INSTRUMENTATION FOR TREATMENT OF CANCER USING PROTON AND LIGHT-ION BEAMS

Clinical trials using accelerated heavy charged-particle beams for tre ating cancer and other diseases have been performed for nearly four de cades. Recently there have been worldwide efforts to construct hospita l-based medically dedicated proton or light-ion accelerator facilities . To make such accelerated heavy charged-particle beams clinically use ful, specialized instruments must be developed to modify the physical characteristics of the particle beams in order to optimize their biolo gical and clinical effects. This article reviews the beam modifying de vices and associated dosimetric equipment developed specifically for c ontrolling and monitoring the clinical beams.