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Cyclotrons
Synchrotrons
Synchrotrons
A cyclotron accelerates ions using a large circular electromagnet and oscillating voltage. Ions are injected into the magnet's center, traveling in a curved path that grows larger as they gain energy from the voltage, spiraling outward. Once ions reach the desired energy level, they orbit the magnet's outer edge and are extracted for treatment.
The energy level determines the ion's penetration depth: higher energy reaches deeper treatment sites, while lower energy targets surface-level sites. For lower-energy treatments, ion beams pass through an energy degrader, which reduces the beam’s energy.
However, energy degraders pose challenges. They produce secondary scatter radiation, requiring thick and expensive shielding walls—up to 15 feet—to protect against exposure. Additionally, passing beams through the degrader can degrade beam quality, potentially reducing treatment precision and increasing system costs.
Synchrotrons
Synchrotrons
Synchrotrons
Unlike cyclotrons, which rely on a constant oscillation frequency and magnetic field strength, synchrotrons synchronously ramp both parameters to match the desired energy level. This dynamic approach allows ions to be efficiently accelerated and extracted for treatment without the need for an energy degrader, eliminating many of the challenges associated with cyclotrons.
One key advantage of the synchrotron is its ability to scale beam energy up to the required dosing level, rather than scaling down from a fixed maximum energy as cyclotrons do. This not only improves energy efficiency but also reduces operational costs. Additionally, synchrotrons produce significantly lower levels of secondary neutrons and scatter radiation, minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure for patients and facilities.
Synchrotrons also reduce infrastructure costs by eliminating the need for thick shielding walls, which are often required to manage scatter radiation from cyclotrons. Combined with easier system installation and lower long-term maintenance expenses, these benefits position the synchrotron as the most cost-effective and clinically advanced option for proton therapy.