Patent Description:
Particle beam radiation can be utilized in a number of different applications and accurately applying an appropriate amount of radiation can be very important. It is often critical to apply an accurate dose of particle beam radiation in medical therapy applications. Particle beam radiation therapy typically includes directing a beam of particles (e.g., ionizing particles, protons, etc.) at an area of tissue. The particles are usually associated with or include a charge. The particles are typically used to stop the growth or spread of the targeted tissue cells by killing them or degrading their cell division ability. While particle beam radiation is generally considered beneficial, there can be a number of potential side effects. The side effects can include unintended damage to DNA of healthy tissue cells. The effectiveness of particle beam radiation is primarily a function of the dose or amount of charged particles that is applied to cancerous cells while avoiding impacts to healthy cells. The amount of charged particles that are applied to the tissue is typically a function of a dose rate or "current" of charged particles and time the targeted tissue is exposed to the radiation. Faster dose rates usually enable shorter exposure times and that can have a number of benefits, including less opportunity for extraneous events to influence the therapy, increased productivity, and greater convenience to the patient.

Many conventional beam radiation therapy systems utilize ionization chambers (e.g., filled with air, a particular gas, etc.) to monitor the dose and dose rate of the particle beam (e.g., proton beam, electron gamma beam, etc.). The gas inside the ionization chamber is ionized by an externally generated particle beam while ions and electrons are collected by electrodes (e.g., by means of an external voltage applied to the ionization chamber, etc.). Typical drift times of electrons and ions are in the order of microseconds to milli-seconds respectively, and the gas amplification depends on the thickness of the gas layer. These drift times typically limit reaction times and detection tolerances, which in turn can pose problems as the dose rates increase. At high dose rates, recombination effects in the gas volume significantly suppress the signal and the chamber output is not proportional to or linear with the beam current. Thus, the ionization chamber usually can not provide a signal that is accurate and useful for monitoring high dose rates.

Conventional ionization chambers can also have problems with electronic noise in the monitoring devices. Electron charge collection can be influenced by magnetic stray fields and reduced air gap or short distances of beam monitoring components from the magnets. The magnetic stray fields can become a limiting factor in radiotherapy systems utilizing high magnetic fields (such as those using superconducting magnets, etc.). The particle beam (e.g., protons, electrons, etc.) can also be scattered by conventional monitoring components. In conventional ionization chambers a charged particle beam is usually widened due to multiple coulomb scattering when transiting the electrodes and the gas volume of an ionization chamber. Thus, traditional particle beam monitoring approaches can have a number of problems, especially as dose rates increase. <CIT> describes a method and apparatus for monitoring a scanning beam of penetrating radiation, such as a scanning proton beam used to irradiate tissue. The position of the beam is tracked in real time by interposing a scintillator film between a source and an object of irradiation. An imaging detector, in optical communication with the scintillator, provides an output that is indicative of the position of the radiation and its variation with time. The accumulated dose over a scan may also be monitored. <CIT> describes a neutron capture therapy device which irradiates a patient with a neutron beam. The neutron capture therapy device includes a cyclotron configured to emit a charged particle beam; a target, a scanning electromagnet, and the like configured to generate a neutron beam by being irradiated with a charged particle beam; a current monitor configured to detect a current value of a charged particle beam with which the target is irradiated; and a gamma ray detection unit and a radiation dose calculation section configured to detect a radiation dose of a gamma ray which is generated from the target in response to irradiation of the charged particle beam. <CIT> describes a neutron capture therapy apparatus capable of measuring the neutron dose in real time while suppressing a reduction in the measurement accuracy of a neutron beam. A real-time dose output unit including a scintillation detector, which detects the neutron beam and outputs a signal in real time, and a neutron dose output unit, which converts the signal, output from the scintillation detector into a neutron dose using a correction coefficient and outputs the neutron dose in real time, and a correction coefficient setting unit that sets the correction coefficient are provided. <CIT> describes a method for measuring the intensity of a beam with little influencing thereof. In this case, a target material situated in the beam path of the primary beam is exerted by the primary beam to emit secondary radiation. The intensity of said secondary radiation is measured by a detector arranged outside the beam path of the primary beam. It has been recognized that, as a result of the spatial separation of target material and detector, firstly a high accuracy and efficiency of the measurement and secondly little influencing of the primary beam are no longer conflicting aims.

The methods described in the present disclosure do not form part of the invention. Presented systems and methods facilitate efficient and effective monitoring of particle beams. In some embodiments, a system comprises a primary particle beam generator that generates a primary particle beam, and a monitoring component that monitors the primary particle beam. The monitoring component comprises: a reaction component that is impacted by the primary particle beam, wherein results of an impact include creation of secondary photons; a detection component that detects a secondary photon characteristic; and a primary particle beam characteristic determination component that determines a primary particle beam characteristic based upon the detected secondary photon characteristic. The primary particle beam characteristic can include a radiation dose measurement and dose rate. The reaction component can include a foil component.

The reaction component can be configured as an external window through which the particle beam exits a radiation system. The reaction component can be configured to balance (consider, weigh, etc.) minimization of energy loss characteristics and maintenance of structural characteristics. The minimization of energy loss characteristics is based upon a comparison of energy of the primary particle beam before penetrating the reaction component and after penetrating the reaction component. In some embodiments, a resolution time of less than a nano second is associated with detecting the secondary photon characteristic. The secondary photons can be a plurality of various rays (e.g., Gamma-Rays, x-rays, etc.). The detection component can include spatial resolution components that determine an interaction point of the primary particle beam on the reaction component. The primary particle beam can be included in a FLASH therapy radiation treatment.

A particle beam monitoring method, not forming part of the invention, comprises: receiving a primary particle beam; impinging the primary particle beam on a reaction component; creating a plurality of secondary photons corresponding to a current of the primary particle beam; sensing a characteristic of a portion of the plurality of secondary photons; and analyzing a characteristic of the primary particle beam based upon the characteristic of the portion of the plurality of secondary photons. A characteristic of the secondary photons can vary in accordance with a relationship (e.g., proportional, etc.). The secondary photons can be emitted from a foil component. In some exemplary implementations, the foil component is configured as an external window through which the particle beam exits a radiation system and the foil component is configured to balance minimization of energy loss characteristics and maintenance of structural characteristics. The detecting of the secondary photons characteristic is resolved in a nano second or less.

The accompanying drawings together with the description are incorporated in and form a part of this specification. They illustrate exemplary embodiments and explain exemplary principles of the disclosure. They are not intended to limit the present invention to the particular implementations illustrated therein. The drawings are not to scale unless otherwise specifically indicated.

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Presented systems and methods facilitate efficient and effective monitoring of particle beams. In some embodiments, secondary photons are created based upon characteristics of a primary particle beam. The characteristics of the secondary photons can be quickly detected and analyzed, including correlating characteristics of the secondary photons to characteristics of the primary particle beam. The correlation enables rapid determination of primary particle beam characteristics which in turn can be utilized to facilitate application of ultra high dose rates. In some exemplary implementations, a presented system and method can be utilized to monitor particle beam characteristics (e.g., charge, dose, current, dose rate, position, etc.) in FLASH radiation therapy applications.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary radiation therapy system <NUM> in accordance with some embodiments. Radiation therapy system <NUM> includes a beam generation system <NUM>, a beam transport system <NUM>, a nozzle <NUM>, monitor component <NUM>, and control system <NUM>. The beam generation system <NUM> generates a plurality of particles with a defined energy (e.g., electrons, protons, neutrons, photons, ions, etc.). In some embodiments the plurality of particles are travelling in substantially the same direction. In some exemplary implementations, particles traveling in substantially the same direction are included in a beam. The plurality of particles are then transported to the nozzle by the beam transport system. The beam can be an atom nuclei beam (e.g., from carbon, helium, lithium, etc.).

In some embodiments, the beam generation system <NUM> includes a particle accelerator. The particle accelerator can include a linear accelerator. The system is compatible with a variety of accelerators (e.g., a continuous wave beam proton accelerator, an isochronous cyclotron, a pulsed proton accelerator, a synchrocyclotron, a synchrotron, etc.). In some embodiments, the accelerator is capable of relatively continuous wave output and extracts particles with a specified energy. This provides a high, continuous wave beam current for the high dose rate per shot or treatment application. A shot is the dose delivered in a relatively short period of time along a line segment through the target tissue. Shots can be included in a scan pattern and independently adjusted (e.g., in intensity, in range, etc.) to irradiate a target tissue volume. The accelerator can be a lower power output cyclotron, such as a cyclotron that accelerates particles to the range of <NUM>-<NUM> MeV. The primary particle beam generator may be configured to correlate the time of the secondary photon emission with the particle beam generation (e.g., to further improve signal-to-noise ratio, primary beam energy measurement, etc.).

The beam transport system <NUM> can include various components (e.g., dipole magnets, bending magnets, etc.) that direct (e.g., bend, steer, guide, etc.) the beam through the system in a direction toward and into the nozzle <NUM>. The beam generation system <NUM> and the beam transport system <NUM> may also include components that are used to adjust the beam energy entering the nozzle <NUM>. In some embodiments, sets of quadrupole magnets are located along the beam paths in the beam transport system <NUM>. In some exemplary implementations, the radiation therapy system may include one or more multileaf collimators (MLCs). A MLC leaf can be independently moved back-and-forth by the control system <NUM> to dynamically shape an aperture through which the beam can pass. The aperture can block or not block portions of the beam and thereby control beam shape and exposure time.

The nozzle <NUM> can be used to aim the beam toward various locations within an object (e.g., a patient, target tissue, etc.). The object can be located on the supporting device <NUM> (e.g., a chair, couch, bench, table, etc.) in a treatment room. The nozzle <NUM> and monitor <NUM> may be mounted on or a part of a fixed, rotating or movable gantry (not shown) so that it can be moved relative to the supporting device <NUM>. The supporting device may also be moveable. In some embodiments, the beam generation system <NUM> and beam transport system <NUM> can also be completely or partially mounted on or is a part of the gantry. In some other embodiments, the beam generation system is separate from the gantry. In some exemplary implementations, a separate beam generation system is in communication with the gantry.

In some embodiments, control system <NUM> receives and directs execution of a prescribed treatment plan. In some exemplary implementations, the control system <NUM> includes a computer system having a processor, memory, and user interface components (e.g. a keyboard, a mouse, a display, etc.). The control system <NUM> can control parameters of the beam generation system <NUM>, the beam transport system <NUM>, nozzle <NUM>, monitor component <NUM>, and supporting device <NUM>, including parameters such as the energy, intensity, direction, size, and/or shape of the beam. The control system <NUM> can receive data regarding operation of the system <NUM> and control the components according to data it receives. The data can be included in the prescribed treatment plan. In some embodiments, the control system <NUM> receives monitoring information from monitor component <NUM> and analyzes the performance and treatment being provided by radiation therapy system <NUM>. The monitor component can measure and track particle beam current and particle beam charge which are used to draw a correlation with the dose rate and dose amount respectively. In some embodiments, control system <NUM> can direct adjustments to the radiation therapy system <NUM> bases upon the analysis of dose and dose rate.

As noted above, the particle beam entering the nozzle <NUM> can have a specified energy and the nozzle <NUM> includes one or more range shifting and modulating components that can affect the energy of the beam. In some embodiments, the nozzle <NUM> includes components such as magnets that control (e.g., steer, guide, deflect, scan, etc.) the beam particles in "X and Y directions" to scan a target tissue volume. The target tissue volume can be in a patient on the supporting device <NUM>.

In some exemplary implementations, adjustments in the particle beam energy can be used to control: the range of the beam (e.g., the extent that the beam penetrates into target tissue, etc), the dose delivered by the beam, the depth dose curve of the beam, depending on the type of beam. For example, for a proton beam or an ion beam, the beam energy adjuster can control the location of the Bragg peak in the target tissue. The beam energy adjuster can include various components (e.g., range modulator, a range shifter, etc.). The nozzle <NUM> can also include a beam energy adjuster that affects the energy of the particle beam. The beam generation system <NUM> and transport system <NUM> may also include components that are used to adjust the beam energy entering the nozzle <NUM>.

Radiation therapy system <NUM> can be utilized for high dose rate treatments. Some treatment approaches include ultra-high dose rate treatment or modality referred to as FLASH radiotherapy. Therapeutic windows associated with FLASH therapy often enable reduced normal tissue toxicity while maintaining cancerous tissue tumor control. Monitor component <NUM> can monitor dose rates and doses typically associated with FLASH therapies, unlike conventional monitoring approaches the usually have a number of difficulties and issues when trying to monitor fast or high dose rates. In some exemplary implementations, the FLASH radiotherapy dose rate can be at least <NUM> Gray (Gy) in less than one second and as much as <NUM> Gy or <NUM> Gy in less than a second. In some exemplary implementations, the FLASH radiotherapy dose rate can be more than <NUM> Gy in less than one second. The radiation therapy systems and methods are also compatible with multiple field treatment approaches in which different fields are associated with a particular treatment trajectory and a dose per field that is a portion or fraction of a total dose delivery. The multiple field treatment approaches can enable dose delivery for each faction/field to be effectively monitored.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary system <NUM> in accordance with some embodiments. System <NUM> comprises a primary particle beam generator <NUM> that generates a particle beam <NUM>, and a monitoring component <NUM> that monitors the primary particle beam. The monitoring component comprises a reaction component <NUM>, a detection component <NUM>, and a primary particle beam characteristic determination component <NUM>. The reaction component <NUM> is impacted by characteristics of the particle beam, wherein results of an impact include creation of a plurality of secondary photons. The detection component <NUM> detects a characteristic of the secondary photons. The primary particle beam characteristic determination component <NUM> determines a characteristic of the primary particle beam based upon the characteristic of the secondary photons.

In some exemplary implementations, the primary particle beam generator <NUM> can be similar to beam generation system <NUM> and nozzle <NUM>, and monitoring component <NUM> can be similar to monitor component <NUM>. Exemplary system <NUM> can also include a control component similar to control system <NUM>. In some embodiments, the primary particle beam characteristic determination component <NUM> can be included in the control system. Primary particle beam characteristic determination component <NUM> can include a memory configured to store directions or instructions on performing primary particle beam characteristic determination and a processor configured to perform the instructions.

The detection component can include a radiation detector (e.g., scintillation detector, gamma camera, etc.). In some embodiments, the number of secondary photon rays (e.g., x-rays, gamma rays, etc.) is detected and secondary photon ray energy is not necessarily a required detection parameter. In some exemplary implementations, the time resolution of the detector components can be in the pico second to nano second region, and the system is able to handle very high count rates without pile-up. It is appreciated that radiation therapy system <NUM> can be utilized in monitoring operations for FLASH radiation therapy.

A primary particle beam characteristic determination component can be utilized to perform various different analyses based upon detected secondary photon characteristics. The analysis of the primary particle beam characteristics can include determination of a dose and dose rate. The secondary photon yield or number of detected photon rays per unit time is substantially proportional to the primary particle beam current, which in turn can be converted into dose rates. The number of detected photon rays during beam "on" time can be converted to the dose delivered during a primary particle beam "on" time.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary monitoring system <NUM> in accordance with some embodiments. Monitoring system <NUM> includes reaction component <NUM>, and detection component <NUM>. In some embodiments, reaction component <NUM> and detection component <NUM> are similar to reaction component <NUM> and detection component <NUM>. In some exemplary implementations, the reaction component <NUM> includes a foil component that emits secondary photons <NUM> when impinged by a primary particle beam <NUM>. In some embodiments, the primary particle beam is relatively homogenous and the secondary photons are emitted isotropically from interaction points in the reaction component <NUM>. The reaction component <NUM> can include thin foil (e.g., metal, plastic, metal coated plastic, etc.) which can be mounted perpendicular to a primary particle central beam path <NUM>. It is appreciated that a variety of materials can be included in the foil (e.g., Gold, Lead, high Z element, Carbon/Hydrogen compound, polyimide foil, etc.). Monitoring system <NUM> can include a vacuum region or chamber <NUM> and atmospheric air pressure <NUM> can be resisted by reaction component <NUM>. It is appreciated detection component <NUM> can be configured in various locations (e.g., inside the vacuum chamber, on the wall of the vacuum chamber, outside the vacuum chamber, etc.). Monitoring system <NUM> can include a primary particle beam characteristic determination component (not shown) similar to particle beam characteristic determination component <NUM> coupled to detection component <NUM>.

A reaction component can be configured based upon a variety of considerations. The reaction component can be configured so that the primary particle beam can penetrate the reaction component. In some embodiments, a percentage of the primary particle beam energy is lost as the primary particle beam penetrates the reaction component. Characteristics of the reaction component (e.g., material, thickness, etc.) can impact the amount of energy loss (e.g., the thinner the reaction component the smaller the energy loss of the primary beam, etc). In some exemplary implementations, the thickness of the reaction component is configured based upon the amount of energy loss. A thin reaction component is one in which there is a small percentage energy loss associated with penetrating the reaction component as compared to the energy of the primary particle beam received by monitoring device (e.g., less than <NUM>%, <NUM>% to <NUM>%, etc.). In some exemplary implementations, the reaction component is configured to minimize or reduce the energy loss.

In some embodiments, the reaction component forms an area or window in an exterior surface of the monitoring device. The reaction component can be configured to provide structural support characteristics to the monitoring component. The exterior surface can be the last system surface of the radiation system that influences the primary particle beam as it travels towards target tissue. Thus, there are not additional radiation system components that contribute to beam widening due to multiple Coulomb scattering, which in turn enables small or minimum spot sizes of the primary particle beam. In some exemplary implementations, the reaction component is an area in an exterior surface of a monitoring device vacuum chamber and is configured to provide structural support against exterior atmospheric pressure. In some exemplary implementations, the foil is in the range of tenths of millimeters or below (e.g., <NUM> plus or minus <NUM>%, <NUM> plus or minus <NUM>%, etc.).

It is appreciated that the reaction component can be configured based upon balancing multiple considerations. The reaction component structural characteristics can be balanced against or compared to energy loss characteristics. In some exemplary implementations, a dimension of the reaction component is selected based upon low energy loss characteristics associated with thin dimensions balanced with thick dimension structural integrity characteristics. The thickness of a reaction component can be reduced down to be as thin as possible while still maintaining thickness sufficient enough to maintain structural integrity. The reaction component can be configured with substantially constant thickness so that there are relatively constant reaction cross-sections.

In some embodiments, the secondary photons are included in high energy/high frequency ray (e.g., x-rays, gamma rays, etc.). The rays are created by the primary particle beam impinging on the reaction component. Particle beams impinging on a reaction component of given material can create characteristic x-rays associated with material composites in the reaction component by Coulomb interactions and electron rearrangement. The x-rays can be in the <NUM> keV to <NUM> keV range depending on the material. Particle beams impinging on a reaction component of another particular material can create gamma rays that are emitted isotropically from interaction points in the foil. In some exemplary implementations, gamma rays in the MeV range result from nucleus interactions associated with particle beams (e.g., proton beams, ion beams, etc.) of sufficient energy impinging on a reaction component.

A detection component can include spatial resolution features that are position sensitive. In some exemplary implementations, a detection component with spatial resolution is used to determine the interaction point on the reaction component. In some exemplary implementations, the detected emission point of the radiation is the measured beam position that can be converted to the beam position at the isocenter of the device. A detection component can include various components (e.g., a gamma camera, slit camera, etc.).

In some embodiments, a detection component can be position sensitive and sense an indication of the location of the primary particle beam impingement of interaction on the foil. A primary particle beam can move to different interaction points on a reaction component. The locations can correspond to a sequence of images or patterns where the primary particle beam moves to or hits can be created. Confirming compliance that primary particle beam locations or patterns correspond to treatment plans can be helpful to quality assurance and safety (e.g., hit cancerous tissue, avoid healthy tissue, etc.). In some exemplary implementations, a position sensitive detection component has an established geometry to the reaction component and is able to resolve locations of interaction points on the reaction component.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary monitoring system <NUM> in accordance with the invention. Monitoring system <NUM> includes reaction component <NUM>, and detection component <NUM>. Detection component <NUM> includes spatial resolution components. The spatial resolution components include a collimator <NUM> and multi-segment position sensitive detection component <NUM>. The spatial resolution components can include an absorber. In some embodiments, the spatial resolution components can include a slit camera that detects the secondary photons and an indication of the primary particle interaction location on a reaction component. It is appreciated the monitoring system <NUM> can include a primary particle beam characteristic determination component (not shown) similar to particle beam characteristic determination component <NUM> coupled to detection component <NUM>. In some embodiments, reaction component <NUM> is similar to reaction component <NUM>, and detection component <NUM> is similar to detection component <NUM>.

In some exemplary implementations, a relatively narrow or "pencil" primary particle beam <NUM> hits or impinges reaction component <NUM> at interaction point <NUM>. Secondary photons <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are emitted from an area around interaction point <NUM> when the primary particle beam <NUM> interacts with reaction component <NUM>. Secondary photons <NUM> pass through collimator <NUM> to multi-segment position sensitive detection component <NUM>. Secondary photons <NUM> and <NUM> do not passes through collimator <NUM> to multi-segment position sensitive detection component <NUM>. Based upon results of the multi-segment position sensitive detection component <NUM> the position or location of the interaction point <NUM> can be determined. Primary particle beam <NUM> can move and hit or impinge reaction component <NUM> at various interaction points (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.). Again, based upon results of the multi-segment position sensitive detection component <NUM> the position or location of the interaction points (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.) can be determined.

In some embodiments, in addition to monitoring dose and dose rates at very small or quick time resolutions, the monitoring system can also monitor the accuracy of the application area rapidly. In some exemplary implementations, the primary particle beam scans an area and the detection component can track the locations of the scanning impingement movement on the reaction component. This information can be used by the radiation system to respond and take fast corrective measures if the primary particle beam location deviates from the prescriptions of the treatment plan.

In some embodiments, an exemplary monitoring system includes a plurality of reaction components and detection components. The exemplary monitoring system can include safety features. The reaction components and detection components can be duplicative or redundant.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary monitoring system <NUM> in accordance with some embodiments. Monitoring system <NUM> includes a plurality of reaction components <NUM> and <NUM> and a plurality of detection components <NUM> and <NUM>. In some embodiments, the reaction component and detection components can be different and facilitate different types monitoring or monitoring with different sensitivity levels. The material included in the reaction component <NUM> and <NUM> can be different (e.g., Gold, Lead, Carbon, etc.). The energy of secondary photons emitted from the reaction components and detected by the detection components can be different. In some exemplary implementations, material included in the reaction component <NUM> and <NUM> can be different (e.g., Gold, Lead, Carbon, etc.). The reaction components <NUM> and <NUM> can emit similar or respectively different photons (e.g., corresponding to x-rays, gamma rays, etc.). The thickness of the foil in respective reaction components <NUM> and <NUM> can be different. A top or inner reaction component <NUM> can be relatively thin (e.g., result in lower absorption, scatter, etc.) and a lower or outer reaction component <NUM> can be a little thicker (e.g., more structural support, resist external air pressure, etc.). It is appreciated a reaction component and detection component can be included in an ionization chamber and utilized in conjunction with ionization type monitoring.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary particle beam monitoring method <NUM> not forming part of the invention. Particle beam monitoring method enables a detection of a secondary photon characteristic in resolution times of less than a nano second. Particle beam monitoring method <NUM> can be implemented on system <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, a primary particle beam is received. A primary particle beam is received from a particle beam generation system.

In step <NUM>, secondary photons are created. The primary particle beam is impinged on a reaction component and a plurality of secondary photons is emitted from the reaction component in response to the impinging. A characteristic of the secondary photons can vary in accordance with a relationship (e.g., proportional) to a characteristic of the primary particle beam. The secondary photons are emitted from a foil component. The foil component can be configured as an external window through which the particle beam exits a radiation system and the foil component is configured to balance minimization of energy loss characteristics and maintenance of structural characteristics.

In step <NUM>, a secondary photon characteristic is sensed. In some exemplary implementations, a characteristic of a portion of the secondary photons is sensed. The emission position of the secondary photons can also be determined. Sensing the characteristic of the portion of the plurality of secondary photons is resolved in a nano second or less. In some exemplary implementations, an x-ray or gamma ray signal is sensed. <FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary graph of sensed output signal values over time in accordance with an embodiment.

In step <NUM>, a characteristic of the primary particle beam is analyzed based upon the secondary photon characteristic. The characteristic of the primary particle beam can include a dose and dose rate.

A presented monitoring approach utilizes photon detection rather than ionization reactions to extrapolate characteristics of a particle beam. In addition to providing information on dose and dose rates, the monitor information can be fed back or utilized to direct adjustments in the particle beam generation components operations. In some exemplary implementations, the ability to rapidly resolve measurements of particle beam characteristics can be utilized by high resolution dose delivery controls in particle beam generation components. In some embodiments, the monitoring system and method are resistant (e.g., immune, impervious, etc.) to recombination effects and insensitive to magnetic fields. The monitoring system and method can also facilitate noise reduction compared to a typical traditional ionization chamber.

Thus, the presented systems and methods facilitate efficient and effective radiation beam monitoring. In some embodiments, a system can allow dose rate monitoring that is: linear up to ultra high beam currents, provides reaction times in the nano second region sufficient to provide quick reaction times for ultra high dose rate beams, allows dose monitoring by integration of the dose rate, and provide spatial resolution for beam position monitoring of the scanned particle beam. Unlike traditional approaches, in some embodiments there are no or reduced impacts associated with: <NUM>) recombination effects that interfere with monitoring; <NUM>) impacts from magnetic fields due monitoring activities, and <NUM>) signal-to-noise ratio of signal output. In some exemplary implementations, linear monitoring output is maintained for ultra high dose rates and pico amps to nano amp electric currents can be measured.

Some portions of the detailed descriptions are presented in terms of procedures, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These descriptions and representations are the means generally used by those skilled in data processing arts to effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A procedure, logic block, process, etc., is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps include physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical, magnetic, optical, or quantum signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer system.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present application, discussions utilizing terms such as "processing", "computing", "calculating", "determining", "displaying" or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar processing device (e.g., an electrical, optical or quantum computing device) that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities. The terms refer to actions and processes of the processing devices that manipulate or transform physical quantities within a computer system's component (e.g., registers, memories, other such information storage, transmission or display devices, etc.) into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within other components.

Claim 1:
A particle beam monitoring device (<NUM>) for a radiation system (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a reaction component (<NUM>) that is configured to be impacted by a primary particle beam (<NUM>), wherein results of an impact include creation of secondary photons (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a detection component (<NUM>) that detects a secondary photon characteristic; and
a primary particle beam characteristic determination component (<NUM>) that is configured to determine a primary particle beam characteristic based upon the secondary photon characteristic;
characterized in that:
said detection component (<NUM>) includes spatial resolution components including a collimator (<NUM>) and a multi-segment position sensitive detection component (<NUM>);
said collimator (<NUM>) is configured so that a portion of the secondary photons (<NUM>) pass through the collimator (<NUM>) to the multi-segment position sensitive detection component (<NUM>); and
said device (<NUM>) is configured to determine the position or location of an interaction point (<NUM>) of the primary particle beam (<NUM>) on the reaction component (<NUM>), based upon results of the multi-segment position sensitive detection component (<NUM>).