JP6096053B2 - Cyclotron and charged particle beam therapy system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cyclotron for accelerating charged particles, and a charged particle beam therapy apparatus having the cyclotron.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cyclotron is known that includes a hollow yoke, a vacuum container disposed in the interior space of the yoke, a superconducting coil disposed in the vacuum container, and a refrigerator that cools the superconducting coil. As a technical document regarding such a cyclotron, for example, Patent Document 1 exists. In Patent Document 1, a superconducting coil is supported in a vacuum vessel by a vertical load support extending in the vertical direction (extending direction of the central axis of the superconducting coil) and a horizontal load support extending in the horizontal direction. The configuration is described.

JP 2002-043117 A

  By the way, when a cyclotron including a superconducting coil arranged in a vacuum vessel is transported to an installation location, the superconducting coil body may be displaced due to vibrations or temperature changes caused by transportation. If the superconducting coil in the vacuum vessel is misaligned, it will be necessary to adjust the magnetic field accuracy and magnetic field distribution by adjusting the position of the superconducting coil body when installing the cyclotron at the transport destination. To increase. As a result, there was a problem that the rise after the cyclotron installation was delayed.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the cyclotron which can suppress the position shift of a superconducting coil body effectively, and the charged particle beam therapy apparatus which has this cyclotron.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a cyclotron including a superconducting coil body arranged in a vacuum vessel, which is fixed to the vacuum vessel and extends toward the superconducting coil body, A first support member and a second support member that support the superconducting coil body are provided, and the first support member includes an extension axis of the first support member and a surface of the superconducting coil body. A first plane including the intersection on the first support member side and the central axis of the superconducting coil body is provided so that the extension axis intersects, and the second support member The second plane including the intersection on the second support member side and the central axis of the superconducting coil body among the points where the extending axis of the supporting member and the surface of the superconducting coil body intersect, Extending direction of the central axis of the superconducting coil body provided so that the extending axes intersect Look al, wherein the extension axis of the first support member and the extension axis of the second support member intersect each other.

  In the cyclotron according to the present invention, the first support member is provided such that the extending axis intersects with the first plane, and the second axis so that the extending axis intersects with the second plane. A supporting member is provided, and the extending axis of the first supporting member and the extending axis of the second supporting member intersect each other when viewed from the extending direction of the central axis of the superconducting coil body. Therefore, according to this cyclotron, as compared with the case where only the support member extending in the direction orthogonal to the central axis of the superconducting coil body is provided, the first support member and the second support member allow the superconducting coil body to Since a larger restoring force can be obtained with respect to rotation (movement) in the circumferential direction (rotation direction), it is possible to effectively suppress displacement in the circumferential direction of the superconducting coil body.

In the cyclotron according to the present invention, the extension axis of the first support member and the extension axis of the second support member may intersect each other when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the central axis of the superconducting coil body. .
According to this cyclotron, the extension shaft of the first support member and the extension shaft of the second support member intersect each other when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the superconducting coil body. The supporting member and the second supporting member can appropriately receive the stress in the extending direction of the central axis of the superconducting coil body. Therefore, according to this cyclotron, it is possible to effectively suppress the displacement in the extending direction of the central axis of the superconducting coil body.

In the cyclotron according to the present invention, the first support member and the second support member may be provided so as to intersect each other when viewed from the extending direction of the central axis.
According to the cyclotron, the first support member and the second support member are provided so as to intersect with each other, so that the length of the support member required to withstand vibration during transportation and thermal contraction of the coil is ensured in a small space. This can save space in the vacuum vessel. This is advantageous for downsizing the cyclotron.

In the cyclotron according to the present invention, the first support member and the second support member may be provided so as to intersect each other when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the central axis of the superconducting coil body.
According to this cyclotron, the first support member and the second support member are provided so as to intersect each other even when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the superconducting coil body. The length of the support member necessary to withstand heat shrinkage can be secured in a smaller space, which is advantageous for space saving in the vacuum vessel and downsizing of the cyclotron.

In the cyclotron according to the present invention, the first support member and the second support member may be attached to the outer peripheral side surface of the superconducting coil body.
According to this cyclotron, since the stress in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral side surface of the superconducting coil body can be appropriately received by the first supporting member and the second supporting member, the circumferential position of the superconducting coil body Deviation can be effectively suppressed. In addition, it is advantageous for thinning the cyclotron.

The cyclotron according to the present invention may further include first adjusting means for adjusting the length of the first support member, and second adjusting means for adjusting the length of the second support member.
According to this cyclotron, it is possible to easily adjust the position of the superconducting coil body by adjusting the length of each support member.

In the cyclotron according to the present invention, the first support member and the second support member may each include a strap member made of a material that expands by cooling.
According to this cyclotron, the superconducting coil expands when the temperature rises, while the strap member that expands by cooling (negative expansion) contracts, so the superconducting coil is supported by each support member with appropriate tension. Is done. On the other hand, according to this cyclotron, while the superconducting coil contracts during cooling, these strap members expand, so that the superconducting coil is supported by each supporting member with an appropriate tension. Therefore, according to this cyclotron, appropriate support of the superconducting coil body according to the thermal contraction of the superconducting coil can be realized.

A charged particle beam therapy system according to the present invention includes the above-described cyclotron, and irradiates a charged particle beam generated by the cyclotron toward an irradiated object.
Since the charged particle beam therapy system according to the present invention includes the above-described cyclotron capable of effectively suppressing the displacement of the superconducting coil body, the position of the superconducting coil body in the installation work after the cyclotron is transported or the like. Adjustment time and effort can be reduced, and maintenance of the charged particle beam therapy system can be improved.

The charged particle beam therapy system according to the present invention may further include a rotatable or swingable frame provided around the irradiated body, and the cyclotron may be attached to the frame.
In this charged particle beam therapy system, the position of the superconducting coil body can be suppressed even if vibration is generated intermittently with respect to the cyclotron attached to the frame by rotating or swinging the frame during operation. Reliability can be increased.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the cyclotron which can suppress the position shift of a superconducting coil body effectively, and the charged particle beam therapy apparatus which has this cyclotron can be provided.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the cyclotron and charged particle beam therapy apparatus which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the shielding shield provided in the side surface of the cyclotron shown in FIG. 1 and a cyclotron. It is a schematic sectional drawing in alignment with the central axis of the cyclotron which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing along the IV-IV line in FIG. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the positional relationship of the 1st supporting member shown in FIG. 4, the 2nd supporting member, and a center axis line. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the superconducting coil body and support member of the cyclotron which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is an enlarged view for demonstrating the fixing | fixed part of the 1st supporting member shown in FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing in alignment with the central axis of the cyclotron which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing along the IX-IX line in FIG. It is a figure used in order to explain the positional relationship between the first support member and the second support member shown in FIG. 9 and the central axis. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the superconducting coil body and support member of the cyclotron which concern on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing along the center axis line of the cyclotron which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing along the XIII-XIII line in FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the superconducting coil body and supporting member of the cyclotron which concern on 3rd Embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same or an equivalent part, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

[First Embodiment]
First, the charged particle beam therapy system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a charged particle beam therapy system 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cyclotron 2 shown in FIG.

  A charged particle beam apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 performs treatment by irradiating a tumor in a patient's body with a charged particle beam. As shown in FIG. 1, the charged particle beam therapy system 1 includes a cyclotron 2 and a gantry 3.

  The cyclotron 2 is a circular accelerator that accelerates charged particles supplied from an ion source (not shown) and outputs a charged particle beam. Examples of the charged particles include protons and heavy particles (heavy ions). Details of the cyclotron 2 will be described later.

  The gantry 3 extends on the same axis (axis A), a pair of rotary shafts 5 disposed on both sides of a treatment table 4 for a patient to be irradiated to lie, and upward from the rotary shaft 5 A pair of beam portions 7 extending in the direction of the axis A between the pair of projecting leg portions 6 and 6 and supporting the cyclotron 2 from both sides, and a pair of counterweights 8 projecting downward from the rotating shaft 5 are provided. Yes.

  The walls W of the building are arranged to face each other in the direction of the axis A across the treatment table 4. The rotating shaft 5 is supported so as to be rotatable around the axis A with respect to the wall W of the building. The leg 6 extends upward from the end of the rotating shaft 5 on the treatment table 4 side. The counterweight 8 extends downward from the end of the rotating shaft 5 on the treatment table 4 side in the direction opposite to the leg portion 6. With such a configuration, the gantry 3 is rotatable or swingable around the rotation shaft 5.

  The beam portion 7 is supported by the leg portion 6 at a position spaced outward from the rotating shaft 5. The beam portion 7 extends in the direction of the axis A, and the cyclotron 2 is fixed to an end portion opposite to the leg portion 6.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cyclotron 2 includes a cylindrical casing. The end surface 2b and the end surface 2c of the cyclotron 2 are arranged to face each other in the direction of the axis A, and the side surface 2a extends in the circumferential direction surrounding the central axis direction extending in the direction of the axis A. On the side surface of the cyclotron 2, a shielding shield 9 is provided on the treatment table 4 side (the lower side in the drawing).

  For example, the lower half of the cyclotron 2 is covered by the shielding shield 9. The shielding shield 9 is disposed so as to cover the lower half of the side surface 2a of the cyclotron 2, the lower half of the end surface 2b, and the lower half of the end surface 2c. The beam portion 7 may directly support the cyclotron 2 or indirectly support the cyclotron 2 through the shielding shield 9. The shield shield 9 may include only the shield part 9a that covers the lower half of the side surface 2a, and may not include the shield part 9b that covers the lower half of the end face 2b and the end face 2c.

  As described above, in the charged particle beam therapy system 1 including the cyclotron 2, the shielding shield 9 may be disposed between the side surface 2 a of the cyclotron 2 and the treatment table 4. Further, a shielding shield may be disposed so as to cover the entire surface of the cyclotron 2.

  An irradiation unit 10 that irradiates the charged particle beam generated by the cyclotron 2 toward the axis A is provided on the side surface 2 a of the cyclotron 2. That is, the irradiation unit 10 irradiates a charged particle beam generated by the cyclotron 2 toward a patient (not shown) that is an irradiated body lying on the treatment table 4.

  Next, the cyclotron 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Here, description will be made with the upper side of the drawing as the upward direction and the lower side of the drawing as the downward direction. 3 to 5, the first support member 25 and the second support member 26 represent not the cross section but the whole.

  The cyclotron 2 includes an annular superconducting coil body 21, an annular vacuum container 22 that accommodates the superconducting coil body 21, an upper pole (upper magnetic pole) 23 </ b> A disposed at an air core portion of the superconducting coil body 21, and A lower pole (lower magnetic pole) 23B, a refrigerator (not shown) for cooling the superconducting coil body 21, and a yoke 24 are provided. The yoke 24 is a hollow disk-shaped block, and the vacuum vessel 22, the upper pole 23A, and the lower pole 23B are disposed therein. The vacuum vessel 22 is a rectangular parallelepiped for accommodating a pair of support members (the first support member 25 and the second support member 26) that support the superconducting coil body 21 at intervals of 90 degrees around the central axis C. It has an overhanging portion that projects into a shape.

  In the cyclotron 2, the inside of the vacuum vessel 22 is evacuated and the superconducting coil body 21 is put into a superconducting state by a refrigerator (not shown), and a current is passed through the superconducting coil body 21 to increase the strength. A strong magnetic field. In a space G between the upper pole 23A and the lower pole 23B, a pair of dee electrodes (acceleration electrodes) (not shown) are arranged, and charged particles supplied from the ion source are the upper pole 23A, the lower pole 23B, and It is accelerated by the action of the Dee electrode and output as a charged particle beam.

  The superconducting coil body 21 includes two superconducting coils 27A and 27B and a coil support member 28. Superconducting coils 27 </ b> A and 27 </ b> B are arranged side by side along central axis C and are integrally supported by metal coil support member 28.

  The coil support member 28 includes an upper surface support portion 28a that covers the upper surface of the upper superconducting coil 27A, a lower surface support portion 28b that covers the lower surface of the lower superconducting coil 27B, and the superconducting coil 27A and the superconducting coil 27B. There are inter-coil support portions 28c located between them, and side surface support portions 28d that cover the outer peripheral side surfaces of these members (superconducting coils 27A and 27B, upper surface support portions 28a, and lower surface support portions 28b). A part of the refrigerator is in contact with the lower surface support portion 28b, and the superconducting coil body 21 is directly cooled. As the refrigerator, for example, a small GM refrigerator can be adopted.

  The superconducting coil body 21 is supported by four pairs of support members (first support member 25 and second support member 26) disposed around the superconducting coil body 21 around the central axis C at intervals of 90 degrees. Has been. The pair of first support member 25 and second support member 26 are provided so as to intersect each other when viewed from the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21. Further, the first support member 25 and the second support member 26 are provided so as to intersect each other when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the central axis C. One end of the first support member 25 and the second support member 26 is fixed to the side support portion 28d. Further, the first support member 25 and the second support member 26 extend toward the outer peripheral side surface (side support portion 28d) of the superconducting coil body 21, and the first support member 25 and the second support member 26 are extended. The other end side of the support member 26 penetrates the vacuum vessel 22 and the yoke 24 and is fixed to the vacuum vessel 22 and the yoke 24.

  The first support member 25 includes a first latching portion 25a fixed to the side support portion 28d, a through rod portion 25b disposed through the vacuum vessel 22 and the yoke 24, and a vacuum of the through rod portion 25b. It has the 2nd latch part 25c provided in the container 22 side, and the cyclic | annular strap member 25d latched by the 1st latch part 25a and the 2nd latch part 25c.

  The 1st latching | locking part 25a is a metal member which has the axial part 25e on which the strap member 25d is hung. The first latching portion 25a is fixed to the side support portion 28d with a screw or the like. The 2nd latching | locking part 25c is a metal member which has the axial part 25f on which the strap member 25d is hung, and is formed integrally with the penetration rod part 25b.

  A hollow cylindrical seal portion 29 is provided between the vacuum vessel 22 of the first support member 25 and the yoke 24 in order to maintain the vacuum inside the vacuum vessel 22. The penetrating bar portion 25 b penetrates the seal portion 29. Inside the seal portion 29, the connecting portion between the through-rod portion 25b and the seal portion 29 is sealed with an O-ring or the like.

  The second support member 26 includes a first latching portion 26a, a through rod portion 26b that penetrates the vacuum vessel 22 and the yoke 24, and a second latch provided on the vacuum vessel 22 side of the through rod portion 26b. A portion 26c, and an annular strap member 26d hooked on the first hook portion 26a and the second hook portion 26c.

  The first hooking portion 26a is a metal member having a shaft portion 26e on which the strap member 26d is hung. The first hooking portion 26a is fixed to the side support portion 28d with a screw or the like. The 2nd latching | locking part 26c is a metal member which has the axial part 26f on which the strap member 26d is hung, and is formed integrally with the through-rod part 26b. A hollow cylindrical seal portion 29 is also provided at a portion between the vacuum vessel 22 and the yoke 24 of the second support member 26 in order to keep the vacuum inside the vacuum vessel 22.

  Here, the strap members 25d and 26d are belt-shaped members made of FRP [Fiber Reinforced Plastics]. The strap members 25d and 26d receive a tensile load generated between the vacuum vessel 22 and the side support portion 28d of the superconducting coil body 21. The strap members 25d and 26d are preferably made of, for example, FRP having a negative expansion property that expands by cooling, such as polyethylene fiber FRP (Dyneema [registered trademark]).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first support member 25 is configured such that the extending axis L1 of the first support member 25 (strap member 25d) intersects the plane (first plane) D1 at the intersection P1. Is provided. Here, the intersection P1 is an intersection on the first support member 25 side among one or more intersections where the extended axis L1 and the surface of the superconducting coil body 21 (the surface of the side support portion 28d) intersect. The plane (first plane) D1 is a plane including the intersection point P1 and the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21. Specifically, the strap member 25d of the first support member 25 is a force generated when the superconducting coil body 21 attempts to rotate in the counterclockwise rotation direction R1 about the central axis C in FIGS. Is provided to receive.

  On the other hand, the second support member 26 is provided such that the extending axis L2 of the second support member 26 (strap member 26d) intersects the plane (second plane) D2 at the intersection P2. . Here, the intersection point P2 is an intersection point on the second support member 26 side among one or more intersection points where the extended axis L2 and the surface of the superconducting coil body 21 (the surface of the side surface support portion 28d) intersect. Further, the plane (second plane) D2 is a plane including the intersection point P2 and the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21. Further, when viewed from the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21, the extending axis L1 of the first supporting member 25 and the extending axis L2 of the second supporting member 26 intersect each other. . Specifically, the strap member 26d of the second support member 26 is a force generated when the superconducting coil body 21 attempts to rotate in the clockwise rotation direction R2 about the central axis C in FIGS. Is provided to receive.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21, the extending axis L1 of the first supporting member 25 and the extending axis L2 of the second supporting member 26 Are crossing each other. Specifically, the strap member 25d of the first support member 25 and the strap member 26d of the second support member 26 are superconductive in directions opposite to each other in the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconductive coil body 21. The coil body 21 is provided to be pulled and supported.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion where the first support member 25 shown in FIG. 3 is connected to the vacuum vessel 22, the yoke 24, and the seal portion 29. As shown in FIG. 7, a spiral thread groove is provided on the distal end side of the through rod portion 25 b of the first support member 25. The through-rod portion 25b is fixed to the outside of the yoke 24 by a nut 25g having an inner peripheral surface having a shape corresponding to the thread groove. The length of the first support member 25 can be adjusted by rotating the nut 25g. That is, the thread groove and the nut 25g provided on the distal end side of the penetrating bar portion 25b constitute an adjusting means (first adjusting means) for adjusting the length of the first support member 25.

  Specifically, when the nut 25g is rotated in one direction, the penetrating bar portion 25b is moved in the outer direction of the yoke 24. Thereby, the tension | tensile_strength with respect to the strap member 25d can be enlarged, and the force which pulls the superconducting coil body 21 can be increased. Further, when the nut 25g is rotated in the other direction, the through rod portion 25b is moved to the inside of the yoke 24. Thereby, the tension | tensile_strength with respect to the strap member 25d can be made small, and the force pulling the superconducting coil body 21 can be decreased.

  Similarly to the first support member 25, the second support member 26 is also provided with a spiral thread groove on the distal end side of the penetrating bar portion 26b, and together with a nut (not shown) of the second support member 26. An adjusting means (second adjusting means) for adjusting the length is configured.

  In the cyclotron 2 according to the first embodiment described above, the first support member 25 is provided so that the extending axis L1 intersects the first plane D1, and the second plane D2 is provided. The second supporting member 26 is provided so that the extending axis L2 intersects, and the extending axis L1 of the first supporting member 25 and the extending axis L2 of the second supporting member 26 are superconducting coil bodies. 21 crossing each other when viewed from the extending direction of the central axis C of 21. Therefore, according to the cyclotron 2, the first support member 25 and the second support member 26 allow the first support member 25 and the second support member 26 to compare with the case where only the support member extending in the direction orthogonal to the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21 is provided. Since a larger restoring force can be obtained with respect to the rotation (movement) of the superconducting coil body 21 in the circumferential direction (rotation direction), it is possible to effectively suppress the displacement of the superconducting coil body 21 in the circumferential direction. it can.

  In the cyclotron 2, the extension axis L 1 of the first support member 25 and the extension axis L 2 of the second support member 26 intersect with each other when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21. Therefore, the stress in the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21 can be appropriately received by the first support member 25 and the second support member 26. Therefore, according to the cyclotron 2, it is possible to effectively suppress the positional deviation in the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21.

  In the cyclotron 2, the first support member 25 and the second support member 26 are provided so as to intersect with each other, so that the length of the support member required to withstand vibration during transportation and thermal contraction of the coil is reduced. Space can be secured, and space saving in the vacuum vessel 22 can be achieved. This is advantageous for downsizing the cyclotron 2.

  Further, in the cyclotron 2, the first support member 25 and the second support member 26 are provided so as to intersect each other even when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21, so that during transport The length of the support member necessary to withstand the vibration of the coil and the heat shrinkage of the coil can be ensured in a smaller space, which is advantageous for space saving in the vacuum vessel 22 and size reduction of the cyclotron 2.

  Further, according to the cyclotron 2, the first supporting member 25 and the second supporting member 26 can appropriately receive the circumferential stress along the outer peripheral side surface of the superconducting coil body 21, so that the superconducting coil The position shift in the circumferential direction of the body 21 can be effectively suppressed. In addition, it is advantageous for thinning the cyclotron.

  Further, according to the cyclotron 2, the position of the superconducting coil body 21 is adjusted by adjusting the lengths of the first support member 25 and the second support member 26 by the first adjusting means and the second adjusting means. Adjustment can be performed easily.

  Further, when the strap members 25d and 26d are made of FRP having negative expansibility such as the above-described polyethylene fiber FRP (Dyneema [registered trademark]), the following effects can be further obtained. That is, according to the cyclotron 2, when the temperature is raised, the superconducting coil body 21 expands, while the strap members 25d and 26d having negative expandability contract, so that the superconducting coil body 21 becomes the first support member. 25 and the second support member 26 are supported with appropriate tension. On the other hand, according to the cyclotron 2, the superconducting coil body 21 contracts during cooling, while the strap members 25d and 26d expand, so that the superconducting coil body 21 is made of the first support member 25 and the second support member 25. The support member 26 is supported at an appropriate tension. Therefore, according to the cyclotron 2, it is possible to realize appropriate support of the superconducting coil body 21 according to the thermal contraction of the superconducting coil body 21.

  Moreover, since the charged particle beam therapy apparatus 1 includes the above-described cyclotron 2 that can effectively suppress the displacement of the superconducting coil body 21, the superconducting coil body is used in installation work after the cyclotron 2 is transported. It is possible to reduce the labor and time for adjusting the position 21 and improve the maintainability of the charged particle beam therapy system 1.

  In the charged particle beam therapy system 1, as described above, even if the gantry 3 rotates or swings during operation and vibrations occur in the cyclotron 2 attached to the gantry 3 intermittently, the superconducting coil body 21 is used. Therefore, the reliability of the apparatus can be improved.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the cyclotron 30 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the cyclotron 30, the first support member 31 and the second support member 32 have the main body when viewed from either the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21 or the direction orthogonal to the central axis C. Are different from the cyclotron 2 in that they do not cross each other. That is, the first support member 31 and the second support member 32 do not overlap each other when viewed from either the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21 or the direction perpendicular to the central axis C. .

  Each part of the first support member 31 of the cyclotron 30 (a first hook part 31a, a penetrating bar part 31b, a second hook part 31c, a strap member 31d, a shaft part 31e, and a shaft part 31f) and a second part. The function of each part of the support member 32 (the first latching part 32a, the penetrating bar part 32b, the second latching part 32c, the strap member 32d, the shaft part 32e, and the shaft part 32f) is the first embodiment. The function of each part of the first support member 25 and the second support member 26 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10, the first support member 31 is such that the extending axis L21 of the first support member 31 (strap member 31d) intersects the plane (first plane) D21 at an intersection P21. Is provided. Here, the intersection point P21 is an intersection point on the first support member 31 side among one or more intersection points where the extending axis L21 and the surface of the superconducting coil body 21 (the surface of the side surface support portion 28d) intersect. The plane (first plane) D21 is a plane including the intersection P21 and the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21. Specifically, the strap member 31d of the first support member 31 is formed when the superconducting coil body 21 attempts to rotate in the counterclockwise rotation direction R1 about the central axis C in the illustration of FIGS. It is provided to receive the force generated in the.

  On the other hand, the second support member 32 is provided such that the extending axis L22 of the second support member 32 (strap member 32d) intersects the plane (second plane) D22 at the intersection P22. Yes. Here, the intersection P22 is an intersection on the second support member 32 side among one or more intersections where the extended axis L22 and the surface of the superconducting coil body 21 (the surface of the side support portion 28d) intersect. The plane (second plane) D22 is a plane including the intersection point P22 and the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21. Further, when viewed from the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21, the extending axis L21 of the first supporting member 32 and the extending axis L22 of the second supporting member 32 intersect each other. . Specifically, the strap member 32d of the second support member 32 is formed when the superconducting coil body 21 attempts to rotate in the clockwise rotation direction R2 around the central axis C in the illustration of FIGS. It is provided to receive the force generated in the.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21, the extending axis L21 of the first supporting member 31 and the extending axis L22 of the second supporting member 32 Are crossing each other. Specifically, the strap member 31d of the first support member 31 and the strap member 32d of the second support member 32 are superconductive in directions opposite to each other in the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconductive coil body 21. The coil body 21 is provided to be pulled and supported.

  As described above, in the cyclotron 30, like the cyclotron 2, the first support member 31 is provided so that the extended axis L 21 intersects the first plane D 21, and the second plane D 22. The second support member 32 is provided so that the extending axis L22 intersects with the second support member 32. The extending axis L21 of the first support member 31 and the extending axis L22 of the second support member 32 intersect with each other when viewed from the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21. Therefore, the cyclotron 30 also has a first support member 31 and a second support member 32 that are more superfluous than a case where only the support member extending in the direction orthogonal to the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21 is provided. The stress in the circumferential direction (rotational direction) of the conductive coil body 21 can be appropriately received.

  Further, in this cyclotron 30, as with the cyclotron 2, the extending axis L 21 of the first support member 31 and the extending axis L 22 of the second support member 32 are orthogonal to the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21. Since they cross each other when viewed from the direction, the first support member 31 and the second support member 32 have a greater restoring force against rotation (movement) in the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21. Can be obtained. Therefore, according to the cyclotron 2, it is possible to effectively suppress the positional deviation in the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 21.

[Third Embodiment]
Subsequently, a cyclotron 40 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the cyclotron 40, the first support member 41 and the second support member 42, and the first support member 43 and the second support member 44 are arranged at intervals of 90 degrees around the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 45. This is mainly different from the cyclotron 2 according to the first embodiment. Here, the first support member 41 and the second support member 42 are members that support the superconducting coil body 45 from the superconducting coil 27A side in the extending direction of the central axis C. On the other hand, the first support member 43 and the second support member 44 are members that support the superconducting coil body 45 from the superconducting coil 27B side in the extending direction of the central axis C. Hereinafter, the superconducting coil 27A side in the extending direction of the central axis C is referred to as the upper side, and the superconducting coil 27B side in the extending direction of the central axis C is described as the lower side.

  Each part of the first support members 41 and 43 of the cyclotron 40 (first hooking parts 41a and 43a, penetrating parts 41b and 43b, second hooking parts 41c and 43c, strap members 41d and 43d, shaft parts) 41e, 43e, shaft portions 41f, 43f) and second support members 42, 44 (first hook portions 42a, 44a, through portions 42b, 44b, second hook portions 42c, 44c, straps) The functions of the members 42d and 44d, the shaft portions 42e and 44e, and the shaft portions 42f and 44f) are the same as the functions of the respective portions of the first support member 25 and the second support member 26 of the cyclotron 2; The detailed explanation is omitted.

  The superconducting coil body 45 is provided on the upper side of the superconducting coils 27A and 27B, the inter-coil support part 28c, and the superconducting coil 27A, and fixes the first support member 41 and the second support member 42. 45a, a lower flange 45b that is provided below the superconducting coil 27B and fixes the first support member 43 and the second support member 44, and outer peripheral side surfaces of the superconducting coils 27A and 27B and the inter-coil support portion 28c. And a side support 45c that covers the surface.

  The upper flange 45a and the lower flange 45b have a shape protruding outward in the radial direction of the superconducting coil body 45 from the outer peripheral surface formed by the side surface support portion 45c.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the first support member 41 is configured such that the extending axis L31 of the first support member 41 (strap member 41d) intersects the plane (first plane) D31 at the intersection P31. Is provided. Here, the intersection P31 is an intersection on the first support member 41 side among one or more intersections where the extended axis L31 and the surface of the superconducting coil body 45 (the surface of the upper flange 45a) intersect. The plane (first plane) D31 is a plane including the intersection point P31 and the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 45. Specifically, the strap member 41d of the first support member 41 is a force generated when the superconducting coil body 45 attempts to rotate in the clockwise rotation direction R2 about the central axis C in the illustration of FIG. Is provided to receive.

  On the other hand, the second support member 42 is provided such that the extending axis L32 of the second support member 42 (strap member 42d) intersects the plane (second plane) D32 at the intersection P32. . Here, the intersection P32 is an intersection on the second support member 42 side among one or more intersections where the extending axis L32 and the surface of the superconducting coil body 45 (the surface of the upper flange 45a) intersect. The plane (second plane) D32 is a plane including the intersection point P32 and the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 45. Further, when viewed from the extending direction of the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 45, the extending axis L31 of the first support member 41 and the extending axis L32 of the second support member 42 intersect each other. . Specifically, the strap member 42d of the second support member 42 is a force generated when the superconducting coil body 45 attempts to rotate in the counterclockwise rotation direction R1 about the central axis C in the illustration of FIG. Is provided to receive.

  Similarly to the first support member 41 and the second support member 42, the first support member 43 and the second support member 44 on the lower flange 45b side have the superconducting coil body 45 in the rotation direction R1 and the rotation direction R1, respectively. It is provided so as to receive a stress to rotate in the rotation direction R2.

  Therefore, the cyclotron 40 also includes only a support member that extends in a direction perpendicular to the central axis C of the superconducting coil body 45, similarly to the cyclotrons 2 and 30 according to the first and second embodiments. In comparison, a greater restoring force can be obtained with respect to rotation (movement) in the circumferential direction (rotation direction) of the superconducting coil body 45 by the first support members 41 and 43 and the second support members 42 and 44.

  In the cyclotron 40, the first support member 41 and the second support member 42 on the upper flange 45a side pull and support the superconducting coil body 45, while the first support member on the lower flange 45b side. 43 and the second support member 44 pull the superconducting coil body 45 downward to support it. Therefore, according to the cyclotron 40, the vertical displacement of the superconducting coil body 45 can be suppressed by the pair of support members disposed above and below the superconducting coil body 45, respectively.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, the number of superconducting coils is not necessarily two, and may be one or three or more. Furthermore, the shapes and configurations of the vacuum vessel and the yoke are examples, and are not limited to the above-described embodiments.

  Further, the first support member and the second support member do not necessarily need to have an annular strap member, and may have a string-like member or a rigid rod-like member. In addition to the first support member and the second support member, a support member that extends in parallel to the central axis C without crossing the other members and a support member that extends in a direction perpendicular to the central axis C are provided. Also good.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the structure which arrange | positions a 1st supporting member and a 2nd supporting member at 90 degree intervals around the central axis C of a superconducting coil body was shown, a 1st supporting member and a 2nd supporting member were shown. The interval at which the support members are arranged is not limited to this. Similarly, the number of first support members and second support members that support the superconducting coil body is not limited to the number shown in the above embodiment. Further, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the configurations shown in the first to third embodiments are combined. For example, the support members 25 and 26 according to the first embodiment and the support members 41 to 44 according to the third embodiment are combined to support the superconducting coil body from both the central axis direction and the radial direction. It is good. In this case, the yoke, the vacuum vessel, and the superconducting coil body are shaped according to the configuration, location, number, etc. of the support member provided in the vacuum vessel.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Charged particle beam therapy apparatus 2,30,40 ... Cyclotron 3 ... Gantry (base) 21,45 ... Superconducting coil body 22,46 ... Vacuum container 25,31,41,43 ... 1st support member 25d, 26d , 31d, 32d, 41d, 42d, 43d, 44d ... strap member 25g ... nut (first adjusting means) 26, 32, 42, 44 ... second support member 27A, 27B ... superconducting coil C ... central axis D1 , D21, D31 ... first plane D2, D22, D32 ... second plane L1, L21, L31, L33 ... extension axis of the first support member L2, L22, L32, L34 ... second support member Extension axis P1, P2, P21, P22, P31, P32 ... Intersection

Claims (9)

A cyclotron comprising a superconducting coil body disposed in a vacuum vessel,
A first support member and a second support member fixed to the vacuum vessel, extending toward the superconducting coil body, and supporting the superconducting coil body;
The first support member includes an intersection on the first support member side of a point where an extension axis of the first support member intersects with a surface of the superconducting coil body, and a center of the superconducting coil body. An extension axis is provided to intersect the first plane including the axis,
The second support member includes an intersection on the second support member side of a point where an extension axis of the second support member intersects with a surface of the superconducting coil body, and a center of the superconducting coil body. And the second axis including the axis is provided so that the extension axis intersects,
A cyclotron in which the extension axis of the first support member and the extension axis of the second support member intersect each other when viewed from the extending direction of the central axis of the superconducting coil body.   2. The extension axis of the first support member and the extension axis of the second support member intersect each other when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the central axis of the superconducting coil body. Cyclotron. The said 1st supporting member and said 2nd supporting member are provided so that it may mutually cross | intersect seeing from the extension direction of the center axis line of the said superconducting coil body . cyclotron.   The first support member and the second support member are provided so as to intersect each other when viewed from a direction orthogonal to a central axis of the superconducting coil body. The cyclotron according to one item.   The cyclotron according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first support member and the second support member are attached to an outer peripheral side surface of the superconducting coil body.   The first adjusting means for adjusting the length of the first support member, and the second adjusting means for adjusting the length of the second support member, further comprising: The cyclotron according to one item.   The cyclotron according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each of the first support member and the second support member includes a strap member made of a material that expands by cooling. A cyclotron according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A charged particle beam therapy apparatus for irradiating an object to be irradiated with a charged particle beam generated by the cyclotron. A rotating or swinging base provided around the irradiated body;
The charged particle beam therapy system according to claim 8, wherein the cyclotron is attached to the gantry.

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