| abstract |
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for directing a positively charged particle beam to a tumor of a patient, comprising the steps of: (1) transporting the positively charged particle beam sequentially from a synchrotron, through a beam transport line, and through a nozzle system toward the tumor, the beam transport line comprising a rotatable beamline section; (2) pre-rotating the positively charged particle beam using a solenoid, the solenoid positioned in the beam transport line between the synchrotron and the rotatable beamline section; and (3) rotating the rotatable beamline section, where the step of pre-rotating maintains a geometric relationship between a radial cross-section of the positively charged particle beam and magnet surfaces in the rotatable beamline section as a function of rotation of the rotatable beamline section, which reduces otherwise changed dispersive forces as the rotatable beamline is positioned in separate areas about the patient. |