Patent ID: 6745072
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: A61N,G21K

Abstract:
Method of checking the beam generation means and beam acceleration means of an ion beam therapy system, wherein the ion beam therapy system comprisesat least one ion source (1) an accelerator device (2, 5) for the acceleration of the ions of the ion source (1) in the form of a treatment beam (11), a beam guidance system (6, 8), to guide the treatment beam (11) from the accelerator device (2, 5) to at least one irradiation site for treatment of a patient, the beam guidance system (6, 8) comprising at least one beam guidance channel (6), and a grid scanner device, arranged in the beam guidance system (6, 8), having vertical deflection means (13) and horizontal deflections means (14) for the vertical and horizontal deflection of the treatment beam (11) perpendicular to its beam direction, with the result that the treatment beam (11) is deflected by the grid scanner device to an isocentre (10) of the irradiation site and a specific area surrounding the isocentre (10) is scanned, and wherein the type of ion, the ion beam energy, the ion beam intensity and the blocking of the accelerator and also the means for terminating extraction are checked,characterised in thatthe type of ion is checked by recording the charge spectrum of the ion source in a high-charge injector and comparing it with a reference spectrum, the ion beam energy is checked by measuring Bragg curves in selected energy levels in an absorber ionisation chamber system, the ion beam intensity is checked by measuring the particle intensity in the acceleration device in an upper range of intensity, and the particle intensity at an irradiation site for all planned levels of intensity; the blocking of the accelerator is checked by sending switch-off commands and adjustment commands to components that are deactivated beforehand, the means for terminating extraction are checked by generating an interlock condition during an ion extraction and measuring decay time of the ion extraction.