Chapter Nine - Proton synchrotron accelerator and spot scanning irradiation system

Abstract

Particle beam therapy, which irradiates tumors with high-energy beams of protons or carbon, has seen increasingly widespread use as a cancer treatment due to its ability to spare adjacent normal tissues from radiation exposure. In the case of therapy using proton beams, synchrotrons, cyclotrons, and synchrocyclotrons with superconducting technology have all been used for beam generation. The methods for expanding the beam irradiation area are roughly classified into the passive irradiation method and the scanning irradiation method. In recent years, the scanning irradiation method has become a standard irradiation method in particle beam therapy because it can form a precise irradiation area even for tumors with complicated shapes. A compact proton synchrotron has been developed specifically for the scanning irradiation method, and it has been installed at more than 10 treatment facilities. In addition, a compact single-treatment-room proton therapy system with a proton synchrotron has been developed.