Technologies Available for License

2024-002: Compact 2D Scanner Magnet for Particle Therapy

Invention: 2024-002

For technical and licensing related questions, email tcp@bnl.gov.

Summary

Particle therapy has been a staple of cancer treatment regimens for decades. Particle therapy generally involves directing a beam of high energy particles such as electrons, protons, or heavy ions into a target volume (e.g., a tumor or lesion) in a patient. However, despite the successes of particle therapy techniques, such techniques still suffer from particle beam delivery inaccuracy that inadvertently places healthy tissue in the path of harmful radiation intended for the target volume. Conventional scanning magnets used in such therapy techniques generate magnetic fields that are non-uniform in both scanning directions (e.g., X and Y directions relative to the Z direction of the particle beam propagation), causing the particle beam to deviate from the intended position during treatment. The issues stemming from such deviations are two-fold. First, the deviated charged particles may inadvertently irradiate healthy tissue, causing damage to otherwise healthy organs. Second, portions of the target volume may not receive the intended dose of radiation and may thereby remain intact/undamaged within the patient. Both issues can result in additional complications for a patient that would likely not have developed but for the inaccuracy of the conventional scanning magnets. Hence there is a need for improved scanning magnets that can accurately scan particle beams during particle therapy to avoid issues related to beam deviations. This innovation is directed to a scanning magnet design that improves the accuracy of a particle beam (referenced herein as an "ion beam") delivered during ion beam therapy.