Patent · US Expired

Neutron irradiation therapy machine

US4112306A · kind A · utility

118Cited by
4References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 6, 1976
Grant dateSep 5, 1978
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 6, 1996

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N2005/109
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In a neutron irradiation therapy machine for treating patients with a beam of high energy neutrons, a gantry is provided which supports a non-superconducting cyclotron proton accelerator and target for generating a neutron beam and which permits rotation of the accelerator and neutron beam around an axis of revolution coaxial with a patient treatment zone. A counter-weight is carried from the gantry in a diametrically opposed relation to the cyclotron and behind the support bearing for counter-weighting the cyclotron and its associated equipment rotationally and longitudinally. The cyclotron includes an enclosing magnetic return yoke having a re-entrant portion in axial alignment with the magnetic poles of the cyclotron for reducing the weight of the yoke. The enclosing magnetic return yoke, and any additional surrounding material such as boron loaded polyethylene and lead, provide radiation shielding to protect the patient. An alternative patient table is coaxially mounted of the gantry and supported from a rotor portion thereof via a bearing assembly so that the rotor rotates around the stationary patient table. A neutron beam stopper is carried from the rotator of the gantry in …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.