Kenneth Elisabeth Whitham

US Patent:

6366641, Apr 2, 2002

Filed:

May 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/865375

Inventors:

Kenneth Whitham - Alamo CA

Assignee:

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Iselin NJ

International Classification:

A61N 510

US Classification:

378 65, 378116, 2505051, 2504923, 315 541, 315500, 315505

Abstract:

Systems and methods for reducing dark current levels in a standing wave linear accelerator without sacrificing operating performance are described. In a radiation mode, the standing wave linear accelerator is operated to produce a pulsed therapeutic photon beam having a characteristic pulse width. In an electron mode, the standing wave linear accelerator is operated to produce a pulsed therapeutic electron beam having a characteristic pulse width that is shorter than the characteristic pulse width of the therapeutic photon beam. In some embodiments, assuming a uniform dark current level, the dark current level may be reduced in proportion with the beam pulse width reduction in the electron mode of operation. A system for implementing this therapeutic beam generation method also is described.

US Patent:

6445766, Sep 3, 2002

Filed:

Oct 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/693702

Inventors:

Kenneth Whitham - Alamo CA

Assignee:

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Iselin NJ

International Classification:

A61N 510

US Classification:

378 65, 378124

Abstract:

A radiation therapy system according to the present invention includes a treatment system and an imaging system. The treatment system employs a first tungsten target to generate high power X-rays for treatment. The imaging system uses a second target to generate low power X-rays for imaging. The targets are arranged such that the resulting treatment and imaging beams are generally collinear.

US Patent:

6465957, Oct 15, 2002

Filed:

May 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/866275

Inventors:

Kenneth Whitham - Alamo CA

Assignee:

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Iselin NJ

International Classification:

H01J 2510

US Classification:

315 541, 378 65

Abstract:

A standing wave linear accelerator with a prebunching section and an accelerating section that are formed into a unitary accelerating structure is described. The prebunching section is configured to group charged particles into bunches by velocity modulation of the charged particle beam. The accelerating section has a plurality of inter-coupled resonant cavities, including an input cavity that is coupled to the prebunching section and an output cavity.

US Patent:

6493424, Dec 10, 2002

Filed:

Mar 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/800214

Inventors:

Kenneth Whitham - Alamo CA

Assignee:

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Malvern PA

International Classification:

H01J 3530

US Classification:

378137, 378 65

Abstract:

The invention provides a scheme in accordance with which a linear accelerator may be operated in two or more resonance (or standing wave) modes to produce charged particle beams over a wide range of output energies so that diagnostic imaging and therapeutic treatment may be performed on a patient using the same device. In this way, the patient may be diagnosed and treated, and the results of the treatment may be verified and documented, without moving the patient. This feature reduces alignment problems that otherwise might arise from movement of the patient between diagnostic and therapeutic exposure machines. In addition, this feature reduces the overall treatment time, thereby reducing patient discomfort.

US Patent:

6593696, Jul 15, 2003

Filed:

Jan 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/039424

Inventors:

Xiaodong Ding - El Cerrito CA
Kenneth Whitham - Alamo CA

Assignee:

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Melvern PA

International Classification:

H01J 2510

US Classification:

315 541, 315505

Abstract:

A method, system, and apparatus for providing reduced dark current in a linear accelerator includes a cavity having an input aperture and an output aperture, and a particle source coupled to the input aperture, the input aperture having a radius greater than a radius of the output aperture.

US Patent:

6856105, Feb 15, 2005

Filed:

Mar 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/396257

Inventors:

Chong Guo Yao - Pacheco CA, US
Kenneth Whitham - Alamo CA, US

Assignee:

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Malvern PA

International Classification:

H05H009/00

US Classification:

315505, 315501

Abstract:

Some embodiments include operation of an accelerator waveguide to accelerate particles to a first energy within the waveguide, wherein a prebuncher coupled to the waveguide outputs particle bunches having a first phase, change of a phase at which particle bunches will be output from the prebuncher from the first phase to a second phase, and operation of the accelerator waveguide to accelerate particles to a second energy within the waveguide, wherein the prebuncher outputs particle bunches having the second phase. Further aspects provide change of a resonant frequency of the prebuncher from a first frequency to a second frequency. According to still further aspects, the prebuncher includes a prebuncher cavity and change of the resonant frequency comprises change of a shape of the prebuncher cavity.

US Patent:

7005809, Feb 28, 2006

Filed:

Nov 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/723944

Inventors:

Kenneth Whitham - Alamo CA, US
Xiaodong Ding - Hercules CA, US

Assignee:

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Malvern PA

International Classification:

H05H 7/00

US Classification:

315500, 315506, 315 521

Abstract:

Some embodiments include operation of an accelerator waveguide to output first particles from a tuned end cavity of the accelerator waveguide at a first energy, detuning of the end cavity, and operation of the accelerator waveguide to output second particles from the detuned end cavity at a second energy.

US Patent:

7242158, Jul 10, 2007

Filed:

Jul 8, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/887618

Inventors:

Kenneth Whitham - Alamo CA, US

Assignee:

Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Malvern PA

International Classification:

H05H 9/00

US Classification:

315505, 315500, 315 542

Abstract:

Some embodiments include an accelerator waveguide having a plurality of cavities, and at least two RF power sources, each of the at least two RF power sources being separately coupled to a respective one of the plurality of cavities.