted for a simple re-equipping
and short down times in the use of the irradiation stations
103,
102
and/or
101. Among other things, the ion transport line
220 is suitably
configured for the expansion by using ion beam switches
222. The openings
172 provided in the wall are then uncovered as needed for the refitting
and the irradiation stations
103,
102 and/or
101 as well as
the ion transport line
120 are then suitably remodeled or adapted for the
re-equipping. In particular, the radiation attenuation of the rooms
153,
152 and/or
151 must be upgraded for operation with the heavier ions
by, for example, the walls being reinforced with pre-fabricated parts in the form
of concrete blocks. Since the second ion beam system
200 is decoupled from
the first ion beam system
100 in terms of radiation, the expansion and remodeling
of the ion beam facility can be largely implemented given continued operation of
the first ion beam system
100. It is also advantageous that the investment
for the first ion beam system
100 and its building
150 initially
incurs no additional costs for enlarged rooms, as would be the case if, instead
of the described expansion, replacement of the components of the first ion beam
system
100 by components of the second ion beam system occurred. Moreover,
such replacement would disadvantageously involve very long down times of the ion
beam facility.
As an example, the irradiation station
103′ is refitted for the
mixed operation in FIG. 5 proceeding from the irradiation station
103. To
that end, the ion transport line
220 has an ion beam-switch
222 at
an appropriate location. Proceeding from the ion transport line
120, further,
the ion transport line
120′ is correspondingly adapted in the right
end region as a component of an adapted, first ion beam system
100′.
Compared to the room
153 for the irradiation station
103, finally,
the room for the radiation station
103′ is redesigned by, for example,
thickening the walls for the radiation protection. The irradiation station
103′
thereby exhibits the particular advantage that, given maintenance of the adapted,
first ion beam system
100′ or of the second ion beam system
200,
operations can continue with the second ion beam system
200 or the adapted,
first ion beam system
100′, whereas, given maintenance of the adapted,
first ion beam system
100′, readjustments of the second ion beam
system
200 enable it to also be operated with ions of the first ion type.
As a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 6 shows another version
for expansion. Compared to FIG. 5, the embodiment of FIG. 6 does not enable mixed
operation. Proceeding from FIG. 2, the irradiation stations
102 and
103
have been refitted into irradiation stations
102″ and
103″
with a rigidly prescribed beam exit angle that can only be operated with a second
ion beam system
200″. The ion transport line
120 is remodeled
into the shortened ion transport line
120′ for exclusive supply of
the irradiation station
101. The irradiation stations
102″,
103″,
201,
202 and
203″ are connected
to an ion transport line
220″ of the ion beam system
200″.
That part of the ion transport line that proceeds vertically in FIG.
6 and
immediately precedes the irradiation station
203″ is thereby designed
such that the ion beam emerges from above at an angle of
600 at the irradiation
station
203″ with respect to a patient support surface that is parallel
to the floor of the room.
As a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 7 shows an ion beam
facility
wherein a first ion beam system
100′″ for light ions that
essentially corresponds to the first ion beam system
100 is operated in
parallel with a second ion beam system
200′″ for heavy ions.
The ion beam system
200′″ has the ion beam generator
210,
an ion transport line
220′″ as well as irradiation stations
201,
202 and
203′″. The irradiation station
203′″, corresponding to the irradiation stations
101
and
102, is fashioned with a rotatable ion beam guidance mechanism and dimensioning
for the heavy ions. A compact overall structure of the ion beam facility results
due to the parallel guidance of the two ion transport lines
220′″
and
120′″ at both sides of a radiation-blocking wall′″.
In another exemplary embodiment the ion beam facility of FIG. 7 can proceed from
an expansion of the ion beam facility described in FIG. 2, with the above-described
advantages. Likewise, of course, the ion beam facilities described in FIGS. 5 and
6 need not necessarily result from the described expansion but can be established
in this way from the outset. Due to the parallel guidance of the ion transport
lines of the two ion beam systems, simple refitting possibilities of radiation
stations that were described above continue to be available for either of the other
ion beam systems or for mixed operation.
Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in
the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embody within the patent warranted
hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the
scope of their contribution to the art.
*
