Patent ID: 8718231

Claim:
An apparatus for positioning a patient for imaging of a tumor with X-rays, comprising: a statically positioned X-ray source; a lower support unit; at least one patient positioning device, said lower support unit supporting said at least one patient positioning device; means for rotating said lower support unit about an about vertical axis to a plurality of rotation positions, wherein said plurality of rotation positions comprises at least five rotation positions in a period of less than two minutes during imaging of the tumor by the X-rays, said X-ray source configured to deliver the X-rays along an about horizontal axis over a portion of said lower support unit; means for vertically adjusting said lower support unit, wherein said means for vertically adjusting adjusts the tumor of the patient to overlap protons extracted from a synchrotron, wherein during use the protons travel along a beam path substantially parallel to an X-ray path covered by said X-rays; and independent control of all of: a vertical position of said lower support unit, said lower support unit configured to support the patient during use; a rotation position of said lower support unit; energy of the protons, wherein said synchrotron comprises an extraction foil, in a proton beam acceleration path, used to control the energy of the protons; and intensity of the protons, wherein an intensity controller uses electrons generated from said extraction foil in control of the intensity of the protons, wherein delivery of the protons comprises coordination with rotation of the patient on said lower support unit during said plurality of rotation positions.