Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An apparatus for generating, extracting and selecting ions used in a heavy ion cancer therapy facility comprising: an independent first (ECRIS  1 ) and an independent second electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS  2 ) for generating heavy and light ions respectively,  a spectrometer magnet (SP 1 , SP 2 ) for selecting heavy ion species of one isotopic configuration positioned downstream of each ion source (ECRIS  1 , ECRIS 2 );  a magnetic quadrupole triplet (QT 1 , QT 2 ) positioned downstream of each analyzing slit (SP 1 , SP 2 );  an analyzing slit (ISL) located at an image focus of each spectrometer magnet (SP 1 , SP 2 );  beam diagnostic means (BD) located at each slit (SL, ISL) comprising at least profile grids and Faradays cups;  a switching magnet (SM) for switching between high-LET ion species and low-LET ion species of said two independent first and second ion source; and  a radio frequency quadrupole accelerator (RFQ) positioned downstream said switching magnet (SM) wherein  a beam transformer (BTR) is positioned in between said analyzing slit (ISL) and said magnetic quadrupole triplet (QT 1 ; QT 2 );  said ion sources (ECRIS 1 , ECRIS 2 ) comprise exclusively permanent magnets and  said RFQ has a 4-rod-like structure comprising alternating stems (ST) mounted on a common base plate (BP) within the RFQ, wherein said stems (ST) are acting as inductivity and mini-vane pair forming electrodes (EL) and are acting as capacitance for a xcex/2 resonance structure. 2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a solenoid (SOL) magnet is located at an exit of each ion source (ECRIS 1 , ECRIS 2 ). claim 1 3. The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein a magnetic quadrupole singlet (QS 1 , QS 2 ) is positioned downstream of each ion source (ECRIS 1 , ECRIS 2 ). claim 1 4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a focusing solenoid magnet (SOL) is positioned downstream of a chopper (CH) and upstream of said radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ) accelerator. claim 1 5. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the low energy beam transport system (LEBT) comprises downstream of the switching magnet (SM) diagnostic means (F 01 , F 02 ) enclosing a Faraday cup and/or profile grids. claim 1 6. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein a magnetic quadrupole singlet (QS 1 , QS 2 ) is positioned downstream of each ion source (ECRIS 1 , ECRIS 2 ). claim 2