Particle radiation therapy equipment

1. Particle radiation therapy equipment arranged to apply a charged particle beam, in a predetermined direction, to a region of application, said radiation therapy equipment comprising:

a charged particle beam source arranged to direct a charged particle beam in the predetermined direction; and

magnetic field generation means for generating a magnetic field in an imaging volume which includes the region of application, at the same time that the charged particle beam is applied; wherein,

the magnetic field generation means is arranged to provide access to the region of application, and to provide a homogeneous magnetic field in the region of application, said magnetic field being directed substantially in the predetermined direction;

the magnetic field generation means comprises magnetic coils, each comprising windings of electrically conductive material;

the magnetic coils are arranged symmetrically about a midplane (XY) and about a plane of reflection (YZ) that is perpendicular to the midplane (XY), such that the magnetic coils have a further plane of symmetry (XZ), which is perpendicular to both the midplane (XY) and the plane of reflection (YZ);

each of the coils is wound around an axis that is perpendicular to the midplane (XY); and

the windings are configured such that, in operation, current flow is symmetrical about the plane of reflection (YZ) and anti-symmetrical about the midplane (XY), to produce a resultant field at the center of the magnetic field generation means which is perpendicular to the plane of reflection (YZ), parallel to the midplane (XY), and directed substantially in the predetermined direction.

2. The particle radiation therapy equipment according to claim 1 , wherein:

the magnetic coils are arranged in a group of four sets of coils; and

the sets of coils are arranged symmetrically about the midplane (XY) and the plane of reflection (YZ), such that the magnetic coils are symmetrical about the further plane of symmetry (XZ).

3. The particle radiation therapy equipment according to claim 1 , where the magnetic coils comprise D coils.

4. The particle radiation therapy equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic coils comprise banana coils.

5. The particle radiation therapy equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic coils comprise sub-coils.

6. The particle radiation therapy equipment according to claim 5 , wherein the sub-coils are provided in one of a nested arrangement and an overlapping arrangement.

7. The particle radiation therapy equipment according claim 1 , wherein the coils are non-planar.

8. The particle radiation therapy equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generation means is adapted for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system.

9. The particle radiation therapy equipment according to claim 1 , further comprising a cryostat unit and a gradient magnet assembly, wherein:

the magnetic field generation means is situated within the cryostat that provides an operating temperature at which superconductivity is possible; and

the gradient magnet assembly is operable to provide magnetic fields across predetermined planes, thereby enabling magnetic resonance imaging.