Neutron source for neutron capture therapy

摘要

A therapy apparatus for producing thermal neutrons at a tumor site in a patient has a plurality of fast neutron sources surrounding a moderator, a fast neutron reflecting media around the fast neutron sources, a gamma-ray and neutron shielding media surrounding the fast neutron reflecting media, and a patient chamber positioned inside the moderator. The fast neutron sources are positioned around the moderator to maximize and direct the neutron flux to said tumor site.

主权项

1. A neutron-capture therapy apparatus comprising:
a cylindrical moderator structure composed primarily of a moderator material, having a length, an outside diameter, a cylindrical outer surface, an inside diameter, and a cylindrical inner surface, the inside diameter and length defining a treatment zone; a plurality of fusion neutron generators arranged in an array surrounding the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical moderator structure, each fusion neutron generator comprising an ion source emitting ions toward target material positioned at the cylindrical outside surface of the cylindrical moderator structure, the ions accelerated toward the target material by a DC voltage imposed between the target material and the ion source, impingement of the ions at the target material producing fast neutrons by a fusion reaction in the target material; and a cylindrical fast neutron reflector surrounding the cylindrical moderator structure and the fusion neutron generators; wherein fast neutrons are emitted isotropically from the target material at a plurality of different positions around the cylindrical outer surface of the moderator structure as a result of ion bombardment, neutrons emitted in a direction toward the cylindrical fast neutron reflector are reflected back into the cylindrical moderator structure, and moderated epithermal neutrons enter the treatment zone across the entire cylindrical inner surface of the moderator structure.