External, High-Intensity Proton Injector with Ultra-Precise Control for Fast Spot Beam Scanning PBRT

描述（由申请人提供）：质子治疗粒子加速器，通常是回旋加速器，是大型且昂贵的设备，只有约1%的质子治疗候选人可以使用质子治疗。Antaya Science and Technology的研究旨在降低总体成本，简化操作，并增加质子治疗对所有候选患者的可用性。 拟议的研究活动旨在使用外部ECR质子注入器，以更高的强度操作，并具有超精确的束流控制。ECR离子源的使用消除了与内部离子源相关的维护问题，内部离子源的阴极被腐蚀并且需要频繁更换。ECR离子源还允许更高数量级的质子强度，并减少回旋加速器中存在的氢气量，从而改善整体操作。以更高强度的数量级操作，首次允许在单次屏气中治疗肿瘤，减少器官运动的问题。结合超精确的光束控制，点到点的强度变化成为可能，提高点光束扫描（SBS）治疗的效率。治疗计划的选择将得到扩大，患者的治疗效果将优于传统治疗。 该研究项目将解决将高强度，低速质子注入高场紧凑中心的技术挑战 回旋加速器，并成功地捕获他们进入轨道，并加速他们提取。内部空间电荷在高强度和低于~1 MeV的能量下是一个问题。基准回旋加速器设计代码目前不能分析所有相关的粒子动力学。因此，研究策略是建立一个原型的离子源，注入器，高场磁铁，回旋加速器中心区域，和提取装置。广泛的诊断将使基准代码的未来发展。 这项第二阶段的工作建立了一个原型高强度质子注入系统的回旋加速器，并证明了所有的关键参数所需的最终商业化的技术。商业应用包括对现存机器的改造、设计有内置高强度注射的新质子治疗机器，以及放射治疗之外的应用，包括但不限于同位素生产回旋加速器、基础研究回旋加速器和质子射线照相术。这项研究将降低该技术的风险，并提前几年将其推向市场;更重要的是，这项研究将导致先进的点束扫描技术提前几年进入临床，改善患者的治疗和预后。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Proton therapy particle accelerators, usually cyclotrons, are large and expensive devices, and only about 1% of proton therapy treatment candidates have access to proton therapy. The research at Antaya Science and Technology aims to reduce the overall cost, simplify the operation, and increase the availability of proton therapy to all candidate patients. The proposed research activity aims to enable the use of an external ECR proton injector, operation at an order of magnitude higher intensity, and with ultra-precise beam control. Use of an ECR ion source eliminates the maintenance issues associated with internal ion sources, whose cathodes erode and require frequent replacement. ECR ion sources also allow order of magnitude higher proton intensities and reduce the amount of hydrogen gas present in the cyclotron, improving overall operation. Operating at an order of magnitude higher intensity allows, for the first time ever, treatment of tumors in a single breath-hold, reducing issues with organ motion. In combination with ultra-precise beam control, spot-to-spot intensity variation becomes possible, improving the efficiency of spot-beam-scanning (SBS) treatments. Treatment planning options will be expanded, and patient outcomes improved over conventional treatment. The research project will address the technical challenge of injecting high-intensity, low-velocity protons into the center of a high-field compact cyclotron and successfully capturing them into orbits and accelerating them to extraction. Internal space charge is an issue at high intensity and energy below ~1 MeV. Benchmarked cyclotron design codes cannot presently analyze all the associated particle dynamics. The research strategy is therefore to build a prototype ion source, injector, high-field magnet, cyclotron central region, and extraction apparatus. Extensive diagnostics will enable the benchmarking of codes for future development. This Phase II work establishes a prototype high-intensity proton injection system for cyclotron accelerators and demonstrate all the key parameters required to ultimately commercialize the technology. Commercial applications include retrofits to extant machines, new proton therapy machines designed with high-intensity injection built-in, and applications outside radiation therapy including but not limited to isotope production cyclotrons, basic research cyclotrons, and proton radiography. This research will de-risk the technology and bring it to market years earlier; more importantly, the research will resul in advanced spot-beam-scanning technology reaching the clinic years earlier, improving patient treatment and outcomes.