Design and implementation of a novel integrated timing and fast protection system for in-hospital AB-BNCT

Accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (AB-BNCT) necessitates highly reliable timing and rapid protection systems with minimal latency to ensure safe and synchronized operation. Conventional clinical accelerator control architectures; however, are often characterized by fragmented subsystems, excessive signal delays, and insufficient integration of timing, protection, and device control functions. To address these challenges, we introduce a unified hardware architecture specifically designed for AB-BNCT. This system integrates device control, timing, and fast protection into a single standardized platform using a custom reverse backplane that provides direct, low-latency data paths. Such a centralized design eliminates redundant interconnections, reduces end-to-end propagation delay, and enhances real-time responsiveness. Precise measurements indicate that the core protection logic responds in under 500 ns, excluding interlock-communication latency, thereby establishing a new benchmark for medical accelerator safety systems. Additionally, an intelligent beam-operation and shutdown mechanism is complemented to dynamically optimize beam delivery while ensuring fail-safe termination under fault conditions. This work offers three key contributions: First, it introduces the first integrated hardware platform tailored for AB-BNCT; second, it demonstrates record-low protection latency validated by metrology-grade testing; and last, it presents a safety-aware beam-control strategy that integrates real-time protection with clinical workflow stability. The proposed architecture significantly enhances the reliability, efficiency, and clinical feasibility of next-generation AB-BNCT facilities.