Applying a particle beam to a patient

1. An apparatus for holding a device comprising an aperture and a range compensation structure, the aperture and the range compensation structure defining a first retention feature and a second retention feature, the apparatus comprising:

a yoke comprising a first end and a second end, the yoke being configured to hold the device; and

a catch arm pivotally secured to the first end of the yoke, the catch arm comprising a locking feature, the locking feature and the second end of the yoke interfacing, respectively, to the first retention feature and the second retention feature, the locking feature being configured to interface to the first retention feature and the second end of the yoke being configured to interface to the second retention feature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the yoke defines a groove configured to receive a rim contained on the device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the yoke comprises a pivot feature comprising a rounded protrusion and the first retention feature comprises a notch on at least one of the aperture and the range compensation structure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the locking feature comprises a hook and the second retention feature comprises a notch on at least one of the aperture and the range compensation structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a catch arm locking feature defined by the yoke to inhibit rotation of the catch arm, the catch arm locking feature for engaging a catch arm lock of the device, the catch arm lock comprising a latch plate that is positionable to engage the catch arm locking feature.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the catch arm locking feature is configured to spring bias the latch plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator switch to detect locked and unlocked positions of the catch arm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one spring biased plunger on the yoke and configured to urge the device against the locking feature.

9. A method of loading a device onto a device holder, the method comprising:

positioning a first retention feature defined by the device so as to be received by a pivot feature defined by a yoke of the device holder;

moving the device over the pivot feature and into the device holder; and

securing a second retention feature defined by the device with a locking feature defined by a catch arm pivotally secured to the yoke.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising aligning a rim defined by the device with a groove defined by the yoke.

11. A proton applicator mount comprising:

a base;

a plurality of rollers associated with the base and configured to support a proton applicator;

at least one alignment block associated with the base and configured to receive a corresponding alignment post of a proton applicator; and

a locking clamp associated with the base, the locking clamp comprising:

a clamp bar;

a handle attached to the clamp bar;

a rotatable shaft carried by the base; and

first and second hinges secured to the clamp bar and to the rotatable shaft, each hinge comprising:

a hinge block defining a cam aperture and a cam path slot;

a cam secured to the rotatable shaft and rotatably carried in the cam aperture of the hinge block; and

a cam path protrusion on the base and configured to be received by the cam path slot, the cam aperture and the cam path slot guiding rotational and radial movement of the hinge block about the rotatable shaft.

12. The proton applicator mount of claim 11 , wherein the cam defines a limit feature configured to be received by a corresponding cam aperture limit feature defined by the hinge block to limit rotation of the cam.

13. The proton applicator mount of claim 11 , wherein the clamp bar comprises at least one alignment block configured to receive a corresponding alignment post of the proton applicator.

14. The proton applicator mount of claim 11 , further comprising a dovetail feature on the base and configured to align the proton applicator.

15. The proton applicator mount of claim 11 , wherein the alignment block defines a substantially V-shaped groove.

16. The proton applicator mount of claim 11 , wherein the alignment block defines a substantially conical receptacle.

17. The proton applicator mount of claim 11 , wherein the handle comprises a latch configured to be received by a latch receiver disposed on the base.

18. The proton applicator mount of claim 11 , wherein each cam of the first and second hinges is spring biased.

19. A transport cart for a proton applicator, comprising:

a cart body;

a plurality of rollers disposed on an upper portion of the cart body and configured to support a proton applicator;

at least one docking interlock comprising a docking protrusion extending outwardly from the cart body and configured to be received by a docking plate disposed on a docking target;

a docking cam pivotally attached to the docking protrusion and configured to engage the docking plate to retain the transport cart against the docking target; and

at least one applicator interlock comprising a locking cam pivotally attached to the upper portion of the cart body and spring biased to a locking position, the locking cam being configured to retain a proton applicator.

20. A method of loading a proton applicator onto a radiation beam delivery system, the method comprising:

docking a transport cart carrying the proton applicator against the radiation beam delivery system, at least one docking interlock of the transport cart engaging and retaining the transport cart against the radiation beam delivery system, the at least one docking interlock comprising:

a docking protrusion extending outwardly from a cart body of the transport cart and configured to be received by a docking plate disposed on the radiation beam delivery system; and

a docking cam pivotally attached to the docking protrusion and configured to engage the docking plate to retain the transport cart against the radiation beam delivery system; and

moving the proton applicator over a plurality cart rollers supporting the proton applicator and disposed on the transport cart onto a plurality of mount rollers disposed on a proton applicator mount of the radiation beam delivery system.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising disengaging an applicator interlock disposed on the transport cart before moving the proton applicator, the applicator interlock comprising a locking cam pivotally attached to the transport cart and configured to retain the proton applicator.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising engaging a locking clamp disposed on a base of the proton applicator mount after receiving the proton applicator, the locking clamp comprising:

a clamp bar;

a handle attached to the clamp bar;

a rotatable shaft carried by the base; and

first and second hinges secured to the clamp bar and the rotatable shaft, each hinge comprising:

a hinge block defining a cam aperture and a cam path slot;

a cam secured to the rotatable shaft and rotatably carried in the cam aperture of a corresponding hinge block; and

a cam path protrusion disposed on the base and configured to be received by the cam path slot, the cam aperture and the cam path slot guiding rotational and radial movement of the hinge block about the rotatable shaft.