The Ion-12SC is a sub-compact, 12.5 MeV proton super-conducting isochronous cyclotron for commercial medical isotope production recently developed at Ionetix Corporation. The machine features a patented cold steel and cryogen-free conduction cooling magnet, a low power internal cold-cathode PIG ion source, and an internal liquid target. It is designed to produce N-13 ammonia for dose on-demand cardiology applications but can also be used to produce F-18, Ga-68 and other medical isotopes widely used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The cyclotron is being installed and commissioned at several medical centers. During the initial machine operating periods, some issues appeared. In particular, imperfections in manufacturing and assembly of the magnet introduced unwanted low order magnetic harmonics that resulted in beam losses. This report presents results of analysis of the measured magnetic field and beam dynamics in the cyclotron that were initiated to solve the problem. The calculations led to a process for implementing compensating magnetic shims to improve the beam transmission.
The Ion-12SC is a sub-compact, 12.5 MeV proton superconducting isochronous cyclotron for commercial medical isotope production recently developed at Ionetix Corporation [1]. The machine features a patented cold steel and cryogen-free conduction cooling magnet, a low power internal cold-cathode PIG ion source, and an internal liquid target [2]. It was initially designed to produce N-13 ammonia for dose on-demand cardiology applications but can also be used to produce F-18, Ga-68 and other medical isotopes widely used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The 1st engineering prototype was completed and commissioned in September 2015, and four additional units have been completed since [3]. The first two units have been installed and operated at the University of Michigan and MIT. R&D efforts in physics and engineering have continued to improve machine performance, stability and reliability. These improvements include: 1) Water cooling added to the dummy dee to limit the operating temperature of the ion source to improve lifetime and performance, 2) Magnetic field maps, obtained with a Hall probe based mapper, were used to accurately measure the isochronism and provide information needed to compensate for any unwanted 1st harmonics and 3) Feedback based control methods applied to regulate the beam intensity on target by adjusting the ion source cathode current. The C1 unit installed at the University of Michigan Medical School early this year treated ~100 patients/month with N-13 ammonia. The machines are now capable of routinely producing > 21 doses/day with > 99% availability. The Ionetix manufacturing facility is capable of producing up to 30 machines per year.
A 12.5 MeV, 25 μA, proton compact superconducting cyclotron for medical isotope production has been produced. The machine is initially aimed at producing 13N ammonia for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) cardiology applications. With an ultra-compact size and costeffective price point, this system offers clinicians unprecedented access to the preferred radiopharmaceutical isotope for cardiac PET imaging. A systems approach that carefully balanced the subsystem requirements coupled to precise beam dynamics calculations was followed. The system is designed to irradiate a liquid target internal to the cyclotron and to minimize the unnecessary radiation. The scientific design of the machine has been described elsewhere.[1] The overall engineering, construction, commissioning, and experience at the first customer site will be described here.
The design and construction of a unique superconducting cyclotron for use in fast neutron radiation therapy is described. The clinical results obtained in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the prostate with this accelerator are presented. Future use of the boron neutron capture reaction as a means of enhancing fast neutron therapy in the treatment of patients with brain tumors (glioblastoma multiforme) is also discussed.
The authors report on three medical accelerator projects at Michigan State University. One involves construction of a 100-MeV superconducting cyclotron for neutron therapy. In the second, a conceptual design has been prepared for a 250-MeV superconducting synchrocyclotron for proton therapy. The third consists of preliminary studies of a compact 1600-MeV superconducting cyclotron system for heavy ion therapy
A compact superconducting cyclotron is being constructed for use as a neutron based cancer therapy facility in a major Detroit hospital . The project involves a number of novel design solutions which are described in the paper.