目的:臺灣科技及醫學專家於一九九六年完成了「質子加速器醫學及科學應用設備」的可行性評估,本文屬本計畫中參訪美、日最新質子加速器設備的部份,經整理後刊出以供參考。說明:高能(70-300 MeV)質子應用在局部性癌腫瘤及腦部血管畸形症是廿世紀集合物理、生物、工程應用於醫學的一大成就。在過去,質子治療是直接利用高能加速器在實驗室作治療,其結果已普受醫學界之肯定。近年來的發展是把加速器全套治療設備建造在醫院內,新的工程可含旋轉型質子源焦架,使質子治療的立體劑量分配達到最高境界。本文以今日美、日最新穎的設備介紹各種加速器種類及相關設備。結論:質子治療設備中加速器大致可分為線型、迴旋型及同步環型三種,其中以迴旋型及同步環型為選擇對象，但仍各有利弊。除加速器本身之外，尚有質子射束傳輸系統、射束傳送系統、及病患定位系統均屬治療設備重要部份。此外,治療計畫系統、品質管制及輻射防護的建立都是不可或缺的治療措施。

　　　　　 Purpose: A task force consisting of scientists, accelerator engineers andradiation oncologists in Taiwan has completed a feasibility study to establish aproton accelerator facility for medical and scientific applications; this report isan excerpt of the accelerator (and related beam hardwares) part of the study. Theinformation is mostly derived from site visits to several modem facilities in theUnited States and Japan.Description: The use of accelerating proton beams to effectively control solid tumorsand arteriovenous malformations is one of the major breakthroughs that combinephysics, biology and engineering for medicine in the twentieth century. In the past,the clinical outcomes of proton therapy by use of proton beams at physics laboratorieshave already been recognized by the medical community. More recent advances includingthe building of accelerator facility within a hospital and the development ofisocentric beam delivery, gantry permit the 3D physical dose distribution to reachits ever optimum status.Conclusions: The accelerator of a proton therapy facility can be selected from alinear accelerator, a cyclotron, or a synchrotron. The latter two kinds ofaccelerators are the current choices for hospital use and each has its own advantagesand disadvantages. In addition to an accelerator, beam extraction and transportsystem, beam delivery system, and patient positioning system are all integral partsof the facility. Further, treatment planning system, quality control and radiationsafety measures are essential for the operation.