Patent ID: 7560715

Claim:
A system for an intensity-modulated proton therapy of a predetermined volume within an object, the system comprising: a) a proton source for generating a proton beam being adjustable with respect to beam intensity; b) a degrader being optionally disposed in the proton beam for attenuating energy of protons in the proton beam to a desired proton energy in the proton beam; c) a beam transport system being supported by a support frame pivotable around an optical axis; said beam transport system including: d) a plurality of proton beam bending and/or focusing units; e) a beam nozzle having an outlet for the proton beam for penetrating a predetermined volume of the object; f) a beam bending magnet being disposed upstream of said nozzle; and g) a couple of sweeper magnets being disposed upstream of said beam bending magnet for sweeping the proton beam in both lateral directions before the proton beam enters into said beam bending magnet, h) said beam nozzle defining a cross-sectional scanning area substantially perpendicular to the proton beam in the range of 10 cm×30 cm, and i) said sweeper magnets and said beam bending magnet being controlled to substantially provide a parallel beam orientation over a complete cross-sectional scanning area and for delivering a substantially 1:1 beam image of the proton beam before entering into said beam bending magnet as compared to the beam image after the bending.