One of the main objectives of the NIMMS study is to reduce the size of particle therapy facilities. Often the most limiting component in this regard is the accelerator structure. With development of compact synchrotrons, the overall footprint of the entire facility can be significantly reduced.

HeLICS

HeLICS, Helium Light-Ion Compact Synchrotron, is a synchrotron optimised to accelerate helium ions up to energies required for cancer treatment. The use of helium ions began for experiments in the 1970s at Berkeley, but was later discontinued. Recently however, there's been renewed interest in Europe, with a first patient treated using helium ions in September 2021 at the Heidelberg Therapy Center. Specialised helium accelerators, whilst primarily designed for helium treatments, can also accelerate protons for standard treatments. The helium ions used in these treatments are 4He2+, having an charge-to-mass ratio (q/m) of ½.

 

 

 

 

Superconducting Carbon Synchrotron

 

The Superconducting Carbon synchrotron is a specialized machine, designed to accelerate relatively heavy carbon ions to high energy levels, required for cancer treatment. To achieve this while maintaining a compact size, the use of superconducting magnets is utilized.

Carbon, as C6+ ion, has a charge-to-mass ratio (q/m) of ½. In comparison to photons or protons, carbon ions have a greater effectiveness at delivering concentrated energy to cancerous cells. This equivalates to less damage to healthy surrounding tissue. Furthermore, carbon ions have the ability to create both single-strand breaks (SSB) and double-strand breaks (DSB) in DNA. These breaks are crucial for effective cancer treatment.

This being said, carbon ion therapy facilities have several disadvantages, such as their large size, and substantial equipment required. Currently, there exists very few heavy ion therapy facilities, with only 14 such facilities existing worldwide.