With Injection Or Extraction Means Patents (Class 315/507)
  • Patent number: 10619627
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of an electric propulsion system. The electric propulsion system includes a discharge channel, an anode, a cathode, an injection system and a magnetic circuit. The injection system injects propellant gas into the discharge channel and the magnetic circuit has at least one magnetic winding to generate a magnetic field in the discharge channel. The temperature at a reference thermal point of the electric propulsion system is determined. The electric propulsion system is heated by the Joule effect by applying a current to the magnetic circuit when the determined temperature is below a minimum temperature predetermined during a stop phase of the electric propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Matias Wartelski, Xavier Sembély
  • Patent number: 9661737
    Abstract: A non-scaling fixed field alternating gradient accelerator includes a racetrack shape including a first straight section connected to a first arc section, the first arc section connected to a second straight section, the second straight section connected to a second arc section, and the second arc section connected to the first straight section; an matching cells configured to match particle orbits between the first straight section, the first arc section, the second straight section, and the second arc section. The accelerator includes the matching cells and an associated matching procedure enabling the particle orbits at varying energies between an arc section and a straight section in the racetrack shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventor: Dejan Trbojevic
  • Patent number: 9386676
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology are described in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions ions are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Norman Rostoker, Michl Binderbauer
  • Patent number: 9215791
    Abstract: To reduce the number of steps of generating control pattern data needed for achieving beam irradiation with desired energy in the beam extraction from a synchrotron accelerator, a data generator 41 divides adjusted control pattern data, defines the divided data intervals as data modules, and reuses each of the data modules to generate new control pattern data. For extraction energy level changes, which are characteristic of multi-energy extraction, energy change control pattern data is generated based on the extraction pattern data before an energy level change and the extraction pattern data after the energy level change by using an interpolation function thereby to allow the control pattern data to be automatically generated. Effects of residual magnetic fields are calculated in advance, and then adjustment values that allow for the effects of the residual magnetic fields are incorporated into the control pattern data and operation is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Haruki Arita, Moemi Takeda
  • Patent number: 9040936
    Abstract: A method of bunch length compression method for a free electron laser (FEL) that avoids parasitic compressions by 1) applying acceleration on the falling portion of the RF waveform, 2) compressing using a positive momentum compaction (R56>0), and 3) compensating for aberration by using nonlinear magnets in the compressor beam line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: JEFFERSON SCIENCE ASSOCIATES, LLC, LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventors: David R. Douglas, Stephen Benson, Dinh Cong Nguyen, Christopher Tennant, Guy Wilson
  • Patent number: 9030134
    Abstract: Man-portable radiation generation sources and systems that may be carried by hand to a site of interest by one or two people, are disclosed. Methods of use of such sources and systems are also disclosed. Battery operated radiation generation sources, air cooled radiation generation sources, and charged particle accelerators, are also disclosed. A radiation generation source, a radiation scanning system, and a target assembly comprising target material having a thickness of less than 0.20 mm are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Vanan Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Whittum, James E. Clayton, George Merdinian
  • Publication number: 20150077022
    Abstract: A particle accelerator including an electrical field system and a magnetic field system that are configured to direct a particle beam of charged particles along a designated path within an acceleration chamber. The particle accelerator also includes a foil holder having a beam window and a positioning slot that at least partially surrounds the beam window. The positioning slot is dimensioned to hold an extraction foil such that the extraction foil extends across the beam window and into the path of the charged particles. The positioning slot is defined by interior reference surfaces that face the extraction foil and retain the extraction foil within the positioning slot. The reference surfaces permit the extraction foil to move relative to the reference surfaces when the particle beam is incident on the extraction foil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Oskar Svedberg, Tomas Eriksson, Jonas Ove Norling, Peter Askebro
  • Patent number: 8952634
    Abstract: A synchrocyclotron comprises a resonant circuit that includes electrodes having a gap therebetween across the magnetic field. An oscillating voltage input, having a variable amplitude and frequency determined by a programmable digital waveform generator generates an oscillating electric field across the gap. The synchrocyclotron can include a variable capacitor in circuit with the electrodes to vary the resonant frequency. The synchrocyclotron can further include an injection electrode and an extraction electrode having voltages controlled by the programmable digital waveform generator. The synchrocyclotron can further include a beam monitor. The synchrocyclotron can detect resonant conditions in the resonant circuit by measuring the voltage and or current in the resonant circuit, driven by the input voltage, and adjust the capacitance of the variable capacitor or the frequency of the input voltage to maintain the resonant conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Sliski, Kenneth Gall
  • Patent number: 8933650
    Abstract: A synchrocyclotron includes magnetic structures that define a resonant cavity, a source to provide particles to the resonant cavity, a voltage source to provide radio frequency (RF) voltage to the resonant cavity, a phase detector to detect a difference in phase between the RF voltage and a resonant frequency of the resonant cavity that changes over time, and a control circuit, responsive to the difference in phase, to control the voltage source so that a frequency of the RF voltage substantially matches the resonant frequency of the resonant cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles D. O'Neal, III, Adam C. Molzahn, John J. Vincent
  • Patent number: 8907309
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for control of a charged particle cancer therapy system. A treatment delivery control system is used to directly control multiple subsystems of the cancer therapy system without direct communication between selected subsystems, which enhances safety, simplifies quality assurance and quality control, and facilitates programming. For example, the treatment delivery control system directly controls one or more of: an imaging system, a positioning system, an injection system, a radio-frequency quadrupole system, a ring accelerator or synchrotron, an extraction system, a beam line, an irradiation nozzle, a gantry, a display system, a targeting system, and a verification system. Generally, the control system integrates subsystems and/or integrates output of one or more of the above described cancer therapy system elements with inputs of one or more of the above described cancer therapy system elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: Stephen L. Spotts
  • Patent number: 8884256
    Abstract: A septum magnet includes a yoke that can be separated at the approximately center portion thereof in the axis direction; a septum coil; a return coil; and a vacuum duct that is inserted between the septum coil and the return coil. The septum coil is formed in such a way as to be able to be separated into a first portion and a second portion in response to separation of the yoke; and in a space between the septum coil and the vacuum duct, there is provided an auxiliary coil, in two portions of which, corresponding to the first portion and the second portion of the septum coil, electric currents flow in opposite direction to each other in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kengo Sugahara, Katsuhisa Yoshida, Toshihiro Otani, Shinichi Masuno, Fumihiko Kashima
  • Patent number: 8886495
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described wherein a charged beam in an enclosed conducting cavity in an accelerator is monitored for position, current, and energy. One method uses induced electric signals on non-intercepting conducting electrodes. Another method uses an intercepting and moving electrode than can be moved into the beam to different degrees to monitor the beam current and vertical profile at different radial positions. Non-intercepting electrodes are also used as part of a moving diagnostic probe to monitor properties of the beam at different radial positions. Another method uses the current in the leads to a power supply, a portion of this current being equal to the beam current. Another method uses the magnetic and electric fields from the beam that penetrates a non-conducting portion of the conducting cavity. Yet another method uses the radiation emitted during acceleration of the beam by the deflecting magnets that guide the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Passport Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Bertozzi, Robert J. Ledoux
  • Patent number: 8841867
    Abstract: A crossed field device, such as a magnetron or crossed field amplifier, that includes a cathode, an anode, one or more magnetic elements, and one or more extraction elements. In one embodiment, the crossed field device includes an annular cathode and anode that are axially spaced from one another such that the device produces an axial electric (E) field and a radial magnetic (B) field. In another embodiment, the crossed field device includes an oval-shaped cathode and anode that are radially spaced from one another such that the device produces a radial electric (E) field and an axial magnetic (B) field. The crossed field device may produce electromagnetic (EM) emissions having a frequency ranging from megahertz (MHz) to terahertz (THz), and may be used in one of a number of different applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Ronald M. Gilgenbach, Yue-Ying Lau, David M. French, Brad W. Hoff, John Luginsland, Matthew Franzi
  • Patent number: 8841866
    Abstract: The invention comprises a charged particle beam extraction method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The system uses a radio-frequency cavity system to induce betatron oscillation of a charged particle stream. Sufficient amplitude modulation of the charged particle stream causes the charged particle stream to hit a material, such as a foil. The foil decreases the energy of the charged particle stream, which decreases a radius of curvature of the charged particle stream in the synchrotron sufficiently to allow a physical separation of the reduced energy charged particle stream from the original charged particle stream. The physically separated charged particle stream is then removed from the system by use of an applied field and deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Vladimir Yegorovich Balakin
  • Patent number: 8836247
    Abstract: A drift-tube linear accelerator that passes an injected particle beam through inside a plurality of cylindrical drift-tube electrodes arranged in a cylindrical cavity in a particle beam traveling direction and accelerates the particle beam by a radio-frequency electric field generated between the plurality of cylindrical drift-tube electrodes, wherein at least part of a focusing device for focusing the particle beam is disposed inside an end drift-tube electrode that is arranged nearest the injection side of the cylindrical cavity among the plurality of cylindrical drift-tube electrodes, with the focusing device being positionally adjustable independently of the end drift-tube electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Yamamoto, Hirofumi Tanaka, Hiromitsu Inoue, Sadahiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 8796614
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating a proton beam, which includes a laser system providing a laser pulse, a target generating a proton beam by using the laser pulse, and a phase conversion plate disposed between the laser system as a light source and the target to convert the laser pulse into a circularly polarized laser pulse having a spiral shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Dong Hoon Song, Dong-Ho Shin, Hwang Woon Lee, Hyung Ju Park, Moon Youn Jung
  • Patent number: 8791656
    Abstract: An example particle accelerator includes a magnet to generate a magnetic field, where the magnet includes first superconducting coils to pass current in a first direction to thereby generate the first magnetic field, and where the first magnetic field is at least 4 Tesla (T). The example particle accelerator also includes an active return system including second superconducting coils. Each of the second superconducting coils surrounds, and is concentric with, a corresponding first superconducting coil. The second superconducting coils are for passing current in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction to thereby generate a second magnetic field having a magnetic field of at least 2.5 T. The second magnetic field has a polarity that is opposite to a polarity of the first magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrit Townsend Zwart, James Cooley
  • Patent number: 8736198
    Abstract: A circular accelerator comprises a target current value memory which stores a target current value of a beam current of charged particle which is extracted from an extracting device; and a frequency determination part in which a frequency change ratio is obtained by performing a feedback control based on an error signal between a detection signal of a beam current detector and a target current value which is stored in a target current value memory, and determines a subsequent frequency from the obtained frequency change ratio and a current frequency, wherein the subsequent frequency which is determined by the frequency determination part is stored in a frequency memory and a radio-frequency generator generates the subsequent radio-frequency of frequency which is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Haruna, Katsuhisa Yoshida, Masahiro Ikeda, Kengo Sugahara, Hirofumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8736199
    Abstract: The temperature rise due to the backstreaming electrons is canceled by an equal and opposite fall in temperature at the surface of the cathode due to the conduction of heat deposited at the surface immediately prior to the microwave pulse by a pulsed laser focused to uniformly illuminate the cathode surface. Variations in temperature across the surface of the cathode attributable to the non-uniform spatial distribution of the backstreaming electrons may be compensated using a second laser pulse fired during the RF pulse to maintain constant thermal power input across the surface of the cathode during the RF pulse. This second pulse can also be used to compensate for the time-dependent rate of decay of temperature due to conduction of the heat deposited by the first laser into the body of the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: John M. J. Madey
  • Patent number: 8680792
    Abstract: An accelerator assembly includes a first chip and a second chip. An acceleration channel is formed into a surface of a first side of the first chip. The first side of the first chip is covalently bonded to a first side of the second chip such that the channel is a tubular void between the first and second chips. The channel has a tubular inside sidewall surface, substantially no portion of which is a metal surface. The channel has length-to-width ratio greater than five, and a channel width less than one micron. There are many substantially identical channels that extend in parallel between the first and second chips. In one specific example, the assembly is part of a Direct Write On Wafer (DWOW) printing system. The DWOW printing system is useful in semiconductor processing in that it can direct write an image onto a 300 mm diameter wafer in one minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Transmute, Inc.
    Inventors: Kim L. Hailey, Robert O. Conn
  • Patent number: 8648319
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for generating electromagnetic THz radiation with free electron beams, comprising a dynatron tube, where the dynatron tube comprises an electron source, an extraction grid, and, an anode preferably coated with a material composition for high secondary electron emission, arranged in vacuum. The dynatron tube is connected to a voltage supply supplying an extractor voltage and an anode voltage and the extractor voltage is higher than the anode voltage. An oscillator modulates the anode voltage and the anode voltage is set to a work point voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: Hans W. P. Koops
  • Patent number: 8594265
    Abstract: A method for operating a pulsed neutron generator includes adjusting a target current of the neutron generator to a preselected value. A parameter related to a neutron output of the neutron generator is measured. A target voltage of the neutron generator is adjusted to maintain the measured parameter within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Luke T. Perkins, Peter Wraight, Wolfgang P. Ziegler, Robert A. Adolph
  • Patent number: 8575867
    Abstract: A charged particle accelerator having a curvilinear beam trajectory maintained solely by a laterally directed, constant electric field; requiring no magnetic field. A method for controlling the trajectory of a charged particle in an accelerator by applying only a constant electric field for beam trajectory control. Curvilinear steering electrodes held at a constant potential create the beam path. A method for making a chip-scale charged particle accelerator involves integrated circuit-based processes and materials. A particle accelerator that can generate 110 KeV may a footprint less than about 1 cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Amit Lal, Shi Yue
  • Patent number: 8525448
    Abstract: The circular accelerator comprises: a bending electromagnet that generates a bending magnetic field; a radio-frequency power source that generates a radio-frequency electric field in accordance with an orbital frequency of charged particles; a radio-frequency electromagnetic field coupling part connected to the radio-frequency power source; an acceleration electrode connected to the radio-frequency electromagnetic field coupling part; and an acceleration-electrode-opposing ground plate provided to form an acceleration gap between the plate itself and the acceleration electrode, for generating the radio-frequency electromagnetic field in an orbiting direction of the charged particles; wherein the bending electromagnet generates the bending magnetic field varying in such a way that the orbital frequency of the charged particles varies in a variation range of 0.7% to 24.7% with respect to an orbital frequency at the charged-particles' extraction portion, during a time of injection to extraction of the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Tanaka, Kazuo Yamamoto, Nobuyuki Haruna, Yuehu Pu, Kanji Shinkawa, Takayuki Kashima
  • Patent number: 8525449
    Abstract: A charged particle beam extraction method according to the present invention is featured in that, in a circular accelerator which accelerates a charged particle beam, a pulse voltage is applied to a part of the accelerated charged particle beam to generate a momentum deviation only in the part of the charged particle beam, in that the charged particles of a part of the charged particle beam, the charged particles having a large momentum deviation, are located in a non-stable region and in an extraction region in a horizontal phase space with respect to the traveling direction of the charged particle beam, and in that a group of the charged particles located in the non-stable region and in the extraction region are largely deviated in the horizontal direction so as to be extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nat'l University Corporation Gunma University
    Inventors: Kota Torikai, Satoru Yamada
  • Patent number: 8508158
    Abstract: A dc accelerator system able to accelerate high currents of proton beams at high energies is provided. The accelerator system includes a dc high-voltage, high-current power supply, an evacuated ion accelerating tube, a proton ion source, a dipole analyzing magnet and a vacuum pump located in the high-voltage terminal. The high-current, high-energy dc proton beam can be directed to a number of targets depending on the applications such as boron neutron capture therapy BNCT applications, NRA applications, and silicon cleaving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Ion Beam Applications S.A.
    Inventors: Marshall R. Cleland, Richard A. Galloway, Leonard DeSanto, Yves Jongen
  • Patent number: 8466635
    Abstract: A synchrocyclotron comprises a resonant circuit that includes electrodes having a gap therebetween across the magnetic field. An oscillating voltage input, having a variable amplitude and frequency determined by a programmable digital waveform generator generates an oscillating electric field across the gap. The synchrocyclotron can include a variable capacitor in circuit with the electrodes to vary the resonant frequency. The synchrocyclotron can further include an injection electrode and an extraction electrode having voltages controlled by the programmable digital waveform generator. The synchrocyclotron can further include a beam monitor. The synchrocyclotron can detect resonant conditions in the resonant circuit by measuring the voltage and or current in the resonant circuit, driven by the input voltage, and adjust the capacitance of the variable capacitor or the frequency of the input voltage to maintain the resonant conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Sliski, Kenneth Gall
  • Patent number: 8461762
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology are described in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions ions are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of California
    Inventors: Norman Rostoker, Michl Binderbauer
  • Patent number: 8405044
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for achromatically bending beam of charged particles by about 90° during radiation treatment. A system may include first, second, third, and fourth bending magnets serially arranged along the particle beam path. The first and fourth bending magnets are configured to generate a positive field gradient that defocuses the particle beam in the bend plane. The second and third bending magnets are configured to generate a negative field gradient that focuses the particle beam in the bend plane. The first, second, third, and fourth bending magnets collectively bend the particle beam by about 90°, e.g., by about 22.5° each.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Accuray Incorporated
    Inventors: Barry A. MacKinnon, Roger H. Miller
  • Patent number: 8362717
    Abstract: A betatron magnet, the betatron magnet comprising at least one electron injector positioned approximate an inside of a radius of an betatron orbit, such that electrons are injected into the betatron orbit with the at least one electron injector positioned within an electron acceleration passageway, whereby the electron acceleration passageway is located within a vacuum chamber; and wherein the at least one electron injector is driven with an inductive means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Felix K. Chen
  • Patent number: 8339071
    Abstract: A particle accelerator system for producing a charged particle beam having pulses of charged particles that have different energy levels from pulse to pulse. The system enables independent adjustment of the RF power delivered to first and second accelerating sections thereof without adjustment of the RF power generated by an RF source. Such independent adjustment enables the RF power provided to the first accelerating section to be maintained at a level appropriate for optimal particle capturing therein and for producing a tightly bunched beam of particles having different energy levels from pulse to pulse, while enabling the RF power provided to the second accelerating section to be varied in order to vary the energy levels of the charged particles of the charged particle beam from pulse to pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: ScanTech/IBS IP Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: Alexandre A. Zavadtsev, Gary F. Bowser
  • Patent number: 8324841
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cyclotron including two internal ion sources for the production of the same particles. The second ion source can be used as a spare ion source which strongly increases the uptime and the reliability of the cyclotron and reduces the maintenance interventions. Advantageously, the cyclotron is further characterized by an optimized close geometry of the different elements within the central region of the cyclotron. The cyclotron of the invention may be further characterized by an adaptation and optimization of the shape of first and second internal ion source to avoid particle losses during the first turn of acceleration. The cyclotron may be further characterized by an adaptation and optimization of the shape of the counter-Dee electrode assembly and possibly the Dee-electrode assembly in order to improve the acceleration field in-between the gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ion Beam Applications S.A.
    Inventors: Willem Kleeven, Michel Ghyoot, Michel Abs
  • Patent number: 8309941
    Abstract: The invention comprises a patient respiration monitoring and/or control method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The respiration monitoring system uses thermal and/or force sensors to determine where a patient is in a respiration cycle in combination with a feedback signal control delivered to the patient to inform the patient when breath control is required. The resulting breath control is timed with charged particle delivery to the tumor to enhance accuracy, precision, and/or efficiency of tumor treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: Vladimir Balakin
  • Patent number: 8299713
    Abstract: A method of accelerating charged particles using a laser pulse fired through a plasma channel contained in a capillary, wherein the plasma waveguide has deviations along its length that cause deviations in the plasma density contained therein, the deviations in plasma density acting to promote charged particle injection into a wake of a passing laser pulse. A radiation source based on a laser-driven plasma accelerator in a plasma waveguide in which the plasma waveguide and/or laser injection process is/are controlled so as to produce an undulating path for the laser pulse through the waveguide, the undulation exerting a periodic transverse force on charged particles being accelerated in the wake of the laser pulse, the resulting charged particle motion causing controlled emission of high frequency radiation pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Isis Innovation Limited
    Inventors: Simon Martin Hooker, Anthony Joseph Gonsalves, Dino Anthony Jaroszynski, Wim Pieter Leemans
  • Patent number: 8280684
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described wherein a charged beam in an enclosed conducting cavity in an accelerator is monitored for position, current, and energy. One method uses induced electric signals on non-intercepting conducting electrodes. Another method uses an intercepting and moving electrode than can be moved into the beam to different degrees to monitor the beam current and vertical profile at different radial positions. Non-intercepting electrodes are also used as part of a moving diagnostic probe to monitor properties of the beam at different radial positions. Another method uses the current in the leads to a power supply, a portion of this current being equal to the beam current. Another method uses the magnetic and electric fields from the beam that penetrates a non-conducting portion of the conducting cavity. Yet another method uses the radiation emitted during acceleration of the beam by the deflecting magnets that guide the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Passport Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Bertozzi, Robert J. Ledoux
  • Patent number: 8258724
    Abstract: A tunable LC circuit is used to trigger an electron discharge from an accelerator device, such as a Betatron. The circuit includes a coil as a first inductor having a first inductance electrically coupled in series with a capacitor. A second inductor having a variable inductance is electrically coupled, either in series or parallel, to the first inductor. The time to capacitor discharge is governed by: ?LC=?{square root over ((L+LTUNE)C)}. Adjusting the inductance of the variable inductor (LTUNE) facilitates continuous adjustment of the discharge time. This is particularly useful when the LC values change in response to external stimuli, such as borehole temperature when a Betatron is used to log borehole features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Vincent Ernst
  • Patent number: 8258725
    Abstract: A klystron has a hollow beam electron gun that has a circular planar electron emitting surface. A hollow electron beam is directed from the electron gun through a plurality of drift tubes, resonant chambers and magnetic fields to a collector. The hollow electron beam does not experience significant radial movement and can operate at a lower beam voltage which reduces the required length of the RF interaction circuit and lowers the risks of RF arcing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: Patrick Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20120134467
    Abstract: Man-portable radiation generation sources and systems that may be carried by hand to a site of interest by one or two people, are disclosed. Methods of use of such sources and systems are also disclosed. Battery operated radiation generation sources, air cooled radiation generation sources, and charged particle accelerators, are also disclosed. A radiation generation source, a radiation scanning system, and a target assembly comprising target material having a thickness of less than 0.20 mm are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: David Whittum, James E. Clayton, George Merdinian
  • Patent number: 8169167
    Abstract: Methods are described wherein the signals from various sensors that monitor parameters such as beam position, beam intensity at each turn, number of turns, extracted current, extracted beam profile in space and energy are used to determine the effect of the variation of different parameters that control the operation of an accelerator. The diagnostic measurements and adjustments may be based upon measuring and evaluating parameters as a function of turn, and are part of an automated feedback loop for achieving the proper automated operation. The methods can be used to establish proper operating values for the accelerator parameters for optimum beam operation. By the use of feedback the operation of the accelerator can be automatically controlled in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Passport Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Bertozzi, Robert J. Ledoux
  • Patent number: 8148922
    Abstract: A dc accelerator system able to accelerate high currents of proton beams at high energies is provided. The accelerator system includes a dc high-voltage, high-current power supply, an evacuated ion accelerating tube, a proton ion source, a dipole analyzing magnet and a vacuum pump located in the high-voltage terminal. The high-current, high-energy dc proton beam can be directed to a number of targets depending on the applications such as boron neutron capture therapy BNCT applications, NRA applications, and silicon cleaving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ion Beam Applications SA
    Inventors: Marshall R. Cleland, Richard A. Galloway, Leonard DeSanto, Yves Jongen
  • Patent number: 8138678
    Abstract: A charged particle beam decelerating device includes a high-frequency cavity 34 provided on an orbit of a charged particle beam 1, and a phase synchronizing device 40 for synchronizing the charged particle beam 1 in the high-frequency cavity with a phase of a high-frequency electric field 4. By moving the high-frequency cavity 34 or changing an orbit length of the charged particle beam 1, the charged particle beam in the high-frequency cavity is synchronized with a phase of the high-frequency electric field 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignees: IHI Corporation, The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Daisuke Ishida, Hiroyuki Nose, Namio Kaneko, Yasuo Sakai, Masashi Yamamoto, Mitsuru Uesaka, Katsuhiro Dobashi, Fumito Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8111024
    Abstract: A synchrocyclotron comprises a resonant circuit that includes electrodes having a gap therebetween across the magnetic field. An oscillating voltage input, having a variable amplitude and frequency determined by a programmable digital waveform generator generates an oscillating electric field across the gap. The synchrocyclotron can include a variable capacitor in circuit with the electrodes to vary the resonant frequency. The synchrocyclotron can further include an injection electrode and an extraction electrode having voltages controlled by the programmable digital waveform generator. The synchrocyclotron can further include a beam monitor. The synchrocyclotron can detect resonant conditions in the resonant circuit by measuring the voltage and or current in the resonant circuit, driven by the input voltage, and adjust the capacitance of the variable capacitor or the frequency of the input voltage to maintain the resonant conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Mevion Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Sliski, Kenneth Gall
  • Patent number: 8093840
    Abstract: A method of using off-axis particle beam injection in energy-recovering linear accelerators that increases operational efficiency while eliminating the need to merge the high energy re-circulating beam with an injected low energy beam. In this arrangement, the high energy re-circulating beam and the low energy beam are manipulated such that they are within a predetermined distance from one another and then the two immerged beams are injected into the linac and propagated through the system. The configuration permits injection without geometric beam merging as well as decelerated beam extraction without the use of typical beamline elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Jefferson Science Associates, LLC
    Inventor: David R. Douglas
  • Patent number: 8089224
    Abstract: Methods are described wherein the signals from various sensors that monitor parameters such as beam position, beam intensity at each turn, number of turns, extracted current, extracted beam profile in space and energy are used to determine the effect of the variation of different parameters that control the operation of an accelerator. The diagnostic measurements and adjustments may be based upon measuring and evaluating parameters as a function of turn, and are part of an automated feedback loop for achieving the proper automated operation. The methods can be used to establish proper operating values for the accelerator parameters for optimum beam operation. By the use of feedback the operation of the accelerator can be automatically controlled in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Passport Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Bertozzi, Robert J. Ledoux
  • Patent number: 8039819
    Abstract: A device and a method for creating a spatial dose distribution in a medium volume (22) are described. A laser system produces laser pulses (12) with a pulse length shorter than 200 fs (femtoseconds) and is capable to be focused to peak intensities greater than 10^18 W/cm^2 (watts per centimeter squared). An electron source (18) is capable of releasing a high-energy electron pulse (20), in particular the electrons having an energy greater than 100 MeV, upon irradiation with said laser pulses (12) propagating into the medium volume (22). The light paths (52, 56,58) of at least some of the laser pulses (12) are adjustable in such a way that high-energy electron pulses (20) are emitted from the irradiated at least one electron source on different trajectories (20,28,60,62) through the medium volume (22) thereby depositing their dose in the medium volume (22) according to a provided pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignees: Ecole Polytechnique, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum
    Inventors: Jérôme Faure, Yannick Glinec, Victor Malka, Thomas Fuchs, Hanitra Szymanowski, Uwe Oelfke
  • Publication number: 20110248651
    Abstract: The temperature rise due to the backstreaming electrons is canceled by an equal and opposite fall in temperature at the surface of the cathode due to the conduction of heat deposited at the surface immediately prior to the microwave pulse by a pulsed laser focused to uniformly illuminate the cathode surface. Variations in temperature across the surface of the cathode attributable to the non-uniform spatial distribution of the backstreaming electrons may be compensated using a second laser pulse fired during the RF pulse to maintain constant thermal power input across the surface of the cathode during the RF pulse. This second pulse can also be used to compensate for the time-dependent rate of decay of temperature due to conduction of the heat deposited by the first laser into the body of the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: John M.J. Madey
  • Patent number: 8035321
    Abstract: An electron acceleration portion of a Betatron having a vacuum chamber with an interior wall spaced from an exterior wall with a main electron orbit located approximate to the exterior wall and the interior wall. An electron injector has an anode structured and arranged adjacent a wall selected from the group consisting of the interior wall and the exterior wall that is shaped so as to not impede the main electron orbit. There is at least one electron deflection plate disposed approximate an anode end of the anode and the main electron orbit. There can be two electron deflection plates spaced apart that form a gap of a width effective to receive emitted electrons from the electron injector. Such that, there is a voltage potential between the two electron deflection plates that is effective to deflect emitted electrons towards the main electron orbit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Felix Chen, Christian Stoller, Olivier Philip, Luke T. Perkins
  • Patent number: 7994739
    Abstract: A betatron magnet having at least one electron injector positioned approximate an inside of a radius of a betatron orbit, the betatron magnet further includes a first guide magnet having a first pole face and a second guide magnet having a second pole face. Both the first and the second guide magnet have a centrally disposed aperture and the first pole face is separated from the second pole face by a guide magnet gap. A core is disposed within the centrally disposed apertures in an abutting relationship with both guide magnets. The core has at least one core gap. A drive coil is wound around both guide magnet pole faces. An orbit control coil has a core portion wound around the core gap and a field portion wound around the guide magnet pole faces. The core portion and the field portion are connected but in opposite polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Felix K. Chen
  • Patent number: 7983393
    Abstract: A betatron is provided for producing pulses of accelerated electrons, particularly in an x-ray testing device, comprising at least one main field coil, one expansion coil for transferring the accelerated electrons to a target, and one electronic control system of the expansion coil for applying an expansion pulse to the expansion coil. The electronic control system of the expansion coil is designed such that the time of the expansion pulse for adjusting the final energy of the electrons is variable relative to the main field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Bermuth, Georg Geus, Gregor Hess, Urs Viehboeck
  • Patent number: 7982416
    Abstract: In a circular accelerator, a magnetic pole edge portion of a bending electromagnet into and from which a charged particle beam enters and exits is provided with endpacks. A first protrusion is provided at that part of each end pack which is radially outside the equilibrium orbit of a center energy beam, while a second protrusion is provided at that part of each end pack which is radially inside the equilibrium orbit of the center energy beam. The shapes of the first and second protrusions are set so that the betatron oscillation numbers of beams of different acceleration energies may be held constant or become linear to the energies. In case of emitting the charged particle beam out of the circular accelerator, the change of a tune attributed to the change of the beam orbit can be statically corrected, the tune is linearly changed, and an adjustment of the emission of the beam becomes easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Tanaka, Takashi Hifumi, Katsuhisa Yoshida, Kazuo Yamamoto, Yoichi Kuroda