An object of the present invention is to provide a kind of charged particle beam apparatus and method of operating thereof, by simple control, even irradiation target shape complexity, this device also can be with high precision and homogeneous beam current density to irradiation target irradiation charged particle beam.
For achieving the above object, according to the present invention, charged particle accelerator has a switchgear of drawing that is used to open and close charged particle beam, radiation unit is useful on the electromagnet of the exposure spots that the charged particle beam of irradiation to the irradiation target is set, and control module gauge tap device, make it open and close drawing of charged particle beam, and the control electromagnet, make it change exposure spots.
Among the present invention, when switchgear is opened, drawn around the charged particle beam of charged particle accelerator motion, and entered radiation unit, charged particle beam at radiation unit irradiation to the irradiation target.When switchgear cut out by the charged particle beam accelerator to the drawing of radiation unit, the radiation of charged particle beam on irradiation targets also was stopped.Equally, control this switchgear when control module and make it open and close line when drawing, the irradiation to the irradiation target also can be opened and closed.Because electromagnet is provided with the exposure spots of charged particle beam in radiation unit, but is drawn out to the charged particle beam irradiation of radiation unit to the irradiation target from charged particle accelerator.Because control module control electromagnet makes it change exposure spots, charged particle beam can be irradiated onto another exposure spots of irradiation target.
And, in the present invention, radiation dose Target Setting unit is divided into a plurality of irradiated sites with the irradiation target, and the target of definite each irradiated site irradiation dose, the irradiation dose measuring unit is measured the irradiation dose of each irradiated site charged particle beam, and control module is then according to the target of irradiation dose and the irradiation dose gauge tap device that is recorded by the irradiation dose measuring unit.Since control module control electromagnet make charged particle beam when irradiated site changes irradiation at each irradiation zone, even the complicated charged particle beam of irradiation target shape also can be with high precision and beam current density irradiation uniformly.In addition, because control module makes irradiation last till that always the irradiation dose of irradiated site reaches the radiation dose target, even the intensity of charged particle beam is transition, the irradiation target also can be with uniform beam current density by irradiation.
When switchgear is a radio-frequency power feed unit, apply when comprising charged particle beam to charged particle beam around the radio frequency electromagnetic field of free vibration (betatron oscillation) frequency of charged particle accelerator motion, around the free vibration of the charged particle beam of charged particle accelerator motion owing to the radio frequency electromagnetic field that applies enters resonance state, surpass the stability limit of resonance thereby the amplitude that makes the free vibration of charged particle beam strengthens, charged particle beam is drawn from charged particle accelerator.This outbound course is called the scattering resonance outbound course, uses this method, can guarantee to charged particle beam continue draw, thereby make the charged particle beam can homogeneous beam current density irradiation.
In addition, in the treatment of cancer based on charged particle beam, the energy of the charged particle beam of irradiation must be according to the change of the irradiation target degree of depth.For satisfying this requirement, at the charged particle beam of drawing during, can place the energy that the method such as the board-like material of graphite that makes that charged particle beam passes through changes charged particle beam by changing at boost phase around the energy of the charged particle of charged particle accelerator motion or at radiation unit by irradiation.
(embodiment 1)
First embodiment of charged particle beam apparatus of the present invention is described below with reference to Fig. 1.
The charged particle beam apparatus of this embodiment mainly comprises preaccelerator 98, synchrotron 100, rotational stand 110 and control device group 140.The low energy ion of being drawn by preaccelerator 98 is injected into accelerator 100, and is accelerated device 100 and quickens, and is gone into out the rotational stand 110 in the therapeutic room 103 then, makes ion beam can be used as medical treatment.
The main building block of accelerator 100 is described now.Accelerator 100 utilizes the scattering resonance outbound course, wherein the free vibration around the charged particle beam of accelerator 100 motion enters resonance state, and apply a radio frequency electromagnetic field to the charged particle beam that rotatablely moves, to increase its free vibration, thereby guarantee to surpass the stability limit of resonance, charged particle beam is drawn by accelerator.
Accelerator 100 comprises the deflection electromagnet 146 that is used for the charged particle beam that deflection rotatablely moves, be used for applying the radio frequency accelerating cavity 147 of energy to the charged particle beam that rotatablely moves, thereby be used to produce four utmost point electromagnet 145 and the multipolar electromagnetic iron 11 of the stability limit that puts on the charged particle beam generation free vibration resonance that rotatablely moves and apply radio-frequency power and use radio frequency applying unit 120 to increase drawing of free vibration to the charged particle beam that rotatablely moves.Accelerator 100 also comprises and quickens with power source 165 and draw usefulness radio frequency power source 166, quickening provides electric current with power source 165 to deflection electromagnet 146, four utmost point electromagnet 145 and multipolar electromagnetic iron 11, and provide power to radio frequency accelerating cavity 147, provide power and draw to drawing with radio frequency applying unit 120 with radio frequency power source 166.
Rotational stand 110 is described now.Rotational stand 110 comprises and is used for line is transferred to four utmost point electromagnet 150 and the deflection electromagnet 151 of irradiation target by accelerator 100, and to the power supply 170 of level Four electromagnet 150 and deflection magnet 151 power supplies.
Rotational stand 110 comprises that also the back that is placed in one of deflection electromagnet 151 is used to make the electromagnet 220 and 221 of educt beaming flow in X and the deflection of Y direction.Here, directions X is parallel with the deflection plane of this deflection electromagnet 151, and the Y direction is vertical with the deflection plane of this deflection electromagnet 151.Electromagnet 220 links to each other with the power supply 160 that electric current is provided to it with 221.Being used to measure irradiation dose monitor 200 that the irradiation dose of line distributes is placed in after electromagnet 220 and 221 and abuts against the irradiation target patient position in front, place of standing.
Present description control unit group 140.Control module group 140 comprises irradiation control module 130, operating unit 131 and accelerator control module 132.
Irradiation control module 130 is that control is with the control module of drawing and transfer to rotational stand 110 of charged particle speed from accelerator 100.Since the charged particle beam that is drawn out to rotational stand 110 from accelerator 100 be irradiation to the irradiation target, be the irradiation of control charged particle beam to the control of drawing to damaged part from accelerator 100.
Operating unit 131 determines that irradiation control module 130 control charged particle beam irradiation are to the necessary data of damaged part.
Accelerator control module control charged particle beam by preaccelerator 98 to the drawing of accelerator 100, the acceleration of the charged particle beam that moves around accelerator 100, and the conveying of charged particle beam in rotational stand 110.
With the at first effect of description operation unit 130, explanation is by the method for irradiation control module 130 and accelerator control module 132 operation charged particle line devices then below.
Damaged part information, as the shape of damaged part, the degree of depth and essential irradiation dose R etc. by operator's input operation unit 131.On the basis of the damaged part information of importing, operating unit calculates also determines irradiation zone, and irradiation is to the energy of the charged particle beam of damaged part, and the current amplitude that offers electromagnet 220 and 221.
Relation between the damaged part degree of depth and charged particle beam energy is described here.Fig. 2 represents the relation between the interior degree of depth of body and charged particle beam energy.Fig. 2 represents an example of the relation between the interior degree of depth of body and the charged particle irradiation dose.The peak of irradiation dose shown in Figure 2 is called bragg peak.The irradiation effect of charged particle beam occurs in the bragg peak place.The position of Prague black peak changes with the change of the energy of charged particle beam.Like this, by changing energy according to the degree of depth in the body of damaged part, charged particle beam can be had different-thickness Anywhere at damaged part at depth direction by irradiation.
Fig. 4 shows operating unit 131.
The irradiated site of operating unit 131 constitutes unit 133 and at depth direction damaged part is divided into a plurality of layers on the damaged part information basis of input, usually by Li (i=1,2 ..., N) expression; As shown in Figure 3.Energy calculator 134 determines that according to the degree of depth of each layer suitable beam energy is very much not little, is represented by Ei usually.
And irradiated site tectonic element 133 is determined a plurality of irradiated sites according to the shape of each layer Li, is typically expressed as Ai, j (i=1,2 ... N, J=1,2 ..., M), irradiated site Ai, the mid point Pi of j, the coordinate values of j and mid point (Xij, Yij).Defer to Gaussian distribution because the Strength Space of charged particle beam distributes, operating unit 131 is determined each irradiated site Ai according to the size of charged particle beam by this way, j and mid point Pi thereof, and j makes irradiated site Ai, and j covers adjacent irradiated site a little.Irradiation dose counter 135 is determined each layer mid point Pi according to essential irradiation dose R, the irradiation dose target at j place.
Electromagnet current counter 136 determines to supply with the electric current I Xij and the IYij of electromagnet 220 and 221, so that the center of charged particle beam and each mid point Pi, the j alignment.
The beam energy Ei that operating unit 131 will be determined with respect to each layer Li, each irradiated site Ai, j, mid point Pi, j, irradiation dose Ri, information such as the target of j and electric current I Xij and IYij convey to irradiation control module 130.
Fig. 5 has provided a kind of method of the charged particle beam apparatus of operation present embodiment.
(1) accelerator control module 132 control preaccelerators 98 make its output charged particle beam.
(2) the irradiation control module 130 beam energy size Ei that will wherein store sends accelerator control module 132 to.
(3) accelerator control module 132 accelerates to ENERGY E i to deflection electromagnet 146, four utmost point electromagnet 145 and 11 power supplies of multipolar electromagnetic iron with the charged particle beam that will rotatablely move, and control accelerator power source 165 makes it provide power to radio frequency accelerating cavity 147.
(4) when the charged particle beam of circumnutation is accelerated to ENERGY E i, accelerator control module 132 control accelerator power sources 165 make it to four utmost point electromagnet 145 and 11 power supplies of multipolar electromagnetic iron, to produce the stability limit of free vibration resonance.
When to drawing when applying power with radio frequency applying unit 120, the free vibration amplitude of the charged particle of circumnutation increases, thereby causes the resonance state of the free vibration of charged particle beam to exceed stability limit.
(5) irradiation control module 130 control power supplys 160 make it to electromagnet 220 and 221 power supply stream Ixij and IYij, so that charged particle beam center and selected mid point Pi, the j alignment.
(6) accelerator control module 132 control power supplys 170 make it to four utmost point electromagnet 150 and 151 power supplies of deflection electromagnet, so that the charged particle beam of guiding rotational stand 110 into from accelerator 100 transfers to the damaged part as the irradiation target.
(7) irradiation control module 130 is with the target Rij and certain the concrete mid point Pi that is measured by irradiation dose monitor 200 of irradiation dose, and the dosage of j compares.
(8) if certain concrete mid point Pi, the irradiation dose of j is during less than irradiation dose target Rij, 130 controls of irradiation control module are drawn with radio frequency power source 166 and are made it provide power to drawing with radio frequency applying unit 120, so that line is drawn out to rotational stand 110 by accelerator 100.
When to drawing when providing power with radio frequency applying unit 120, a radio frequency electromagnetic field is applied to the charged particle beam of circumnutation, with the free vibration amplitude of the charged particle beam that increases circumnutation.When the free vibration amplitude increased enough ambassador's free vibration resonance stabilized limit and is exceeded, charged particle beam just was drawn out to rotational stand 110 from accelerator 100.In rotational stand 110, charged particle beam is irradiated onto the irradiated site Ai of selection, j.
(9) irradiation control module 130 compares irradiation dose target Rij with the irradiation dose of another mid point Pij that is recorded by irradiation dose monitor 200.As this mid point Pi, the irradiation dose at j place continues to draw particle during less than irradiation dose target Rij.
(10) as different mid point Pi, when the irradiation dose at j place reached irradiation dose target Rij, irradiation control module 130 control was drawn and with radio frequency power source 166 it is closed to draw.Then irradiation control module 130 control power supplys 160 make charged particle beam center and next irradiated site Ai, the mid point Pi of i+1, j+1 alignment.
(11) when irradiation by irradiated site Ai, j turns to irradiated site Ai, during j+1, under the enough situation of the line of accelerator 100 motion, operation is by the beginning of (5) step, but when the beam intensity and the time of drawing were not enough, operation then went on foot beginning to replenish charged particle beam by (1).
(12) as all irradiated site Ai that select layer Li, when the irradiation dose of j all reaches target, operation by the beginning of (1) step with one deck Li+1 under the irradiation, and with layer Li in same all irradiation layer Ai+1 of mode irradiation, j.
(13) after the irradiation of all layers Li of damaged part is finished, to the EO of charged particle beam apparatus.
Though the energy of charged particle beam is set as Ei in the present embodiment in accelerator 100, the energy of charged particle beam can be changed in rotational stand 110.For example, range converter 500 as shown in Figure 6 is placed near the place before the electromagnet 220 that the line exposure spots is set.Like this, drive range converter 500 to change its thickness, can change energy by the charged particle beam of range converter 500 by making irradiation control module 130.
According to present embodiment, even irradiation target shape complexity, damaged part also can shine with high precision radiation.And, because irradiation one is to lasting till that irradiation dose reaches target, so even beam intensity changes in time, damaged part also can be with the homogeneous beam current density by irradiation.
(embodiment 2)
The following describes the second embodiment of the present invention.The assembly of present embodiment constitutes similar to first embodiment.Every layer of Li of damaged part is not divided into irradiated site at directions X, and only is divided in the Y direction, as shown in Figure 7 but in an embodiment.In other words, irradiated site Ai, j is identical at the directions X width.Another irradiated site Ai, j by the magnetic field intensity that changes electromagnet 220 and produce charged particle beam is scanned at directions X.
Operating unit 131 is according to every irradiated site Ai, and j determines the size of the necessary amount Δ of the magnetic field intensity Ixij of change electromagnet 220 at the width of directions X.Identical with embodiment 1, operating unit is determined beam energy Ei according to every layer of Li, each irradiated site Ai, j and mid point Pi thereof, and j (Xij, Yij), irradiation dose target Rij and electric current I Xij and IYij, and send these information to irradiation control module 130 with Δ Ixij.
Fig. 8 shows a kind of method of the charged particle beam apparatus of operation present embodiment.Except that step (8), other operation stepss are identical with first embodiment.
In step (8), 130 controls of irradiation control module are drawn with radio frequency power source 166 and are made it provide power to drawing with radio frequency applying unit 120, to begin from accelerator 100 line being drawn out to rotational stand 110, in addition, also control power supply 160 in range delta IXij, changing the electric current I ij add to electromagnet 220 so that charged particle beam in directions X scanning by irradiation.
In the present embodiment, the same with described in the embodiment 1 also can change the energy of charged particle beam by using range converter 500 in rotational stand 110.
Though be in the present embodiment by changing the magnetic field intensity that produces by electromagnet 220 charged particle beam is scanned its irradiation to irradiated site Ai at directions X, on the j, also can be by changing the magnetic field intensity that produces by electromagnet 221 charged particle beam being scanned the irradiation that carries out charged particle beam in the Y direction.