Patent Description:
A particle beam treatment system is known which executes treatment by irradiating a charged particle beam of protons, or heavy ions, and the like to a diseased part (Patent Literature <NUM>).

For example, when an existing particle beam treatment system has been dilapidated or when the number of patients of the target of treatment by the particle beam has increased, it is necessary to add a new irradiation device to the existing system. However, in this case, it is expected that a significant stop time of the apparatus is required until completion of a series of works such as the construction for addition, adjustment, and testing of the new irradiation device.

Similarly, such case is also possible that an old irradiation device included in the existing system is replaced by a new irradiation device to which a new technology is applied. In this case also, it is expected that a long stop time of the apparatus is required until completion of a series of works.

While a series of works of them are executed, vacuum inside the existing system cannot be kept. Thereby, because the charged particle beam could not be accelerated/transported, during the working period, the existing system could not be operated for a long period, and treatment could not be executed. When the configuration of the existing particle beam treatment system is to be renewed, if the time until the renewal is completed and the particle beam treatment system restarts is long, the income of treatment expected during operation of the particle beam treatment system cannot be anticipated, and the financial burden of management of an apparatus provider increases.

Patent Literature <NUM> describes a particle beam therapy system which comprises a scanning electromagnet for scanning a particle beam which travels in a vacuum duct so as to irradiate an irradiation object and an irradiation unit comprising a beam outlet window, wherein the irradiation unit is configured such that the vacuum duct can be divided by a flange surface which is provided at a position closer to an irradiation object than a scanning electromagnet, in a case where a vacuum duct for a scanning irradiation method which is provided at a position closer to an irradiation object than the flange surface is moved so as not to overlap a beam line of the particle beam, a ride filter for a broad beam irradiation method can be provided at space where the vacuum duct for a scanning irradiation method was provided before it was moved.

Patent Literature <NUM> describes that a gate valve part is provided on the beam extraction part of an ion source chamber, and the valve part is connected with a beam duct. A valve element for extraction provided with a beam extraction port, and a valve body for shielding, which is provided at an angle of <NUM> deg. to the valve body, are provided in an L-shaped box body of the gate valve part. When a beam is generated, the valve body for extraction is arranged on a valve seat. At the time of cleaning an ion source, the valve body for extraction is drawn within a storing part, and the valve body for shielding is arranged on the valve seat, and the ion source is removed out of the beam duct while the vacuum state in the chamber of the ion source is retained.

Patent Literature <NUM> describes a particle beam therapeutic apparatus including two treatment rooms and a transport line. The transport line comprises a connection portion configured to provide the particle beam to one of the two treatment rooms by attaching/ detaching the transport line to one of the two treatment rooms.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a particle beam treatment system and a method for renewing facilities of the particle beam treatment system with which the facilities can be added and renewed efficiently.

The problems described above are solved by the subject matter of the appended claims. In particular, a particle beam treatment system according to the present invention includes a charged particle beam generation device that generates a charged particle beam, a first irradiation device that irradiates the charged particle beam to a predetermined irradiation target, a first beam transportation device that transports the charged particle beam from the charged particle beam generation device to the first irradiation device, and a first vacuum valve that is arranged in the first beam transportation device, wherein the position of the first vacuum valve in the first beam transportation device is outside the first treatment room, wherein a first branching device that branches a destination of the charged particle beam is arranged in the first beam transportation device, the first branching device includes one inlet where the charged particle beam is configured to enter and plural outlets from which the charged particle beam is configured to be emitted, the plural outlets include a first irradiation device side outlet and a second irradiation device side outlet, and the first vacuum valve is arranged at a second irradiation device side outlet out of the plural outlets of the first branching device.

According to the present invention, by closing the first vacuum valve, the facilities can be added or renewed while keeping the degree of vacuum on the route from the first vacuum valve to the charged particle beam generation device, the time for stopping the charged particle beam generation device can be shortened, the income of treatment during the period of adding or renewing the facilities can be anticipated, and the financial burden of an apparatus provider can be reduced.

Below, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. As described below, the particle beam treatment system related to the present embodiment has a configuration in which expandability is considered beforehand. Thereby, according to the present embodiment, the renewal work (partial replacement of the existing facility, addition of the new facility) can be executed within a short period.

In the present embodiment, on the boundary of the renewal object region and the region other than that (non-renewed region; maintained region), a vacuum valve for keeping the degree of vacuum is arranged. As described above, the renewal object region can be separated into that of a case where a new facility is added and that of a case where a part of the existing facility is replaced (changed).

When a new facility is added, a vacuum valve is installed beforehand on the boundary of the region where addition of the new facility is planned and the existing facility (almost all becomes the maintained region). By keeping the vacuum valve closed, the vacuum state of the existing facility can be kept. Also, while keeping the vacuum state of the existing facility, the new facility is connected to a point beyond the vacuum valve, and required work is executed. Because the new facility and the existing facility are separated from each other by the vacuum valve, the impact of the installation work and the connection work of the new facility on the existing facility can be suppressed. Thereby, the new facility can be installed beyond the vacuum valve within a comparatively short period while continuing operation (running) of the existing facility.

By sucking the new facility by a vacuum pump after completion of installation of the new facility, the degree of vacuum of the new facility is made to agree to the degree of vacuum of the existing facility. By opening the vacuum valve after agreement of the degree of vacuum of the new facility and the degree of vacuum of the existing facility, the new facility and the existing facility are connected to each other physically (in terms of a flow of the charged particle beam). By arranging a vacuum valve beforehand also in the new facility added, addition of a still new facility can be coped with.

Also, the control device of the new facility and the control device of the existing facility may be configured so as to be separated from each other and to cooperate with each other, and the existing control device may be replaced by a new control device.

When a part of the existing facility is to be replaced, a vacuum valve is arranged beforehand on the boundary of the region of the replacement object (the apparatus of the replacement object out of the existing facility) and the region other than that (the apparatus left as it is out of the existing facility; the apparatus of the maintained region). By keeping the vacuum valve open, operation of the existing facility can be continued as usual.

Also, the vacuum valve is closed before attaching the new facility, and the new facility and the existing facility (the maintained region) are separated from each other. In a state separation has been completed, the new facility is installed beyond the vacuum valve. The new facility installed beyond the vacuum valve is sucked by the vacuum pump, and the degree of vacuum of the new facility is made to agree to the degree of vacuum of the existing facility that is separated by the vacuum valve. After agreement of the degree of vacuum of the new facility and the degree of vacuum of the existing facility that is used continuously as it is, the vacuum valve is opened again. Thereby, a part of the existing facility can be replaced by the new facility within a comparatively short period.

As described below, the particle beam treatment system related to the present embodiment can have either one or both of a configuration of preparation for addition coping with addition of the new facility and a configuration of preparation for replacement coping with replacement of a part of the existing facility.

The first embodiment will be explained using <FIG>. <FIG> is an explanatory drawing of a case where a new facility is added to a particle beam treatment system <NUM>.

<FIG> (<NUM>) shows a configuration before adding the new facility. The particle beam treatment system <NUM> includes, for example, a charged particle beam generation device <NUM>, a beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>), an irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>), a control device <NUM>, and a power supply device that is not illustrated.

The particle beam treatment system <NUM> is arranged in a building <NUM> such as an exclusive treatment ward of a hospital. In the building <NUM>, an accelerator chamber <NUM>, a treatment chamber <NUM>(<NUM>), and a beam transportation chamber <NUM> for example are provided.

The charged particle beam generation device <NUM> is a device that generates a charged particle beam of protons, heavy ions and the like. The charged particle beam generation device <NUM> is installed in the accelerator chamber <NUM>. The charged particle beam generation device <NUM> includes an ion source (not illustrated), a former accelerator <NUM>, and a circular accelerator <NUM> for example. The circular accelerator <NUM> may be a synchrotron or may be a cyclotron. The ion source not illustrated is connected to the upstream side of the former accelerator <NUM>, and the circular accelerator <NUM> is connected to the downstream side of the former accelerator <NUM>.

The beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is an example of "the first beam transportation device". The beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is arranged in the beam transportation chamber <NUM>. The beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is connected to the downstream side of the charged particle beam generation device <NUM>, and connects the charged particle beam generation device <NUM> and the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) to each other.

A charged particle beam generated by the charged particle beam generation device <NUM> passes through the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>), and is sent to the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) installed in the treatment chamber <NUM>(<NUM>). The charged particle beam is irradiated by the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) to a diseased part of a patient as "a predetermined irradiation target". The irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is an example of "the first irradiation device". In <FIG>, a beam irradiated by the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is marked with a reference sign Bm(<NUM>).

The beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) includes, for example, a vacuum pipe line <NUM>(<NUM>) and a deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>) that is arranged in the vacuum pipe line <NUM>(<NUM>). In the vacuum pipe line <NUM>(<NUM>), a quadrupole electromagnet, a steering electromagnet, and a profile monitor for example (all of them are not illustrated) are arranged in addition to the deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>).

The deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>) that is an example of "the first branching device" is arranged in the middle of the vacuum pipe line <NUM>(<NUM>). The deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>) controls the direction of the charged particle beam according to a control signal from the control device <NUM>, the charged particle beam passing through the vacuum pipe line <NUM>(<NUM>).

The deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>) includes one inlet where the charged particle beam enters, and plural outlets (<NUM> outlets for example) from which the charged particle beam is emitted. The charged particle beam entering the deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>) is emitted from any one of the plural outlets which are directed to different directions. One outlet is an outlet directed to the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>). This outlet is an example of "the first irradiation device side outlet". Another outlet is an outlet directed to a second irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>). This outlet is an example of "the second irradiation device side outlet".

A vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) that is an example of "the first vacuum valve" is arranged beforehand in the middle of the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>). The vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) can be arranged on the outlet side of the deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>). For example, the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) can be arranged at the second irradiation device side outlet out of respective outlets of the deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>). The vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is in the normally closed state. Thereby, vacuum inside the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is kept.

The control device <NUM> is a device that controls the operation of the particle beam treatment system <NUM>. The control device <NUM> controls the particle beam treatment system <NUM> according to the operation from a computer terminal not shown in the drawing. <FIG> illustrates as if the control device <NUM> is electrically connected only to the circular accelerator <NUM> and the deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>). However, in fact, the control device <NUM> is connected to each part required for controlling the particle beam treatment system <NUM>.

<FIG> (<NUM>) shows a case where the new facility (the second irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) and the like) is added to the existing facility of the particle beam treatment system <NUM>. In the beam transportation chamber <NUM>, a beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) that is an example of "the second beam transportation device" is connected to the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) that is in the closed state. In a treatment chamber <NUM>(<NUM>) that should be called the second treatment chamber, the new irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is installed.

To the ultimate end (the ultimate end in the flow direction of the charged particle beam) of the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>), the new irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) inside the treatment chamber <NUM>(<NUM>) is connected. Thereby, the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) allows the route from the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) to the new irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) to communicate. Because the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is closed, at the time point of <FIG> (<NUM>), the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) and the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) do not communicate to each other. That is to say, vacuum of the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) which is the existing facility other than the adding object is kept.

In the middle of the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>), a deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>) that is an example of "the second branching device" is arranged. The deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>) controls the charged particle beam so as to head to the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) by a control signal from the control device <NUM>.

Similarly to the description on the deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>), in the deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>), a vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) that is an example of "the second vacuum valve" is arranged. To be more specific, the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is arranged at an outlet other than the outlet directed to the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) out of <NUM> outlets included in the deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>). This vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is closed.

In the middle of the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>), a vacuum pump <NUM> and a pressure sensor <NUM> are arranged. The vacuum pump <NUM> sucks and discharges gas inside the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) until the degree of vacuum detected by the pressure sensor <NUM> agrees to the degree of vacuum set to the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>). When the degree of vacuum (pressure) of the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) and the degree of vacuum (pressure) of the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) agree to each other, the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is opened.

<FIG> (<NUM>) shows a case where addition of the new facility to the particle beam treatment system <NUM> has been completed. When electrical construction has been completed and the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>), the deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>), and the like come to be under control of the control device <NUM>, the conduction test, the final adjustment, and the like of the charged particle beam are executed. Thereby, the construction for addition of the new facility is completed, and a charged particle beam Bm(<NUM>) supplied from the charged particle beam generation device <NUM> to the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is irradiated toward a diseased part.

<FIG> is a plan view that shows a configuration of the particle beam treatment system <NUM>. The building <NUM> will be described in detail. A shielding wall <NUM> is arranged between the accelerator chamber <NUM> and the beam transportation chamber <NUM>. The beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) and the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) are connected to each other while penetrating the shielding wall <NUM>. The beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) and the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) can be separated or communicated each other by the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>).

The vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is arranged inside the accelerator chamber <NUM> so as to be positioned on the front side of the shielding wall <NUM> for example. By arranging the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) in front of the shielding wall <NUM>, it is allowed that the construction and the like can be executed without receiving the impact by the accelerator <NUM> on the beam transportation chamber <NUM> side.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view that shows the relation of the shielding wall <NUM> and the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) and the like. <FIG> (<NUM>) shows a state before the construction for addition of the new facility namely a state of the time of delivering the existing facility. The end on the downstream side of the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is arranged so as to penetrate the shielding wall <NUM>. The downstream side opening part of the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is capped by a flange <NUM>. With respect to the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>), a shielding object <NUM> fills the range from the downstream side opening part of the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) to the outlet of the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>). The shielding object <NUM> is configured as spherical bodies made of iron and steel for example. Thereby, it is prevented that the impact of the accelerator chamber <NUM> side reaches the beam transportation chamber <NUM> side before adding the new facility.

As shown in <FIG> (<NUM>), in the construction for addition of the new facility, after removing the flange <NUM> and the shielding object <NUM>, the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) and the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) are connected to each other through the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>).

<FIG> shows a flow of the steps required for the construction for addition of the new facility according to the present embodiment. In <FIG> and <FIG> described below, the outline of the main steps out of each step required for the construction is shown.

As described above, the existing facility is a configuration of a portion not becoming an object for addition or replacement of the facility out of the particle beam treatment system <NUM>. An event that the existing facility is in operation means that treatment using the existing irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) can be executed.

Before starting the construction for addition of the new facility, the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is closed. Therefore, because vacuum of the new facility side (the charged particle beam generation device <NUM>, the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>), and the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>)) is kept, the new facility can continue the operation in the same manner as before (S1).

During operation of the existing facility, the building construction for installing the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) and the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) which are the new facilities is executed (S2). Also, anticipating expansion of the facility in the future, the treatment chamber <NUM>(<NUM>) and the beam transportation chamber <NUM> may be built beforehand in the building <NUM>.

When construction of the chambers is completed, the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) and the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) are delivered and installed (S3). To be more specific, the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is installed in the treatment chamber <NUM>(<NUM>), and the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is installed in the beam transportation chamber <NUM>.

Also, the electrical construction of the new facility is executed (S4). In the electrical construction, for example, the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) and the power supply are connected to each other, the deviation electromagnet <NUM>(<NUM>) and the like of the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) and the power supply are connected to each other, and the power supply of them and the control device <NUM> are connected to each other.

By activating the vacuum pump <NUM> in a state the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is kept closed after completion of the electrical construction, the pressure of the charged particle beam route (vacuum pipe line) included in the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) and the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is lowered to a predetermined pressure (S5). The predetermined pressure means the degree of vacuum required for transportation of the charged particle beam.

When the vacuuming work is completed, operation of the existing facility can be restarted (S6). Treatment using the existing irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) can be restarted before completion of the final adjustment of the new irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>).

On the other hand, when vacuuming of the new facility is completed, the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is opened, and the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) and the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) communicate with each other (S7). Also, the final adjustment of the new facility namely the final adjustment of the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is executed.

However, because operation of the existing irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) has been restarted, the final adjustment of the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) having been added is executed in the period of time such as the night time, holiday, and the like for example (S8). In the final adjustment, the position, size, and the like of the charged particle beam supplied from the charged particle beam generation device <NUM> to the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) are adjusted for example. After completion of the final adjustment of the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>), the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) also becomes operable (S9).

According to the present embodiment configured thus, the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is arranged beforehand on the boundary of the facility of the renewal object and the facility continuing to be used as it is, and the renewal object facility and the existing facility can be separated. Thereby, construction for addition of the new facility can be executed while keeping the degree of vacuum of the existing facility and running (operating) the existing facility, and the stop time of the existing facility can be shortened.

In an example of <FIG>, a stop time T1 of the existing facility is generally equal to the time required for the electrical construction of the new facility (cable connection to the panel). On the other hand, <FIG> is a schematic drawing of the steps in a comparative example of a case where the present embodiment is not applied.

Because the comparative example does not include the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) that separately manages the existing facility and the renewal object facility, the impact of the construction for the new facility is exerted to the existing facility also as it is. During the period of executing the construction for addition of the new facility, the existing facility cannot be operated. That is to say, during each step of the extension construction of the chamber for the new facility (S12), the installation construction of the new facility (S13), the electrical construction (S14), the vacuuming work so that the pressure of the new facility and the existing facility becomes a predetermined pressure (predetermined degree of vacuum) (S15), and the final adjustment work (S16) for example, treatment using the existing facility cannot be executed. Therefore, in the case of the comparative example, a stop time Tla of the existing facility is longer than the stop time T1 of the particle beam treatment system <NUM> related to the present embodiment (T1a>T1).

According to the present embodiment, when the new facility is added, the stop time of the existing facility can be shortened, and the new facility can be added while continuing the treatment by the existing facility. Thereby, the capacity of the particle beam treatment system <NUM> can be expanded while securing the income, and the profit lowering risk in managing the business reduces.

The second embodiment will be explained using <FIG>. Because respective embodiments described below including the present embodiment correspond to modifications of the first embodiment, explanation will be made focusing the difference against the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, by attaching the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) beforehand also to the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) newly added, further expandability is secured.

<FIG> (<NUM>) shows a state that addition of the second irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) has been completed. The vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is arranged beforehand also in the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) that is connected to the second irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>). Because the detailed attaching example of the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is similar to that of the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) described in the first embodiment, explanation here will be omitted.

<FIG> (<NUM>) shows a state that a third irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) has been further added. The method for connecting the third irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) to the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) through the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) is similar to the method for connecting the second irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) to the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) through the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>). In <FIG>, such case was described that <NUM> new devices <NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>) were added to the initial configuration (the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>), the charged particle beam generation device <NUM>, and the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>)). The present invention is not limited to it, and <NUM> sets or more of new devices may be added.

The third embodiment will be explained using <FIG>. In the present embodiment, a case of not only adding the new facility to the existing facility but also replacing a part of the existing facility will be explained.

In the present embodiment, as described in <FIG>, vacuum valves <NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>) are arranged beforehand also in the new facility added. Further, in the present embodiment, in the beam transportation devices <NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>) between the irradiation devices <NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>) and the deviation electromagnets <NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>), vacuum valves <NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>) which are positioned on the front side of walls <NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>) and are for replacing the facility are arranged respectively.

In the present embodiment configured thus, similarly to the first embodiment and the second embodiment, by using the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) for adding the facility, the new irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) can be added within a short period. Although it is omitted in <FIG>, the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) for adding the facility can be attached beforehand at the time of adding the new irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>).

Further, according to the present embodiment, because the vacuum valves <NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>) for replacement are arranged beforehand in the irradiation devices <NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>) also, replacement of the irradiation devices <NUM>(<NUM>), <NUM>(<NUM>) can be executed within a short period. For example, when the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is to be replaced by another irradiation device, after closing the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>), the irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) is detached, and the other irradiation device is attached. Also, using a vacuum pump not illustrated, the pressure inside the other irradiation device is made a predetermined degree of vacuum. By opening the vacuum valve <NUM>(<NUM>) thereafter, the other irradiation device and the beam transportation device <NUM>(<NUM>) can be connected to each other. The irradiation device <NUM>(<NUM>) also can be replaced in a similar manner.

Claim 1:
A particle beam treatment system, comprising:
a charged particle beam generation device (<NUM>) that generates a charged particle beam;
a first irradiation device (<NUM>(<NUM>)) that irradiates the charged particle beam to a predetermined irradiation target, the first irradiation device (<NUM>(<NUM>)) installed in a first treatment room where the charged particle beam is irradiated to a patient; and
a first beam transportation device (<NUM>(<NUM>)) that transports the charged particle beam from the charged particle beam generation device (<NUM>) to the first irradiation device (<NUM>(<NUM>));
characterized by
a first vacuum valve (<NUM>(<NUM>)) that is arranged in the first beam transportation device (<NUM>(<NUM>)), wherein the position of the first vacuum valve (<NUM>(<NUM>)) in the first beam transportation device (<NUM>(<NUM>)) is outside the first treatment room,
wherein a first branching device (<NUM>(<NUM>)) that branches a destination of the charged particle beam is arranged in the first beam transportation device (<NUM>(<NUM>)), the first branching device includes one inlet where the charged particle beam is configured to enter and plural outlets from which the charged particle beam is configured to be emitted,the plural outlets include a first irradiation device side outlet and a second irradiation device side outlet, and
the first vacuum valve (<NUM>(<NUM>)) is arranged at the second irradiation device side outlet out of the plural outlets of the first branching device (<NUM>(<NUM>)).