Academia-Industry Matching Event on Superconductivity for Accelerators for Medical Applications
CIEMAT - Madrid
In our everyday enviroment, compact superconducting accelerators produce short-life radionucleides to make diagnoses and proton and ion beams to treat tumours by hadrontherapy. Superconductivity has hence become a key technology of particle accelerators, helping their progress and taking advantage of their development.The scope of this workshop is to bring together experts from different fields like superconductivity magnets, cryogenics, medical physicist as well as representative from industry to discuss and review the current status, the requirement and technical challlenges. The workshop should foster interactions amongst people in various labs, institutions and industry.
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11:30
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12:00
Coffee and networking break 30m
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12:00
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13:30
Reception cocktail 1h 30m
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15:20
Introductory session
Chairman: Luis García-Tabarés, CIEMAT
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13:30
Welcome address 15mSpeaker: Ramón Gavela (Director Adjunto, CIEMAT)
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13:45
Welcome address 15mSpeaker: Fernando Ballestero (Subdir General de Relac Internac, MINECO)
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14:00
Accelerators for medical applications 20m
This talk will mainly focus on superconducting cyclotrons from a medical device manufacturer's perspective. First, a short rationale of and an introduction to particle therapy are given. The major requirements for a particle therapy accelerator will be deduced from the treatment process. Based on that a comparison of various accelerator types for the use in an industrial medical device is made.
In the second part, a short history of superconducting cyclotrons up to the current status will be presented, concluding with an outlook on future superconducting cyclotrons.
Speaker: Michael Schillo (Varian Medical) -
14:20
Overview of superconductivity and its applications 20m
Superconductivity is a quantum phenomenon discovered more than 100 years ago with important implications in our lives even though we do not usually realise it. This exotic phenomenon is able to detect the smallest magnetic fields and generate the largest magnetic fields in the world. In the first case, SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices) were developed as the most sensitive magnetic field detectors and nowadays a large area of superconducting RSFQ logics and q-bits is steady progressing in the field of quantum computing. In the second case, high field magnets have been extensibly developed making possible high energy accelerators and magnetic resonance (NMR and MRI). Since the discovery of high temperature superconductors (HTS), energy applications appeared as possible thanks to the liquid nitrogen operation temperature. However, the nature of the HTS materials, being ceramic instead of metallic, has strongly slowed down their real application implementation. Thanks to one of the ever largest constant efforts in material science during the last 20 years, nowadays these HTS materials are industrially produced as flexible long length conductors and a large number of different device prototypes have been demonstrated. Recently, the scientific community has also realized that some of these HTS materials are the highest field conductors available at helium temperatures, thus opening new opportunities also in the area of ultrahigh magnetic fields for high energy accelerators, magnetic resonance and fusion. In this presentation, I will revise the most relevant properties of Superconductivity, the superconducting materials opportunities for the different operation temperatures and the situation of superconducting applications in the different sectors (energy, medicine, fusion,..).
Speaker: Teresa Puig (ICMAB) -
14:40
Superconducting technology for next generation accelerators 20m
Meanwhile LHC is exploring the energy frontier of particle physics, CERN with CIEMAT and other numerous Laboratories and Institutions is developing new technologies for next generation colliders. The High Luminosity LHC is now near construction with Superconducting magnet capable of 12 T field, made with advanced Nb3Sn technology, while for FCC a new R&D phase just started to be able to reach magnetic field of 15-16 tesla. Even the 20 T range seems not impossible thanks to novel HTS based magnets. In addition, superconducting cavities (SRF) are greatly advancing, with more efficient and high gradient RF systems, and developing new devices like the HiLumi Lhc crab cavities that are able to deflect or rotate each single bunch. The talk will illustrate the advance in all these technologies, including high current (> 100 kA) SC links, and the possible strong impact on the future of medical accelerators.
Speaker: Lucio Rossi (CERN) -
15:00
Question and answer session 20m
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13:30
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15:20
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16:40
Radioisotope production
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15:20
Radiopharmaceutical production process 20m
Radioisotope production is the first step in radiopharmaceuticals production workflow. In an accelerator based radiopharmaceuticals production facility, the impact of the radiopharmacy equipment on its global footprint is sometimes as important as the accelerator itself. Accelerator design, size and energy has a direct impact on the global installation scale: power electronics, shielding, bunker, etc. Superconducting cyclotrons reduce considerably the footprint of this part of the installation if compared to traditional resistive ones allowing their installation in small hospitals or research centres. Apart from the cyclotron it is needed to develop new targetry adapted to this new production scale model for a cost effective radioisotope production. To achieve a compact radiopharmaceutical production system, we need to scale also the rest of the radiopharmacy equipment: synthesis modules, hot cells, dose calibrators, dose dispensers and quality control equipment. Recent developments include microfluidics based synthesis modules and compact quality control solution. Once all this technological development will match this new radiopharmaceuticals production model, the next challenge will be to make it compliant with nuclear and pharmaceutical regulations which have been created based on traditional radiopharmaceutical production.
Speaker: Fernando Berdascas (Beta Pharma Technologies) -
15:40
Compact accelerators for PET production: AMIT project 20m
The delivery of FDG from large central production centres has demonstrated to be a cost-effective solution for populated areas, but the interest on other tracers has raised expectations that cannot be satisfied by using that concept. A new production method aimed to provide in-situ single doses of 18F and, fundamentally, 11C-radiotracers, would satisfy the requisites for non-standard PET demands. In this context, the project AMIT has been launched to develop, among other things, a new method for delivering single-doses of in-situ produced radiotracers, based on a compact cyclotron.
The project proposes a compact superconducting design, based on a Lawrence-type machine. It will be able to produce low to moderate rates of dose-on-demand 11C and 18F. This will be achieved by accelerating 10 microamperes of H- up to 8.5 MeV. Such a simple concept of machine, combined with a superconducting Helmholtz magnet with warm iron allows to develop a cost-effective machine with additional features like its high thermal efficiency (magnet can be cooled with just one commercial cryocooler and a closed helium circuit) and a small footprint which ends on a compact system that could be of interest to three types of potential customers: Small remote hospitals, hospitals engaged with personalized medicine and research institutions.
The presentation will describe the main aspects of the superconducting technology associated to this cyclotron.Speaker: Javier Munilla (CIEMAT) -
16:00
Compact accelerators for PET production: LOTUS project 20m
Molecular imaging with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is playing an important role in patient care, medical research, and pharmaceutical development. But limitations in short-lived positron emitters availability restrict the use of new radiopharmaceuticals that therefore remains limited to a small number of advanced research facilities. In order to enlarge the use of molecular imaging for translational research and clinical diagnosis, we designed an automated production system for PET radiopharmaceuticals on a “dose-on-demand” basis.
The LOTUS project is a French industry/academic partnership project, leaded by PMB (ALCEN Group), a designer and manufacturer of particle accelerators, RF assemblies, and advanced mechanical designs. The two other partners involved are the CEA, a technological research public organization, and SigmaPhi, a designer and producer of magnetic systems.
The LOTUS system features a compact 12 MeV superconducting Helium-free magnet cyclotron, with an external self-shielded beam and targetry system, particularly suitable for the production of Carbon-11, Fluor-18 and Gallium-68 radioisotopes. A microfluidic GMP automated synthesis platform allows the radiolabeling of a wide range of biomarkers for PET molecular imaging.Speaker: Raymond Pommet (PBM-ALCEN) -
16:20
Compact high cyclotrons for N13 amonia and FDG 20m
Over the past few years Mo-99m supply instability coupled with directives to eliminate the production dependence on HEU, have stimulated a number of new accelerator and reactor based concepts for the production of the important tracer Tc-99m following the conventional M0-99m carrier route. However, if one were to start from scratch today Tc-99m would not likely be used. There is a better cardiac imaging agent with much higher resolution images, significantly lower doses to patients and lower dwell times in patients, and essentially no radioactive waste- N13 Ammonia. This ‘gold standard’ for cardiac perfusion imaging has one limiting challenge- it’s short ~10 minute half-life, which nearly requires the isotope generator, in this case a low energy proton cyclotron and a water target, to be co-located or at least within a half-life or two of the PET camera. In this talk we will report on the development of a portable high field superconducting cyclotron for the production of unit dose N13 Ammonia in near proximity to the PET cameras, now being commercialized by Ionetix. Switching from O18 depleted water to O18 enriched water turns this N13 ammonia generator into a unit dose FDG generator, which will also be discussed.
Speaker: Timothy Antaya (Antaya Science & Technology)
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15:20
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16:40
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17:10
Coffee and networking break 30m
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17:10
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18:30
Radioisotope production
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17:10
PET center for low patient traffic and the RF system for its cyclotron 20m
Two topics will be discussed in the presentation. Firstly, a new high power efficient RF generator with outstanding availability has been developed, tested and is commercially available. The system meets the customer demands on compactness, usability, high reliability. Special modular architecture allowed to design scalable solution for various frequencies, output powers and duty cycles (up to CW). Control system of the generator has features specially designed for PET cyclotrons. The architecture and tests of 72 MHz 10 kW CW generator prototype are presented.
A compact, modular PET center which utilizes a cyclotron with the developed RF generator is proposed. The center is suited for regions with small population, where one or two PET scanners are needed. The solution allows to overcome the problem of patients, or vice versa radiopharmaceuticals, logistics in such regions. The center consists of one or two PET-CT scanners with the cyclotron and radiopharma production able to produce 55 GBk, which makes the cyclotron much more compact and cheap than usual PET cyclotrons. Also such compact cyclotron might be of interest for oncology clinics which do not have own radiopharma production and suffer from its logistics issuesSpeaker: Gregory Sharkov (NIIFTA) -
17:30
CERN MEDICIS and MEDICIS-PROMED: Novel radioisotope production for medical applications 20m
MEDICIS-PROMED is a network that bridges different disciplines across fundamental research institutions, private companies and hospitals for the production of innovative medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals for the imaging and therapy of cancer. Radioisotopes are commonly used for functional imaging and are expected to play an enhanced role in treatment of various types of cancer.
At CERN a new facility is under construction, named MEDICIS, which will provide dedicated medical batches for radiopharmaceuticals and develop new accelerator technologies for medical applications. It will extend the capabilities of the ISOLDE radioactive ion beam facility, operated with a 1.4 GeV proton beam and the on-line mass separator, which allows the production of a spread variety of radioisotopes for different aims.
MEDICIS-PROMED is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie innovative training network of the Horizon 2020 European Commission`s program. Outcome of this network will be a new generation of entrepreneurial scientists, who will take advantage of the different interdisciplinary fields, in order to develop medical systems for new personalized medicine and to develop a network of experts within Europe. The EU support consists of 15 PhD projects based in different partner sites all over the Europe, which are coordinated by CERN. MEDICIS-PROMED is a wide project that covers all aspects from the radioisotope production to the medical application passing through the collection, shipment, safety control and the radiochemical synthesis. The project started in April 2015 and will end in 2019. Together with the completion of the MEDICIS facility (2017), MEDICIS-PROMED will reach its full speed.Speaker: Simon Stegemann (KU Leuven) -
17:50
Medical imaging 20m
Radiotracers labeled with positron and gamma emitters can be tracked non-invasively after administration to a living organism. This is the basics of nuclear imaging, which has been traditionally used in the clinical setting for the early diagnose/evaluation of the response to treatment of a variety of diseases. With the widespread installation of cyclotrons around the world and the implementation of effective networks for the production and distribution of radiotracers, nuclear imaging has gained relevance in other fields, including the pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of new drug candidates and the investigation of mechanistic aspects of physiological, biological and/or medical problems.
In this session, the fundamentals of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) will be briefly introduced. Illustrative examples of the application of nuclear imaging both in the clinical and the pre-clinical settings will be presented and discussed.Speaker: Jordi Llop (CIC BiomaGUNE) -
18:10
Question and answer session 20m
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17:10
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20:30
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22:00
Workshop Dinner 1h 30m Real café Bernabéu
Real café Bernabéu
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11:30
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12:00
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08:30
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Particle therapy
Chairman: Luciano Calabretta, INFN
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08:30
Developing a modern, high-quality proton therapy medical device using a compact superconducting synchrocyclotron 20m
The MEVION S250 is a proton therapy system based on a gantry mounted superconducting synchrocyclotron. The synchrocyclotron is a 250 MeV accelerator weighing less than fifteen tons with magnetic fields in excess of ten Tesla and an extraction radius of only 30 cm. The compact architecture allows delivery of high quality proton therapy without the need for beam lines, magnetic gantries or energy selection systems. The entire system is designed for its intended use as a medical device and is easily operable by a single therapist without the need for additional engineers or physicists. In addition to the superconducting magnet, the accelerator includes an efficient frequency modulated radio frequency system with a slew rate in excess of 50 GHz/sec, maintenance free vacuum and ion source systems and a highly stable extraction which maintains the proton energy to better than 0.1%. The fast pulsed nature of a synchrocyclotron is also well suited for efficient and safe pencil beam scanning delivery. The MEVION S250 Hyperscan system has of scanning speeds of more than 10 m/sec, layer switching times of less than 50 ms and volumetric delivery to a one liter field in six seconds resulting in robust IMPT treatments without the need for patient specific devices.
Speaker: Townsend Zwart (MEVION Medical Systems) -
08:50
Superconducting medical accelerators at IBA 20m
In 2005, IBA started studies and developments of superconducting cyclotrons for medical applications. In this communication, we will present a summary of the history and characteristics of the two main superconducting IBA cyclotrons for particle therapy, namely the Cyclone 400 for proton/carbon therapy and the S2C2 dedicated to proton therapy, with a particular emphasis on their superconducting coil systems.
In the conclusions, we will discuss how IBA sees a trend in the use of superconductivity in therapy equipment.Speaker: Wiel Kleeven (IBA) -
09:10
Superconducting magnets for Ultra-Light and magnetically shielded, compact cyclotrons for medical applications 20m
Superconducting cyclotrons are increasingly employed for proton beam radiotherapy treatment (PBRT). The use of superconductivity in a cyclotron design can reduce its mass an order of magnitude, yielding significant reduction in overall cost of the device, the accelerator vault and its infrastructure, as well as operating costs. Despite several decades of design effort, the magnetic configuration for superconducting cyclotrons remains relatively unchanged from that proposed by Lawrence over 80 years ago for resistive-magnet-based cyclotrons. The basic configuration still consists of a single, split pair solenoid embedded in a relatively massive iron return yoke, with the radial magnetic field profile in the acceleration region produced by a pair of magnetically saturated iron poles. The use of a warm iron yoke also requires the transmission of substantial electromagnetic loads across the cryostat boundary; these loads must be accommodated in the cryogenic design of the magnet vessel.
At MIT, we previously developed a design for a very high field superconducting synchrocyclotron (9 T at the pole face) that results in a compact device that is small enough and light enough to mount directly on the beam delivery gantry, entirely eliminating the beam delivery system. As a next step for advancing superconducting cyclotron technology we are developing a method to design a compact superconducting synchrocyclotron that demonstrates the possibility to reduce its weight significantly by eliminating all iron from the design. Implementation of this proposed design benefits from several significant advances in superconducting magnet technology pioneered in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) industry during the past 20 years, such as active magnetic shielding.
In addition to the prospect of reduced weight, smaller accelerator vault volume, enhanced magnetic shielding, and structural efficiency, the linear relationship between operating current and field magnitude facilitates the development of iron-free synchrocyclotrons with the capability for beam energy variation without a degrader. Reliance on an energy degrader comes at the cost of undesirable production of secondary radiation that markedly increases the amount of radiation shielding required. Simultaneous with this beam energy degradation is another negative consequence, reduction of the beam current. Additionally this concept could potentially be used for acceleration of a variety of ion species in a single device.Speaker: Joseph V. Minervini (MIT)
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08:30
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10:00
Coffee and networking break 30m
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10:00
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11:00
Particle therapy
Chairman: Luciano Calabretta, INFN
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10:00
Modern injector linac concepts for hadrontherapy 20m
Several clinical synchrotron facilities for carbon ion-beam therapy were constructed worldwide during the last decade. State-of-the-art at these facilities is a compact room-temperature injector linac operated at about 200 MHz and comprising at least one electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source, a radio-frequency quadrupole linac (RFQ), and an Interdigital H-mode drift tube linac (IH-DTL). Whereas superconducting linacs are favorable for high-duty cycle or cw operation, room-temperature linacs still have advantages for low-duty cycle machines like synchrotron injectors. Recent developments applying higher frequencies and higher gradients as well as more compact RF supplies based on solid state power amplifiers or IOTs may open new options for future injectors. An overview of present injector linacs as well as selected recent developments will be presented.
Speaker: Bernhard Schlitt (GSI) -
10:20
Superconductivity in cyclinacs for ion beam therapy 20m
Cyclinacs are accelerators, which combine the two leading technologies in the medical field: a cyclotron injector (the workhorse accelerator in proton therapy and radiopharmacy) and a linac booster (the accelerator type used in every medium-sized hospital for radiotherapy and radioimaging). The linac technology offers the unique potential to increase the performance of accelerators for ion beam therapy, through the fast energy modulation and small transverse size of its high repetition rate pulsed beam. This allows to bring accelerators one step forward towards image guided ion beam therapy and thus, to increase the quality of beam delivery for the treatment of moving organs.
The superconducting technology plays here an essential role. Indeed, the most cost-effective solutions for cyclinacs make use of superconducting cyclotron injectors. Conceptual designs of such cyclotrons will be presented. In addition, using superconducting combined-function magnets (FFAG) in the beam delivery lines and gantries would allow to make the best use of the fast beam energy modulation of the linac while keeping beamline (i.e. facility) dimensions as compact as possible.Speaker: Adriano Garonna (TERA Foundation) -
10:40
Question and answer session 20m
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10:00
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11:00
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11:20
Gantries
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11:00
Introduction to gantries and comparison of gantry design 20m
This presentation reviews the state of the art of gantry designs and technologies. Gantries for proton particle therapy are currently installed worldwide, and there is a similar wish to use gantries for particle therapy using hadrons, such as carbon and helium. Only few carbon gantries have been built, based on normal-conducting magnets as well as superconducting magnet technology. Several other design concepts have been proposed, such as the Riesenrad design. A comparison of gantry designs will be presented, including investment cost and operational aspects.
Speaker: Marco Pullia (CNAO), Frank Ebskamp (Danfysik)
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11:00
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11:20
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11:50
Coffee and networking break 30m
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11:50
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14:10
Gantries
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11:50
Advantages and challenges of SC magnets in gantries 20m
The presentation provides an overview of the current developments in superconducting magnets for applications in proton and ion therapy gantries. It summarizes the benefits and challenges regarding the utilization of these magnets from the economical, infrastructural and technical points of view. The options for the superconducting material choice, magnet geometry, cooling system and beam optics design are stated and their individual features are reviewed. The challenges of fast magnet ramping and large stray fields of the ironless magnets are presented and the possibilities to solve these challenges are suggested. Also, the examples of currently used superconducting particle therapy systems and proposed designs are provided. The technical benefits and risks of these designs are discussed and the potential new treatment and patient diagnostic options are mentioned.
Speaker: Alexander Gerbershagen (PSI) -
12:10
Superconducting magnets for medical applications at PSI 20m
The use of proton therapy for cancer treatment shows a growing trend, since the radiation dose delivered to the target volume is maximized and the dose to the surrounding healthy tissues is minimized. To direct the proton beam from all directions to the tumor in the patient, the last part of the beam transport and scanning system are mounted on a rotatable gantry.
In this work a design of a superconducting bending magnet section for future compact iso-centric gantries is presented. The section consists of three combined function magnets: two dipole, quadrupole and sextupole magnets and a combined quadrupole and sextupole magnet. All the winding packs are based on racetrack coils to keep the manufacturing as easy as possible.
The coils will be wound with Nb3Sn Rutherford cables. Following the choice of a suitable superconducting strand, we report the calculation of the AC losses during the energy sweeps, the expected temperature margin both during a transient and in steady state and the design of the cooling system as well as of the mechanical support structure. Some considerations about the quench protection scheme are also presented.Speaker: Ciro Calzolaio (PSI) -
12:30
SC Gantry at NIRS and new developments in SC magnets for gantries & synchrotrons 20m
A superconducting (SC) rotating-gantry for carbon radiotherapy was developed. This isocentric rotating gantry can transport carbon ions with the maximum energy of 430 MeV/u to an isocenter with irradiation angles of over +-180 degrees, and is further capable of performing three-dimensional raster-scanning irradiation. The combined-function SC magnets were employed for the rotating gantry. The SC magnets with optimized beam optics allowed a compact gantry design with a large scan size at the isocenter; the length and the radius of the gantry are approximately 13 and 5.5 m, respectively, which are comparable to those for the existing proton gantries. The total weight of the gantry is estimated to be approximately 300 tons. Construction as well as installation of the SC gantry was completed by the end of September, 2015. Beam commissioning subsequently begun since October, 2015, and carbon beams, as accelerated by the HIMAC upper synchrotron, having kinetic energy of between 430-48 MeV/u were successfully transported with the SC gantry to the isocenter. Presently, we are further designing a next-generation compact SC gantry as well as a SC synchrotron as a future project. In this talk, the recent progress of the SC rotating-gantry as well as new developments for the future project is presented.
Speaker: Yoshiyuki Iwata (NIRS) -
12:50
Cryogenic design and colling methods for rotating SC magnets 20m
The cryogenic design of rotating superconducting magnet, especially for particle therapy, is governed not only by the operating conditions but also by end-user’s environment. These specific design considerations, presented as an introduction, narrow down the different possible cryogenic cooling options for such superconducting systems. In light of these considerations, the gantry system design studied at CEA Saclay will be discussed and the chosen “cryocooling” method evaluated. A focus on thermal links for cryocooling, with a particular emphasis on the conductive thermal links, will be presented where the pros and cons will be assessed. Based on this assessment, we propose an alternative two-phase cryogen thermal links: the pulsating heat pipe and discuss their thermal performance and advantages. To conclude, the recent developments of pulsating heat pipe thermal links under development at CEA Saclay will be presented.
Speaker: Bertrand Baudouy (CEA Saclay) -
13:10
Cryogen free cryogenic cooling system for rotating superconducting magnets in medical accelerators 20m
Large rotating magnets are essential components in hadron therapy facilities, with both proton and carbon ions. In the so called gantries, the beam is rotated and bent pointing through the patient tissues. This is achieved usually by tilting or rotating the complete and weighty magnet system. Present trends are directing to more compact and less power consuming gantries using superconducting magnets, where rotating cryogenic cooling system is required.
Under the EU Seventh Framework Programme, the SUPRAPOWER project pursues a 10 MW superconducting generator for wind turbines. In this project, a cryogen-free cryogenic cooling system for the generator rotor coils based on Gifford-McMahon cryocooler has been designed and validated experimentally. In this frame, a rotary joint has also been developed in order to connect the rotating cold head to the stationary helium compressor. Based on the cooling system developed for the superconducting generator, a similar cryogen-free design is outlined for superconducting gantries. Implementation of such rotary joints would offer a new solution for gantries with an unbounded rotation of 360º.Speaker: Santiago Sanz (Tecnalia) -
13:30
Question and answer session 20m
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