Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop its FLASH Radiotherapy Accelerator.

Background:

Studies published in the past few years show that high radiation dose rates over short periods of time may improve cancer therapy.  Called “FLASH Radiotherapy” or “FLASH-RT”, the method causes less damage to healthy tissue than lower radiation doses given over a longer period of time.  This technique requires controlling not only the total dose, but also the dose rate.  LLNL researchers have developed the technology that can control the dose rate that is high enough to kill cancer cells, yet short enough to avoid damaging healthy cells.

Description:

LLNL’s approach is to use their patented Photoconductive Charge Trapping Apparatus (U.S. Patent No. 11,366,401) as the active switch needed to discharge voltage across a vacuum gap in a particle accelerator, like the one described in their other patent (U.S. Patent No. 7,710,051).  These active switches enable adjusting the beam current, final energy, and temporal behavior of the particle beam.  The pulsed source for such a system can use the capacitors as described in LLNL’s U.S. Patent No. 10,270,368. 

As the energy source for the FLASH-RT system, this technology promotes the use of a linear induction accelerator (LIA) utilizing the opticondistor (optical transconductance varistor) for ultrafast switching and control.  To achieve the required voltage for the accelerator cavities, the parallel charging series output switching configuration described in LLNL’s U.S. Patent No. 10,270,368 can be used.

Researchers at LLNL have shown the potential for LIAs to deliver effective, targeted doses of “FLASH” radiation to cancer patients. The new technique can selectively kill cancer cells with minimal damage to healthy cells.

Advantages/Benefits: 

• Less damage to healthy tissue à improved cancer therapy over conventional X-Ray therapy
• Applicable to Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
• Applicable to a compact linear accelerator

Potential Applications: 

FLASH Radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) in the field of Radiation Oncology

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development:  TRL 2 (Component and/or system concept formulated)

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's FLASH Radiotherapy Accelerator should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1.         Company Name and address.

2.         The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.

3.         A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention:   IL-13639 and IL-13640

Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's FLASH Radiotherapy Accelerator.