Construction status of heavy-ion radiotherapy facility at Gunma University (2)

A carbon-ion radiotherapy facility is currently being constructed at Gunma University. This facility consists of a compact ECR ion source, two types of linacs i.e., an RFQ and an IH-DTL, a synchrotron having a circumference of 63 m, high-energy beam transport lines and three treatment rooms with four irradiation ports. An R and D room is also being constructed to develop new irradiation methods. Carbon beams having energies of up to 400 MeV/n can be generated. They have a corresponding residual range of 25 cm in water, which is sufficiently large to reach deep-seated tumors in the human body. A beam intensity of approximately 1 x 109 pps is required to provide a dose rate of 5 GyE/min. This facility is designed to treat more than 660 patients per year. Construction of the building was completed in March, 2008. Installation and assembly of the apparatus will commence in the summer of 2008. After the machine has been commissioned, the first irradiation for patient treatment is scheduled to be performed in FY2009. (author)