Abstract
A proposed upgrade for proton accelerators used for cancer treatment could enable doctors to use the machines to image tumors as well as to treat them.
Highlights
The number of cancer patients treated with proton therapy is increasing exponentially
Many facilities are based on traditional dose delivery methods, a rapidly growing number are based on the more state-of-the-art pencil beam scanning (PBS) approach [1,2]
Novel approaches are under study in the medical physics
Summary
The number of cancer patients treated with proton therapy is increasing exponentially. PBS proton therapy technology is not yet fully mature, offering a big potential for new developments addressing current limitations, including the management of organ motion, the need for improved lateral penumbras and last but not least, the actual value of in-vivo proton stopping power To overcome these limitations, novel approaches are under study in the medical physics. Proton beams with an energy of 350 MeV—equivalent to a range of more than 60 cm in water equivalent tissue (WET)— would fully traverse the body of the patient, allowing new treatment methods The availability of such high energies in existing and new treatment facilities will open a spectrum of new possibilities for proton therapy (Fig. 1). Based on the LIBO and LIGHT structures, an IMPULSE linac has been designed to accelerate protons from 250 MeV to 350 MeV in less than 7 m
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call