High-energy radiation is a common treatment for cancer patients, helping to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells. Compared to conventional X-ray and gamma ray therapy, particle-based radiotherapy has been favored for its ability to intensely irradiate affected sites with minimal side effects.
Large permanent magnets or electromagnets are typically responsible for the powerful, focused proton beams produced by the linear accelerators used for this therapy, but there are limits to what these proton injectors can accomplish. Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Amagasaki, Japan, has developed a more effective solution with its Compact Injection Accelerator for Proton Therapy System, which can generate the required 10 mA proton beams at 7 MeV prior to delivering the power to synchrotron.
Mitsubishi greatly simplified the injector's post-linear accelerator electrode architecture, eliminating the need for magnetic fields for focusing. This supplies a lower accuracy requirement for the electrodes, which leads to better reliability throughout the entire system. Additionally, the conventional power distributor setup of two radio frequency (RF) sources—with phase adjustment—was reduced to just one RF source.
The result is a less expensive but more reliable solution that can be said to contribute to the higher feasibility of next-generation cancer treatments, as well as atomic reactor needs.
Technology
Accelerator for proton therapy
Developers
Mitsubishi Electric Corp.
The Compact Injection Accelerator for Proton Therapy System Development Team
Kazuo Yamamoto, Principal Developer
Hiromitsu Inoue
Takahisa Nagayama
Sadahiro Kawasaki
Hirofumi Tanaka
Satoshi Ueda
©
Large permanent magnets or electromagnets are typically responsible for the powerful, focused proton beams produced by the linear accelerators used for this therapy, but there are limits to what these proton injectors can accomplish. Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Amagasaki, Japan, has developed a more effective solution with its Compact Injection Accelerator for Proton Therapy System, which can generate the required 10 mA proton beams at 7 MeV prior to delivering the power to synchrotron.
Mitsubishi greatly simplified the injector's post-linear accelerator electrode architecture, eliminating the need for magnetic fields for focusing. This supplies a lower accuracy requirement for the electrodes, which leads to better reliability throughout the entire system. Additionally, the conventional power distributor setup of two radio frequency (RF) sources—with phase adjustment—was reduced to just one RF source.
The result is a less expensive but more reliable solution that can be said to contribute to the higher feasibility of next-generation cancer treatments, as well as atomic reactor needs.
Technology
Accelerator for proton therapy
Developers
Mitsubishi Electric Corp.
The Compact Injection Accelerator for Proton Therapy System Development Team
Kazuo Yamamoto, Principal Developer
Hiromitsu Inoue
Takahisa Nagayama
Sadahiro Kawasaki
Hirofumi Tanaka
Satoshi Ueda
©
