US4726046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
X-ray and electron radiotherapy clinical treatment machine
Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1985-11-05
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Granted: 1988-02-16
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Expires: 2005-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A radiotherapy machine includes a microwave powered accelerator to produce an energetic beam of charged particles, bending and focussing magnets to parallel scan the beam in a plane and collimators to make the resulting parallel scanned beam into paraxial rays of charged particles or X-rays. The beam is intensity modulated as it is scanned to control dosage spatial distribution. The subject is moved perpendicular to the scanning plane in order to treat a 3-dimensional shape.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig S. Nunan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:47
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/10; A61N5/1042; A61N5/1077; A61N5/1078; A61N5/1081; A61N2005/1085; A61N2005/1089; A61N5/1048; A61N5/1049
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A radiotherapy clinical treatment machine comprising: a microwave accelerator means for producing a high velocity paraxial beam of charged particles of finite energy spread along a first axis; a means for scanning the beam with time in a scanning plane defined as that containing a second and third axis of the beam; such that the second axis of the scanned beam at a first time is parallel to the third axis of the scanned beam at any second time; and a means for modulating the intensity of the beam while the beam is being scanned.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A radiotherapy clinical treatment machine comprising: a microwave accelerator means for producing a high velocity paraxial beam of charged particles of finite energy spread along a first axis; a means for scanning the beam with time in a scanning plane defined as that containing a second and third axis of the beam; such that the second axis of the scanned beam at a first time is parallel to the third axis of the scanned beam at any second time; and a means for modulating the intensity of the beam while the beam is being scanned.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A machine as in claim 1 wherein said scanning plane also contains said first axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A machine as in claim 1 wherein said scanning plane does not contain said first axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A machine as in claim 3 wherein said means for scanning the beam includes means for producing a magnetic field perpendicular to said first axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A machine as in claim 4 wherein said means for producing a magnetic field includes means for mechanically rotating said means for producing a magnetic field.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A machine as in claim 4 wherein said means for producing a magnetic field includes means for varying the field with time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A machine as in claim 3 including means for producing a paraxial beam of X-rays from the beam of charged particles as the beam of charged particles is scanned, the paraxial beam of X-rays at a first time being parallel to the paraxial beam of X-rays at any second time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A machine as in claim 4 including means for producing a paraxial beam of X-rays from the beam of charged particles as the beam of charged particles is scanned, the paraxial beam of X-rays at a first time being parallel to the paraxial beam of X-rays at any second time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A machine as in claim 5 including means for producing a paraxial beam of X-rays from the beam of charged particles as the beam of charged particles is scanned, the paraxial beam of X-rays at a first time being parallel to the paraxial beam of X-rays at any second time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A machine as in claim 6 including means for producing a paraxial beam of X-rays from the beam of charged particles as the beam of charged particles is scanned, the paraxial beam of X-rays at a first time being parallel to the paraxial beam of X-rays at any second time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A machine as in claim 7 wherein said means for producing a paraxial beam of X-rays includes a collimator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A machine as in claim 8 wherein said means for producing a paraxial beam of X-rays includes a collimator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A machine as in claim 9 wherein said means for producing a paraxial beam of X-rays includes a collimator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A machine as in claim 10 wherein said means for producing a paraxial beam of X-rays includes a collimator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A machine as in claim 13 wherein said means for producing a paraxial beam of X-rays includes a bow-tie magnet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
A radiotherapy clinical treatment machine comprising: a microwave accelerator means for producing a paraxial beam of electrons of finite energy spread having mean energy of at least 1 MeV; means for forming the beam of electrons into a narrowly collimated beam; means for scanning as a function of time the narrowly collimated beam of electrons in a plane such that the axis of a narrowly collimated beam of electrons at a first time is parallel to the axis of a narrowly collimated beam of electrons at any second time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
89 words
A radiotherapy clinical treatment machine comprising: a microwave accelerator means for producing a paraxial beam of electrons of finite energy spread having mean energy of at least 1 MeV; means for forming the beam of electrons into a narrowly collimated beam; means for scanning as a function of time the narrowly collimated beam of electrons in a plane such that the axis of a narrowly collimated beam of electrons at a first time is parallel to the axis of a narrowly collimated beam of electrons at any second time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A machine as in claim 15 wherein said means for producing a paraxial beam of X-rays includes a collimator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A machine as in claims 11, 12, 13, 14 or 16 including means for progressively reducing a cross-sectional dimension of the paraxial beams of X-rays from a side opposite to a direction of scan.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
A machine as in claims 11, 12, 13, 14 or 16 including means attached to said collimator for progressively reducing a cross-sectional dimension of the paraxial beam of X-rays from a side parallel to a direction of beam scan.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
112 words
A radiotherapy clinical treatment machine comprising: a microwave accelerator means for producing a paraxial beam of electrons of finite energy spread having mean energy of at least 1 MeV; an X-ray target means for converting the energy of the electron beam produced by said accelerator into X-rays; means for forming the beam of X-rays into a narrowly collimated beam of X-rays having small penumbra; means for scanning as a function of time the narrowly collimated beam of X-rays in a plane such that the axis of a narrowly collimated beam of X-rays at a first time is parallel to the axis of a narrowly collimated beam of X-rays at any second time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
112 words
A radiotherapy clinical treatment machine comprising: a microwave accelerator means for producing a paraxial beam of electrons of finite energy spread having mean energy of at least 1 MeV; an X-ray target means for converting the energy of the electron beam produced by said accelerator into X-rays; means for forming the beam of X-rays into a narrowly collimated beam of X-rays having small penumbra; means for scanning as a function of time the narrowly collimated beam of X-rays in a plane such that the axis of a narrowly collimated beam of X-rays at a first time is parallel to the axis of a narrowly collimated beam of X-rays at any second time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-02-15 | 1991-08-17 | 1992-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-02-15 | 1995-08-17 | 1996-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-02-15 | 1999-08-17 | 2000-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |