DESIGN OF A PROTON THERAPY DELIVERY SYSTEM

THE LONG-RANGE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF A PROTON THERAPY DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT WILL LEAD TO A SUBSTANTIAL ADVANCEMENT OVER EXISTING METHODSOF CANCER TREATMENT WITH PROTONS. DELIVERY SYSTEM COMPONENTS WILL INCLUDE RASTER SCANNING MAGNETS, SMALL APERTURE BENDING MAGNETS, GANTRY SYSTEMS, AND PERMANENT MAGNET TRANSPORT SYSTEMS OF WIDE MOMENTUM ACCEPTANCE. SUCH EQUIPMENT WILL REQUIRE CONSIDERABLE INNOVATION IN ORDER TO COMPLEMENT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW PROTON MEDICAL ACCELERATORS PRESENTLY BEING DESIGNED FOR HOSPITAL USE. THIS EQUIPMENT WILL HOWEVER, MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO MORE FULLY REALIZE THE POTENTIAL OF THESE ACCELERATORS FOR PROTON BEAM THERAPY. CONCEPTUAL IDEAS EXIST FOR DELIVERY SYSTEM COMPONENTS THAT WILL ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS. DETAILED ENGINEERING DESIGNS AND COST ESTIMATES ARE REQUIRED TO CONFIRM THEIR FEASIBILITY, AND TO PROVIDE PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPERS OF NEW PROTON THERAPY FACILITIES A COMPLETE SYSTEM CAPABILITY (ALONG WITH THE ACCELERATOR). THE PHASE ISTUDY WOULD BE CARRIED OUT BY EXPERIENCED PHYSICIANS AND ENGINEERS. A PHASE II GRANT REQUEST WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO COMMISSION, CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, AND DEVELOP THE CAPABILITIESOF PROTOTYPE SYSTEMS ON AN OPERATING ACCELERATOR. EXTENDED RESEARCH, SUPPORTED PRIVATELY, WOULD MAKE COMMERCIAL UNITS AVAILABLE.