RF source
Inventors
Shinton, Ian • Doherty, Peter • Woolridge, Emma • PEREIRA MORGADO DA SILVA, Ana Rita
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12745340-B2
Publication Date
2026-09-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed here is an RF source comprising first, and second RF pulse generators arranged to deliver RF pulses for a particle accelerator and a controller arranged to control the first and second RF pulse generators to generate pulses sequentially.
Core Innovation
The invention describes an RF source for a radiotherapy device in which first and second RF pulse generators deliver sequentially interleaved RF pulses to a particle accelerator. A controller controls the generators to generate pulses sequentially, keeps the first generator under one or more fixed operating conditions, and alters the pulse-repetition frequency of the second generator. Automatic frequency control and phase locking stabilize generator operation across sequential and interleaved pulse patterns.
The system detects generator failure and controls the operational generator to provide secondary-mode operation. Interleaved pulses and accelerator electron input variation enable dose-rate and pulse-to-pulse energy control, including multi-energy radiotherapy within a treatment fraction, delivering pulses at respective first and second powers. Because the background section is omitted from the supplied content, the problem being solved is not explicitly described in patent.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims identify four inventive features comprising an RF source, a method of operating an RF source, a radiotherapy device, and a method of delivering interleaved pulses.
RF source with sequential pulse generation
Claim 1 covers an RF source for a radiotherapy device with first and second RF pulse generators arranged to deliver RF pulses to a particle accelerator. A controller controls the generators to generate pulses sequentially, controls the first generator to generate pulses under one or more fixed operating conditions, and alters the pulse-repetition frequency of the second generator.
Method of operating an RF source
Claim 8 covers controlling first and second RF pulse generators arranged to deliver RF pulses to a particle accelerator so that they generate pulses sequentially, controlling the first generator to generate pulses under one or more fixed operating conditions, and altering the pulse-repetition frequency of the second generator.
Radiotherapy device with an RF source
Claim 13 covers a radiotherapy device with an RF source comprising first and second RF pulse generators configured to deliver RF pulses to a particle accelerator. A controller controls the generators to generate pulses sequentially, controls the first generator under one or more fixed operating conditions, and alters the pulse-repetition frequency of the second generator.
Method of delivering interleaved pulses
Claim 17 covers controlling two RF pulse generators to generate a series of interleaved pulses, keeping the first generator under one or more fixed operating conditions, altering the pulse-repetition frequency of the second generator, and delivering the series to a particle accelerator, with the first and second generators generating pulses at respective first and second powers.
The independent claims cover dual-generator RF-source and radiotherapy-device configurations as well as methods of operation. Across the claims, the central features comprise sequential or interleaved pulse generation, fixed operating conditions for the first generator, alteration of the second generator's pulse-repetition frequency, and delivery of pulses at respective powers.
Stated Advantages
Failure detection and secondary-mode operation by the remaining generator improve redundancy and reduce downtime.
Documented Applications
An RF source for a radiotherapy device delivers RF pulses to a particle accelerator.
Interleaved pulses and electron-input modulation are described for dose-rate and pulse-to-pulse energy control, including multi-energy radiotherapy within a treatment fraction.
The RF source generates a radiotherapy treatment beam that is rotated about a patient.
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