# Superconducting scanner magnet for much lower cost, compact proton therapy systems

> **NIH NIH R43** · SOLID MATERIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC · 2022 · $359,464

## Abstract

Solid Material Solutions, LLC (SMS) SBIR Phase 1 ABSTRACT NIH FOA PA-21-259
 Proposal Title: Superconducting scanner magnet for much lower cost compact proton therapy systems
 Proton Therapy (PT) is a proven, superior technique for treating cancer tumors compared to conventional X-
ray therapy that can cause excessive healthy tissue damage. Yet it is available to less than 4% of the patients that
would benefit from it, because for widespread usage, compact, much lower cost PT systems are required with much
smaller magnets using High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) that generate higher fields at affordable operating
conditions than current copper and Low Temperature Superconductor (LTS) magnets. Although PT system
manufacturers have been developing more compact, lower cost PT systems, none have yet attained the combination of
adequately low cost and reduced size to fit into much smaller treatment rooms, and full capabilities of the larger and
costlier systems. It is specifically a key requirement for the PT system to fit into the small, low-cost treatment rooms
that are already well established for low-cost X-Ray treatment.
 An essential component for the development of this ultra-compact, low-cost PT system is a much shorter HTS
scanner magnet. This program will now develop a sufficiently short scanner magnet that recently became attainable
due to breakthrough advances with the HTS-2212 material at Solid Material Solutions on wires, cables and coils for
fast-ramp usage where inductive losses require advanced, low-loss conductor of the type required for this application.
 The specific product objective is a 4-coil scanner magnet that is one third the length of present magnets. It will
include conduction cooling pathways, a cryo-envelope, current leads and control sensors. It will be readily plugged
into the ultra-low-cost PT system and deliver the same performance as present magnets while also consuming 1/10th
the electrical power.
 The Phase 1 program is aimed at establishing a specific 2212-based cable design and validating its production,
along with design and fabrication of a low-loss demonstration coil with required radial build, current (Ic), and current
density (Je) at the affordable cooling temperature regime of > 20K. This will be achieved by 1) Establishing specific
wire and cable designs along with validation of their fabricability and properties 2) Developing specific capability to
wind these cables into racetrack coil modules of the target radial build, overall shorter dimensions and with the
required current and current densities to attain 2T at temperatures of 20 K or greater, and 3) Developing capability to
fabricate coils of the target axial length from the racetrack modules, along with mechanical fixtures, current leads and
voltage taps, followed by validation of its capability to generate the target 2 T at > 20 K in the dipole coil gap where
the proton beam would be deflected.
 These developments will provide basis and justifi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10546708
- **Project number:** 1R43EB033718-01
- **Recipient organization:** SOLID MATERIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Alexander Otto
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $359,464
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-22 → 2023-09-21

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10546708

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10546708, Superconducting scanner magnet for much lower cost, compact proton therapy systems (1R43EB033718-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10546708. Licensed CC0.

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