Design and Implementation of a Novel Integrated Timing and Fast Protection System for In-Hospital AB-BNCT

摘要: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an advanced targeted radiotherapy that exploits the high affinity of the 10B nucleus for capturing neutrons. This therapy involves the use of neutron beams in combination with boron compounds, which preferentially accumulate in cancer cells. Recent advancements in accelerator-based neutron sources have propelled accelerator-based BNCT (AB-BNCT) to the forefront as a highly promising modality. This is due to its significant advantages, including reduced capital investment, simplified operation, and ease of implementation in hospitals worldwide. In 2022, the first fully independent AB-BNCT facility in China, located at Dongguan People's Hospital, was successfully developed by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The timing and fast interlock systems are two essential components of an accelerator facility. Designing a reconciled control system that integrates a timing system and a fast protection system characterized by high performance, stability, and reliability for accelerators is essential. Consequently, a novel architecture, which is based on in-house hardware within a compact PCI platform, has been designed and adopted for timing systems and fast protection systems to meet the requirements of AB-BNCT accelerators. The timing and fast interlock systems have been intricately involved in and have successfully completed the full suite of equipment commissioning and beam-target experiments, meeting the requirements for precise treatment in-hospital AB-BNCT. This paper focuses on a comprehensive description of the integrated system architecture, detailing the hardware and software development, and the strategy underlying highly efficient interlocking functions. Additionally, the testing and operational status related to the system's implementation are validated for reliability, underscored the expanded applications in the field of cancer treatment.