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At HIMAC, a broad beam method is applied to uniformly
irradiate cancers. However, it is generally difficult to treat lung and liver
cancers, because they move with respiration. To overcome this difficulty, a
gated irradiation method has been developed and applied in practical treatments.
The accelerated beam is irradiated according to a signal gated with respiration
to minimize irradiation of normal tissue. Although this method succeeds in
reducing damage to normal tissue around the tumor, a finite irradiation margin
is required. To irradiate tumors more accurately, we will further develop a
three-dimensional spot-scanning irradiation-method and establish a next-generation
irradiation system for heavy-ion cancer therapy. With the new irradiation system
we will be able to treat cancers that we cannot treat with our present system.
HIMAC has four fixed irradiation ports: two horizontal
and two vertical. The patient's bed has to be rotated depending on the treatment
plan. Since the
rotation angle is limited, it is desirable to irradiate from various angles.
We will develop a design study for a rotating gantry for carbon therapy as
well as required irradiation techniques. With the rotating gantry, carbon
beams can be delivered to patients at any desired angle without rotating the
patient's
bed. It also helps reduce the time positioning the patient as well as the
patient's physical load.
To establish the above next-generation irradiation system,
it is necessary to quickly diagnose the precise position and shape of the cancer
in three-dimensional
space. Thus, we will also develop high-precision diagnostic methods and
a fast treatment planning device.