EMMA promises better cancer therapy

University of Oxford
Source: STFC

10 Jan 12

The EMMA particle accelerator. Photo: STFC

The first results from a new type of particle accelerator suggest how smaller, cheaper therapy machines, which could revolutionise cancer treatment, could be built.

The prototype accelerator EMMA (Electron Model for Many Applications), which was constructed at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory, was designed by an international team including Oxford University scientists.

Current accelerators – used in medicine in conventional radiation therapy and X-ray machines as well as industry and fundamental scientific research – are limited by their size, complexity and cost.

EMMA’s technology is more compact, cost effective and operationally simpler, allowing the more widespread use of accelerators to tackle some of the most difficult problems facing society. The team report in Nature Physics the first experimental results from EMMA, confirming the proof of principle underlying its technology.

It is hoped that in the future this technology will allow hospitals to implement a newer and more effective form of beam therapy to help cure some of the most difficult cancers.

Professor Ken Peach of the John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science and the Oxford Martin School’s Particle Therapy Cancer Research Institute said: ‘This is a very exciting result – it is very rare these days to discover a new principle of particle acceleration, and this could lead to the development of novel or greatly improved applications of accelerators, for example in the treatment of some forms of cancer.’

EMMA’s ground-breaking concept is based on a ring of magnets which use their combined magnetic field simultaneously to steer and focus the electron beam around the machine. The strength of this magnetic field increases steeply as the beam spirals outwards while it is accelerated to 20 million electron volts around the ring. Due to the strength of the magnetic focussing, the displacement of the beam as it accelerates and spirals around the ring is much smaller than in any equivalent accelerator. As a result, EMMA’s ring of magnets is much more compact and it is easier to accelerate the beam.

The experience gained in the development and operation of EMMA's new technology will inform the design and eventual construction of a prototype proton/carbon ion accelerator for medical applications (PAMELA).

Engineered and constructed at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory, EMMA was designed by an international consortium of scientists as part of the CONFORM project, which includes the Universities of Manchester, Oxford, Surrey, Imperial, Brunel, Liverpool and Huddersfield, STFC, the Cockcroft and John Adams Institutes, as well as a number of international partners which include the Brookhaven National Laboratory and Fermilab in the US, and TRIUMF in Canada.
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ProTom Achieves Scheduled Milestone of Beam at Gantry Room Isocenter

FLOWER MOUND, Texas & FLINT, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Testing of a compact cancer-treatment technology from ProTom International, Inc. (“ProTom”) demonstrated last week that the system achieves its design specification: delivering high-energy protons to isocenter at a beam intensity sufficient for standard clinical practice. The ProTom technical team measured stable and reproducible performance on the Radiance 330® Proton Therapy System at the McLaren Proton Therapy Center (“MPTC”) in Flint, Michigan.

This is the first time that ProTom has tested its compact system’s gantry beam optics design. “Measuring high beam intensities at isocenter indicates well-functioning integration among various subsystems of the Radiance 330 necessary for clinical implementation,” said Vahagn Nazaryan, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Physics for ProTom. “We delivered beam through the gantry and nozzle in the first of three gantry treatment rooms as part of validation and verification of our technical design,” stated Dr. Nazaryan. “We are pleased that the system performed as designed and quickly achieved a dose rate sufficient for standard clinical practice.”

“We are excited by the results of successful beam transport testing through our first gantry treatment room: these results were independently reproduced by our clinical physics team,” said Sung Park, Ph.D., Chief Physicist for McLaren Cancer Institute.

Earlier in the summer, ProTom installed a new custom-designed radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ) proton linac injector from AccSys Technology Inc. This upgrade has significantly improved accelerated proton beam intensities. The RFQ upgrade resulted in an increase in injection intensity yielding in excess of several times the number of protons per cycle accelerated in the synchrotron, with further tuning and optimization ongoing at McLaren.

“Both the ProTom and McLaren teams are to be commended for achieving this very significant result, which continues to validate that the system is performing as it was designed,” said ProTom CEO Stephen L. Spotts. “ProTom is focused on final validation and testing in order to secure all regulatory clearances necessary for clinical operation.” Spotts also noted, “It is my firm belief that our Radiance 330 system is not only the most advanced proton beam scanning system available but the most economical solution as well.“

About ProTom International, Inc.

ProTom International, Inc. is a medical device company committed to a new generation of financially viable proton radiotherapy centers that are easier to implement and equipped with advanced, compact technology. The Radiance 330 Proton therapy system makes community-based proton therapy truly accessible by reducing cost and technology barriers inherent with previous generations of equipment. To find out more about the future of proton therapy, visit us at www.protominternational.com.

About McLaren Health Care Corporation

Recognized by Verispan as one of the top Integrated Health Networks in the nation, McLaren Health Care includes more than 150 locations, 15,000 employees and over 10,000 network physicians. It includes nine wholly-owned regional hospitals: McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint; Lapeer Regional Medical Center; Ingham Regional Medical Center and Ingham Regional Orthopedic Hospital in Lansing; Bay Regional Medical Center and Bay Special Care Hospital in Bay City; Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center in Mount Clemens; Central Michigan Community Hospital in Mt. Pleasant and POH Regional Medical Center in Pontiac. McLaren Homecare Group, an award-winning home health provider, and McLaren Health Plan, a top-rated commercial and Medicaid HMO are also a part of the system. To find out more about how we’re changing the future of health care, visit www.mclaren.org.

* The Radiance 330 Proton Therapy System has not been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for commercial distribution in the U.S. at this time.

Contact:
ProTom International
Stephen Sledge, 904-502-4032
ssledge@protominternational.com
or
McLaren Health Care
Kevin Tompkins, 810-342-1173
KevinTo@mclaren.org
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CPAC Announces First Letter of Intent After Technical Breakthrough

Livermore, Calif. – November 13, 2012 – Compact Particle Acceleration Corporation (CPAC) announced today that following a series of recent technical breakthroughs on a prototype DWA test accelerator, it has received a letter of intent for delivery of one of its first proton therapy systems to Southwest Oncology Centers, a renowned radiation oncology facility in the United States.

CPAC’s first clinical system will be a single room, fixed scanning beam, 50-150 MeV system that is upgradeable to 215 MeV. It will be intended for installation in existing treatment facilities and will fit in a space not much larger than existing linear accelerators with relatively small retrofits. CPAC plans to release the detailed system specifications in the coming months.

“Four years ago we were first introduced to CPAC and its unique compact, proton beam accelerator. A compact, cost effective proton solution with extremely low neutron contamination will allow community based cancer centers to offer proton treatments to a larger patient population,” according to Dr. Gordon L. Grado, Medical Director of Southwest Oncology Centers in Arizona, and the Wuertele Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Minnesota. “The high costs of Proton Centers, typically between $100 Million and $200 Million dollars are a reason for the limited number of treatment facilities in the United States. This limits the number of cancer patients that can take advantage of this highly desirable cutting edge technology. Greater access to this technology will allow patients to remain closer to their family and friends as they battle cancer. The CPAC’s DWA system will allow us to provide even greater treatment options for both the early and advanced cancer patients and tumor challenges that we see at all of our facilities.”

Proton therapy is a particularly compelling treatment for pediatric patients and some hard-to-treat cancers, such as those requiring high doses of radiation or tumors that are close to sensitive structures. Because of the cost and size of proton therapy systems, this type of therapy has been limited to approximately 30 centers around the world. With its pioneering work on developing a compact proton accelerator, CPAC aims to make this treatment accessible to every cancer center.

CPAC’s new proton therapy system employs a very compact accelerator based on the Dielectric Wall Accelerator (DWA) technology developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The prototype accelerator in operation at the CPAC facility has recently achieved an accelerating gradient approaching 20 million electron volts per meter (MeV/m).

“This gradient is comparable to those achieved by the most advanced medical accelerator devices today,” said Anthony Zografos, Ph.D., CPAC’s Chief Operating Officer. “In addition, we have developed new, breakthrough technology for the DWA that will remove the stress from critical system components and allow even higher accelerating gradients. This proprietary technology, now being incorporated into the prototype system is a major step towards achieving 25 MeV/m in the coming weeks and is a significant step toward reaching 35 MeV/m. We have already demonstrated some highly desirable clinical features, unique to our device, such as shot-to-shot control of proton energy, dose rate and spot size which greatly facilitate the delivery of the most advanced form of proton therapy, Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy.”

About Compact Particle Acceleration Corporation (CPAC)
Compact Particle Acceleration Corporation (CPAC) is an independent privately held corporation in the proton therapy system business. The company is developing a very compact proton therapy system powered by the dielectric-wall accelerator (DWA). For more information, visit www.CPAC.pro.

Media Contact:
Anthony Zografos
Chief Operating Officer
925-583-2702
azografos@cpac.pro
Home About CPAC Why CPAC? Photoconductive Switch Technology Leadership Press Releases
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ProNova: Proton Therapy Treatment & Innovation

ProNova is redefining the future of cancer treatment by delivering a lower-cost, smaller, lighter and more energy efficient proton therapy solution without sacrificing today’s most important clinical capabilities.
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ProNova Solutions Announces Details on Next-Generation Proton Therapy System

ProNova Solutions Announces Details on Next-Generation Proton Therapy System
Advanced Superconducting Magnets and Other Technologies Cut Costs and Reduce Start-up Time by More Than Half Compared to Current Systems

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Oct 29, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The team that broke the price and performance barrier with PET and PET/CT systems in the 1990s and 2000s is working with a group of leading companies and universities to produce a dramatically less expensive, smaller, lighter, more flexible and more capable proton therapy system.

Called the ProNova SC360, the first systems will ship in 2015.

The team at ProNova includes Terry Douglass, Ph.D. and others who played an integral role in the development and commercialization of positron emission tomography (PET) while at CTI Molecular Imaging, Inc. CTI specialized in the development, production and distribution of products and services for diagnostic imaging from 1983 to 2005, at which time the company was acquired by Siemens Medical Systems. Due to the innovations in cost and capability made possible by CTI, more cancers are diagnosed and treated earlier, leading to better clinical outcomes.

The ProNova team is now on schedule to do the same for proton therapy. Leveraging technology, manufacturing, operations and marketing resources across the team, ProNova will deliver a next-generation proton therapy system that is dramatically less expensive, more clinically flexible and more capable than any system currently planned for delivery in a similar timeframe.

ProNova Solutions promotes the SC360 as a "no compromise" solution. The company uses this term to point out that rather than reducing capabilities and clinical flexibility in return for its reduced size and cost, the SC360 offers new capabilities not available in current-generation proton therapy systems. Such features include 3D anatomical and functional imaging at the isocenter, 360-degree treatment of the patient, and an efficient workflow that mimics traditional radiation therapy.

Selected partners on the ProNova development, manufacturing and marketing team include:

Indiana University (IU) -- IU will provide technology for compact scanning magnet technology and rapid switching beam-line technology. IU Health operates one of the first proton therapy centers in the nation, and IU Cyclotron Operations developed the advanced proton nozzle technology that is licensed under the ProNova arrangement with IU.

ProCure Treatment Centers -- The largest and most experienced operator of proton therapy centers in the U.S. will provide engineering, industry relationships and intellectual property around superconducting magnet technology.

Provision Center for Proton Therapy (PCPT) -- PCPT is a two-phase proton therapy treatment facility in Knoxville, Tenn. scheduled to open in 2014. Phase I is a three-room proton center utilizing current IBA conventional warm magnet technology. Phase II is a two-room expansion utilizing the ProNova SC360.

Cryomagnetics -- Cryomagnetics will provide engineering and manufacturing capabilities for the superconducting magnets used in the cyclotron and gantry assemblies.

The SC360 will offer dramatic improvements over conventional proton therapy technologies as well as additional capabilities not available in competing next-generation proton therapy systems under development. Compared with current proton therapy systems, the SC360 will be less than half the cost, one tenth the weight and require less than half the time to implement.

Advanced capabilities of the SC360 include:

-- A 360-degree treatment angle that allows patients to remain in one position during treatment.

-- 3D anatomical and functional imaging at the isocenter, which provides the most advanced image-guided proton therapy capabilities, including both CT and PET.

-- Advanced beam scanning, including pencil beam scanning and uniform beam scanning.

-- Factory pre-assembled and tested to reduce construction and shipping costs while compressing time-to-startup.

-- A workflow that mimics that of traditional radiation therapy.

-- The flexibility of solutions with one, two or three treatment rooms.

The size, cost and capabilities of the SC360 make it the smallest, most economical and most operationally flexible unit in the pipeline today.

"This is a no-compromise solution," said Douglass, chairman of ProNova Solutions. "It delivers not only reduced cost and compelling economics, but greater clinical capabilities than other proton therapy system suppliers. Our team has delivered more than 200 cyclotrons and 2,000 PET/CT scanner solutions at price points that transformed those markets. Our team, with our partners, is committed to delivering the same outcome with the SC360."

About ProNova Solutions, LLC

ProNova Solutions is aggressively developing the next generation of cancer therapy technology in a highly integrated proton therapy medical system. The fusion of state-of-the-art imaging, multi-axis precision positioning, superconducting magnet technology and unprecedented closed-loop treatment verification using PET gives ProNova customers an economic and clinical advantage. Learn more at pronovasolutions.com.

High-resolution images available in our online media room.

SOURCE: ProNova Solutions, LLC

ProNova Solutions, LLC
Michael Bozeman, 865-712-3303
michael.bozeman@pronovasolutions.com

Copyright Business Wire 2012
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World’s first Proton Therapy Market Report

THE GLOBAL PROTON THERAPY MARKET WILL REACH US$ 2.2 BILLION IN 2032, GROWING BY 9% ANNUALLY.

Today there are 39 proton therapy facilities for a total of 106 treatment rooms treating patients around the world, representing merely 0.8% of all conventional radiotherapy systems. By 2017 there will be 255 operational proton therapy treatment rooms. Proton therapy remains a niche market however it is just up-and-coming and growing fast. It has been subject to substantial interest in the past decade and significant growth in proton treatment facilities around the world is expected in the foreseeable future. In 2011, the global proton therapy devices market reached US$ 350 million. We project the global addressable market at 1,000 particle therapy treatment rooms, valued at US$ 2.2 billion (including services) by 2032, showing an average annual growth of 9% from 2011 to 2032.

IBA clearly dominated the world market for the past 20 years. However for several years, other vendors, such as Varian, have been increasing their market share. For the year 2017, we estimate that IBA will hold just over 30% of the world particle therapy market, followed by Varian with 15% and by Mitsubishi and Hitachi holding a 9% market share each. The three Japanese particle therapy manufacturers, while mostly active in Japan for the past two decades, are now developing their strategies to be more active worldwide.

Information sheet including table of contents
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TomoTherapy Completes Acquisition of Linear Accelerator Manufacturer in China

MADISON, Wis. - Nov. 4, 2008 - TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO), maker of the Hi·Art® treatment system for advanced radiation therapy, announced today that it has finalized the agreement to acquire privately held linear accelerator manufacturer Chengdu Twin Peak Accelerator Technology Inc., based in Chengdu, China.

A linear accelerator (linac) is a key component in radiation therapy systems used to create high-energy x-rays for cancer treatments. The linear accelerators designed, developed and manufactured by Twin Peak will be used to supplement TomoTherapy's existing supply source.

According to Steve Books, chief operating officer of TomoTherapy, 'With the acquisition of Twin Peak, we are reducing our sole supplier risk associated with our linac supply, a critical component to the Hi·Art treatment system. This acquisition will also expand TomoTherapy's competency in design and manufacturing of linear accelerators which is expected to improve Hi·Art system reliability and positively impact margins.'

Chengdu Twin Peak Accelerator Technology Inc. designs and manufactures linear accelerators for medical equipment. It is located in the provincial capital of Sichuan, China.
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FDA clears Mevion's small-footprint proton therapy device

June 11, 2012

by Brendon Nafziger

Artist rendering of a Mevion treatment room (Credit: Mevion)

It's been a long road for eight-year-old proton therapy start-up Mevion Medical Systems, formerly called Still River Systems. But the hard work appears to be paying off: the company has just earned U.S. marketing rights for a technology it claims could make the high-tech, and generally very capital-intensive, cancer-blasting technology more accessible to providers.

On Monday, the Littleton, Mass.-based company announced it received Food and Drug Administration 510 (k) clearance for its smaller-footprint proton therapy system, the Mevion S250.

Originally called the Monarch S250, the system comprises a superconducting synchrocyclotron that fires protons at energies up to 250 MeV to blast cancers. Unlike rival proton accelerators, the Mevion unit features a more compact design that's expected to lower the cost of setting up treatment centers for hospitals and radiation oncology groups, according to the company.

For instance, a center using the Mevion device likely being built next year by South Florida Radiation Oncology LLC, a Palm Beach, Fla. radiation oncology chain, is expected to cost $25 million to $35 million, whereas typical proton therapy centers can cost upwards of $120 million.

The high price-tag is one reason only 10 proton therapy centers are currently operating in the U.S. The newest center, a $160 million four-room facility made by for-profit proton chain ProCure, just opened in New Jersey this spring. However, other lower-cost proton technologies are also coming online. A McLaren Health Care center in Michigan that's scheduled to open later this year uses a ProTom International synchrotron, reported to have cost $50 million to build.

"FDA approval is a huge step forward for Mevion and for other lower cost compact machines on the horizon," Leonard Arzt, executive director of the National Association for Proton Therapy, an industry group, told DOTmed News by e-mail. "[It's] especially good news for patients. It provides added accessibility for cancer patients seeking the benefits of proton therapy. It certainly has all the makings of transforming the future of proton therapy."

First patients possibly treated this fall
Now that the device is cleared by the FDA, Mevion system users can begin treating patients as soon as their units are installed. This means the first patient could be treated this fall, according to a spokesman from Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, where the first installation of a Mevion S250 unit began in October.

The hospital spokesman told DOTmed News in an e-mail that the one-room, $20 million Kling Center for Proton Therapy will start treating patients by the fourth quarter, and possibly as early as November 15. Once up and running, the center will treat 200 patients annually, the spokesman said.

Two other Mevion installations are also underway: one at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J. and another at Oklahoma University in Oklahoma City, Mevion said.

"Completing this very important milestone is a testament to the maturity of the Mevion organization and its ability to manufacture, install and support a safe and effective product," Mevion's CEO Joseph Jachinowski said in a statement.

Mevion, which received European marketing approval for its system in March, also has offices in London and Tokyo. The privately held company was formed in 2004, and uses technology licensed from MIT scientists.
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GE to develop next generation compact cyclotron and PET tracer system

UPPSALA, SWEDEN AND WAUKESHA, WI, 19 April 2012 – GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), and NXT2B, a privately owned venture capital company, today announced they have entered into a joint financing agreement with the goal of developing a micro-scale radiotracer infrastructure including cyclotron and PET tracer production. The three-year development project will be led by GE Healthcare and will be headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“In line with GE’s healthymagination strategy to develop innovations that increase access, reduce cost and improve quality in the healthcare system globally, GE Healthcare and NXT2B are pleased to announce a joint financing project to develop an unmatched next generation of equipment and software for the production of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) tracers,” said Erik Strömqvist, general manager, Cyclotrons, GE Healthcare. “The goal of the project is to develop a turn-key radiotracer infrastructure solution for the production of PET tracers to primarily fulfill the needs of emerging markets, for rural and regional hospitals, and researchers.”

At the core of the new TRACERcenter* 600 is a unique compact, cost effective, easy to site cyclotron, and a radiotracer production operation building on GE Healthcare’s more than 80- year legacy in radiopharmaceuticals and chemistry. The PETtrace* 600 cyclotron will have approximately 50 percent smaller footprint than a traditional cyclotron, enabling siting in settings never before possible. Together with PETtrace 600, TRACERcenter 600 solution will be capable of producing a full portfolio of F18 and C11 tracers to detect cancer and neurodegenerative disease.

“We’re proud to partner with GE to help create greater access to PET tracer production in areas of the world that previously did not have access to and to address the large unmet needs for PET diagnostics in oncology and neurology,” said Bengt Ågerup ,CEO and Founder, NXT2B.

While the technology of PET scanners have rapidly developed and evolved, parallel advancements in the necessary tracer production equipment and processes have not occurred. Current PET tracer production methods are costly, complicated and require a large number of highly trained individuals. With the inherent nature of the short lived isotopes, distribution is often not possible due to lack of supporting infrastructure in regions where PET imaging is expanding.

“Simplifying the process and technology of PET tracer production involves a paradigm shift from a traditional approach to a small, easy to use cyclotron, a chemistry module that is automated, and a complete and compliant quality control process that is integrated into the system,” added Stromqvist. “GE’s cyclotrons have gained a reputation worldwide of being the most reliable, most flexible and easily upgradeable, from a company recognized as a partner by its customers.”

*Trademark of General Electric Company
ABOUT NXT2B

NXT2B is a privately owned investment company started in 2011 by the Swedish entrepreneur Bengt Ågerup. NXT2B focuses on growth equity investments in healthcare, medical devices and specialty pharmaceutical companies but also invests in technology and consumer companies. With its structure, NXT2B is able to make fast decisions on any investment opportunity and has invested in more than 30 companies. NXT2B supports its portfolio company management teams not only financially but also with entrepreneurial experience to build fast growing, market leading companies. For more information about NXT2B visit our website at www.nxt2b.com.
ABOUT GE HEALTHCARE:

GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.
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Samsung Medical Center (SMC)

... Samsung Medical Center (SMC) was founded in 1994 and is a teaching hospital affiliated with Sungkyunkwan University's school of medicine. SMC has a large cancer center that treated more than 3,600 patients with radiation therapy in 2010. The center offers a wide range of advanced treatment options within radiation therapy and is also currently building a new facility for proton therapy. Proton therapy is the most sophisticated form of radiation therapy and offers even better precision than conventional radiation therapy with photons. It requires very advanced specialized equipment so it is only carried out in a small number of centers globally. The new proton center will be equipped with an accelerator from Sumitomo Heavy Industries and is scheduled to be operational in 2014. SMC has now ordered RaySearch's RayStation® treatment planning system for planning of all proton treatments at SMC. The system will incorporate all the latest advanced tools and algorithms for optimization and dose computation to take full advantage of the potential that proton therapy offers.
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Petite Particle Accelerator: A Proton Gun For Killing Tumors

By Spencer Woodman

Since 1990, doctors have been regularly treating cancer patients using proton beams, which work similarly to radiation. Proton therapy is more precise, however, causing less harm to healthy surrounding tissues. Unfortunately, generating a proton beam requires a particle-accelerator facility that’s the size of an airplane hangar and costs more than $100 million to build. Thus, proton-beam therapy remains a rarity, with only 37 working facilities worldwide, 10 of which are located in the U.S. Just 10,000 people were treated last year, less than 5 percent of suitable patients.

Now scientists at the Compact Particle Acceleration Corporation in Livermore, California, are developing a 13-foot-long particle accelerator that costs about $30 million. Most accelerators use large magnets to generate the electromagnetic field that pushes charged particles. The magnets require 10-foot-thick concrete shielding and bulky hardware. CPAC’s prototype creates the electromagnetic field with electric lines, which don’t require massive shielding or large additional equipment. The new accelerator could be commercially available as soon as 2015. (The numbers below will match you up to the location in the picture above.)

1. PROTON BEAM
Magnets in the kicker pull positively charged protons from hydrogen plasma made by a duoplasmatron. A deflecting magnet collects the stream into proton bundles, which then enter the injector, where a microwave field speeds the particles toward the acceleration chamber at up to five million mph.

2. LASER
At nearly the same time, a laser fires a light pulse, which splits into fiber-optic cables of various lengths.

3. ACCELERATION CHAMBER
As a bundle of protons enters the acceleration chamber, a light pulse hits the chamber’s first pair of electric lines, triggering the release of electrons. The resulting electromagnetic field propels the proton bundle forward. The light pulse triggers the electric lines in a wave, sequentially accelerating the proton bundle until it’s traveling at 335 million mph—or about half the speed of light.

4. CLOCK
The entire process is controlled by a clock, which directs magnets to turn on or off and the laser to fire.

5. ROBOTIC CHAIR
Moving a patient is easier than moving a 13-foot-long particle accelerator. A robotic chair maneuvers a strapped-in patient in front of the proton beam to target a tumor from different angles.
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Varian exhibits radiotherapy hardware and software at ChinaMed

BEIJING, 21 March 2012 – Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: VAR), a leading manufacturer of medical devices for treating cancer with radiotherapy, will exhibit the full spectrum of the company's advanced clinical capabilities and technologies at the 24th International Medical Instruments and Equipment Exhibition (ChinaMed), taking place here later this month. Varian will also co-sponsor a day-long "Advances in Radiation Oncology" symposium, and will present information about recent advances in proton radiotherapy.

Displays in Varian's booth will incorporate information about the company's products, including:

• TrueBeam™ and Trilogy® medical linear accelerators. These sophisticated machines accelerate electrons to nearly the speed of light and crash them into a metal target to produce the high-energy X-rays used to treat tumors. They also incorporate precise beam shaping devices to limit exposure of surrounding healthy tissues during treatment, as well as image-guidance tools, which are used to target tumors more precisely. A Trilogy machine will be available for viewing in the Varian booth; visitors can also obtain information about TrueBeam and other Varian accelerators.
• RapidArc® radiotherapy technology, which makes it possible to deliver precise treatments very quickly, in just a few minutes per treatment.
• Eclipse™ treatment planning, a powerful computer program that optimizes a treatment plan based on a doctor's prescription and a patient's diagnostic images, so that the radiotherapy beam can be focused on the tumor and nearby healthy tissues can be avoided to the greatest extent possible.
• ARIA™ oncology information system, a sophisticated information management program that streamlines clinical processes, improves workflow, eliminates paper charts, and automates many aspects of managing complex radiotherapy treatments.
• Brachytherapy solutions for treating cancer by placing tiny radiation sources directly into or next to the area requiring treatment. This is another way for clinicians to deliver a high dose with minimal impact on surrounding healthy tissues.
• PaxPower™ X-ray tubes and PaxScan® digital image detectors for use in fluoroscopy, special procedures, mammography and cone-beam CT imaging. "Our X-ray tubes and flat panel detectors were designed to work together to improve image quality, increase patient throughput and reduce overall cost per procedure," said Hsiao-Li Pan, country manager for Varian's X-Ray Products Beijing group.
"Advances in Radiation Oncology" Symposium

In addition, Varian is among the sponsors of an all-day "Advances in Radiation Oncology" symposium taking place on March 24. Rolf Staehelin, Varian's director of international marketing for Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific regions, is scheduled to talk about recent advances in proton radiotherapy, a method of treating cancer that uses beams of protons to deliver more targeted, precise doses than conventional photon beams. The symposium was jointly organized by the Radiation Therapy Society of the People's Liberation Army, the Chinese Society of Radiation Oncology (CSTRO), the Chinese Society of Medical Physicists (CSMP), and ChinaMed.

"This will be Varian's 6th year exhibiting at ChinaMed, and we're pleased to showcase the company's world-class solutions at this very important gathering of radiation oncology professionals," said Staehelin. "We are also delighted to support the major Chinese radiation oncology professional associations, in their efforts to highlight clinical developments in the field and to focus attention on best practices from around the world."
ABOUT VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X- ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 5,900 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. The company's center in Beijing encompasses oncology equipment manufacturing operations, an educational center for radiotherapy clinical professionals, a customer service center, and X-ray Products assembly and service. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com
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Elekta reinforces strong China-Asia presence at ChinaMed

BEIJING, 21 March 2012 – At the 24th International Medical Instruments & Equipment (ChinaMed) Exhibition, March 23-25 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, Elekta (booth #3A001) will showcase its comprehensive range of oncology solutions and demonstrate its preeminence as the dominant provider of radiation therapy technology in China.

In the last five years, Elekta has concentrated resources to support China’s unprecedented initiatives to modernize and improve access to cancer management technology. This has resulted in a number of firsts and milestones for both Elekta and Chinese medical centers.

• This month, Elekta BMEI shipped its 100th Elekta Compact™ treatment system, equipped with the 2,000th Precise Table manufactured by Elekta. The 100th Elekta Compact will be will be shipped to Fujian Province Tumor Hospital.
• Release of MOSAIQ® in the Chinese Language, currently in use at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. MOSAIQ is Elekta’s dedicated electronic oncology information system.
• Installation of China’s first Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ radiosurgery systems at Zheijiang University School of Medicine and Beijing Tiantan Hospital. Shanghai Gamma Knife Hospital also plans to install a Perfexion system later this year.
• First order for Elekta Axesse™, an advanced 4D stereotactic treatment system designed to facilitate highly targeted stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and radiosurgery anywhere in the body recently was placed.

Elekta also has enabled users of Precise Treatment System™ in China to increase treatment delivery speed with the release of VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy). VMAT is an advanced radiation therapy technique that delivers treatment in one or more continuous high-speed arcs around the patient, enabling the radiation dose to precisely conform to a tumor by modulating the radiation beam’s intensity.

Precise Treatment System is a versatile therapy platform offering treatments with photons or electrons, traditional static delivery, IGRT or VMAT.

“During 2010-2011, Elekta solutions accounted for nearly half of new orders in the Chinese market, making Elekta the number one provider in the country,” says Gilbert Wai, Executive Vice President, Asia Pacific. “Our ongoing mission is to help meet China’s demand for comprehensive cancer management solutions as this nation’s healthcare providers strive to offer the best services for its citizens."

Elekta’s comprehensive radiation therapy solutions also will be on display (booth #H1-E36) at the Spring 2012 China International Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF), April 17-20 at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre in Shenzhen.
About Elekta

Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care. Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives.

Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 6,000 hospitals worldwide. Elekta employs around 3,300 employees globally. The corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. Website: www.elekta.com.
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Varian Medical Systems to Equip New Proton Treatment Center in Russia

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) today announced it has booked an order to equip a new two-room proton therapy center at the PTC St. Petersburg Center of Nuclear Medicine of the International Institute of Biological Systems in Russia. The equipment order was placed by Owen Kane Oncology Equipment, Inc. in New York which is supplying the system to the center in St. Petersburg.

Under the purchase agreement Varian will equip the new center with a ProBeam™ system as well as its ARIA information management and Eclipse treatment planning software products. The equipment order is valued at about $50 million not including service. Equipment delivery and installation is expected to commence in 2014 and patient treatments are scheduled to begin in 2016.

"We're very pleased to be able to bring Varian's cutting edge, clinically advanced and reliable technology to patients," said Dr. Arkadi Stolpner, President of the International Institute of Biological Systems Diagnostic and Treatment Center. "Our aim in purchasing the Varian ProBeam system is to help us meet our mission of saving lives."

"We are honored to be a part of a very important project that will help to make the most advanced proton therapy available to the people of Russia," said Tim Guertin, President and CEO of Varian Medical Systems. "The ProBeam system combines Varian's unmatched technology for intensity modulated proton therapy with advanced imaging, treatment planning, and information management capabilities that have been developed on the basis of decades of experience in clinical support. This is another exciting step forward for proton therapy."

"We selected Varian to supply our Proton Beam technology because we have confidence in their ability to deliver a quality product on a timely basis," said Philip Jacobus, President of Owen Kane Oncology Equipment. "We operate a Varian TrueBeam™ linear accelerator and Varian has proven to us that meeting the needs of the customer as well as the patient is a priority to them."

Proton therapy makes it possible to treat certain types of cancer more precisely and with potentially fewer side effects than with conventional radiation therapy. With proton therapy, the risk of damage to healthy tissues is reduced. The method can be applied for many of the most common types of cancer and offers advantages when treating tumors close to radiosensitive tissues. In pediatric patients the risk of developing a new, radiation-induced cancer later in life can be reduced.

Varian is currently installing and commissioning its ProBeam system at the Scripps Proton Center near San Diego. The company announced in January that it has booked an order to equip the Saudi Particle Therapy Center at the King Fahd Medical Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Varian also has been selected to provide equipment for new proton therapy centers at the University of Maryland and in Mestre, Italy. It has been identified as the preferred provider for a new center at Emory University near Atlanta.

About Varian Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 5,700 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com or follow us on Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements concerning industry outlook, including growth drivers; the company's future business, including orders, revenues, backlog, or earnings growth; market acceptance of or transition to new products or technology for proton therapy, and any statements using the terms "can," "will," "scheduled," "expected," "goal," "mission," "possible," or similar statements are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include the effect of economic conditions; currency exchange rates and tax rates; demand for the company's products; the company's ability to develop, commercialize, and deploy new products; the company's ability to meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory requirements for product clearances or to comply with FDA and other regulatory regulations or procedures; changes in the regulatory environment, including with respect to FDA requirements; challenges associated with the successful commercialization of the company's particle therapy business; the company's reliance on sole or limited-source suppliers; the company's ability to maintain or increase margins; and the other risks listed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which by this reference are incorporated herein. The company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements in this release because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Spencer Sias (650) 424-5782
spencer.sias@varian.com

SOURCE Varian Medical Systems
©

Injector simplifies cancer-fighting synchrotron

High-energy radiation is a common treatment for cancer patients, helping to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells. Compared to conventional X-ray and gamma ray therapy, particle-based radiotherapy has been favored for its ability to intensely irradiate affected sites with minimal side effects.

Large permanent magnets or electromagnets are typically responsible for the powerful, focused proton beams produced by the linear accelerators used for this therapy, but there are limits to what these proton injectors can accomplish. Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Amagasaki, Japan, has developed a more effective solution with its Compact Injection Accelerator for Proton Therapy System, which can generate the required 10 mA proton beams at 7 MeV prior to delivering the power to synchrotron.

Mitsubishi greatly simplified the injector's post-linear accelerator electrode architecture, eliminating the need for magnetic fields for focusing. This supplies a lower accuracy requirement for the electrodes, which leads to better reliability throughout the entire system. Additionally, the conventional power distributor setup of two radio frequency (RF) sources—with phase adjustment—was reduced to just one RF source.

The result is a less expensive but more reliable solution that can be said to contribute to the higher feasibility of next-generation cancer treatments, as well as atomic reactor needs.

Technology
Accelerator for proton therapy

Developers
Mitsubishi Electric Corp.

The Compact Injection Accelerator for Proton Therapy System Development Team
Kazuo Yamamoto, Principal Developer
Hiromitsu Inoue
Takahisa Nagayama
Sadahiro Kawasaki
Hirofumi Tanaka
Satoshi Ueda
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Как дела у Балакина?

17 Февраля 2012 г.


«Как дела у Балакина?» -

- этот вопрос задают в нашем городе, да и не только, уже несколько лет. Проблема высокотехнологичной и эффективной борьбы с раком по-прежнему одна из важнейших, люди ждут и надеются.

Но прошла уже пора первых бравурных пресс-релизов о том, что «в подмосковном Протвино под руководством известного учёного - ускорительщика, члена-корреспондента РАН В.Е. Балакина создаётся уникальный по своим параметрам и дешевизне (что важно для серийного производства) ускоритель протонов для медицины». Именно в таких выражениях писали такие авторитетные издания, как «Российская» и «Независимая» газеты, вездесущий «МК», «Известия». Не раз выступали областная и местная пресса, были показаны телесюжеты на каналах разных уровней, вплоть до всероссийских «Вестей», ведётся некоторая полемика в российском сегменте Интернета. Но если раньше эти сюжеты настраивали на оптимистический лад, то в последние пару лет всё чаще сквозят тревога и недоумение – как получается, что единственный в своём роде инновационный проект отечественного медицинского ускорителя до сих пор не реализован в том виде, в котором его ждут многие тысячи, десятки тысяч возможных пациентов?

Между тем усилия протвинских энтузиастов, объединенных для производственных целей в ЗАО «ПРОТОМ» именно для осуществления «прорыва» в протонной онкотерапии, замечены и поддержаны за рубежом. Так, в дополнение к двум создающимся в Московской области центрам протонной терапии (в Протвино построено здание, ускоритель работает, ведутся работы по наладке медицинского оборудования и сертификации изделия в целом; в Пущино построено здание, ускоритель готовится к переезду на штатное место) аналогичный протвинскому медицинский центр готовится к эксплуатации в Словакии (г. Ружомберок), в США после годичных испытаний в Бостоне на базе MIT (Массачусетский технологический институт) ускоритель одобрен к установке в специально создаваемом терапевтическом центре в г. Флинт, штат Мичиган. Есть предпосылки полагать, что после сертификации по строгим американским медицинским стандартам ускоритель Балакина будет рекомендован к тиражированию и массовому применению в США намного раньше, чем это произойдёт на его родине. Ибо работы в России сильно сдерживаются отсутствием финансирования, возникшем буквально «на финише» долгого и трудного пути более чем в десятилетие. Это «торможение ускорителя» носит привычный у нас характер: на пути научно-технического прогресса и модернизации нерушимо стоят монополия на «единственно правильную точку зрения» и бюрократическая машина.

Вот выдержки из недавнего официального документа, полученного В.Е. Балакиным в ответ на очередную просьбу к правительственным органам поддержать финальный этап многолетней работы по «доводке до кондиций» первого отечественного медицинского протонного ускорителя:

«Уважаемый Владимир Егорович!

В соответствии с регламентом, установленным Порядком рассмотрения и оценки проектов по направлению «Медицинская техника и фармацевтика» для представления на рассмотрение Комиссии при Президенте Российской Федерации по модернизации и технологическому развитию экономики России, Ваш проект «Протонный терапевтический комплекс» ЗАО «ПРОТОМ» был направлен на отзыв в Министерство здравоохранения и социального развития Российской Федерации.

На основании поступившего отзыва Министерства здравоохранения и социального развития Российской Федерации сообщаем следующее.

Представленный авторами проект является импортозамещающим и результатом предполагает создание протонного терапевтического комплекса на основе малогабаритного протонного ускорителя для лечения онкологических заболеваний.

Как отмечают эксперты, в отличие от традиционной лучевой терапии, при которой энергия пучка равномерно рассеивается по мере прохождения через ткани, пучок протонов переносит свою максимальную энергию в точно заданную область, причиняя минимальный ущерб здоровым тканям вокруг опухоли. Таким образом, можно подавать высокую конформную дозу облучения в место, где располагается опухоль, используя точно нацеленный луч, перемещаемый в трех плоскостях.

Основными преимуществами клинического применения протонной терапии перед традиционной лучевой терапией являются:

- возможность прецизионного подведения дозы облучения к опухоли;

- отсутствие дозы на выходе при увеличении дозы (в пределах терапевтического окна);

- снижение вероятности развития побочных эффектов в окружающих здоровых тканях;

- обеспечение долгосрочной безрецидивной выживаемости за счет высокой онкологической эффективностью протонной терапии;

- улучшение качества жизни пациентов после проведения амбулаторного курса лечения протонами благодаря неинвазивности и безболезненности терапии.

В качестве положительных сторон проекта следует отметить:

- наличие у разработчика собственных производственных мощностей;

- значительно более низкую заявленную стоимость готового образца по сравнению с зарубежными аналогами.

По заявлению авторов проекта, к настоящему времени изготовлено пять промышленных образцов ускорителя, разработка технологии облучения находится на завершающей стадии...»


Замечательно и кратко изложена суть инновации - именно об этих выдающихся свойствах ускорителя многократно говорил В.Е. Балакин в своих опубликованных и изустных декларациях. Пишу это с уверенностью, ибо всё это повторил, а многое и продемонстрировал «в натуре» Владимир Егорович во время нашей полуторачасовой встречи в Протвинском центре протонной терапии, состоявшейся 2 февраля. Здесь не толпились пациенты – пока что ускоритель вполне успешно продемонстрировал свои возможности только на подопытных мышках. Что интересно, первая серия биологических опытов проводилась ещё около 3 лет тому назад, так что была возможность пронаблюдать реальную ремиссию биологических объектов. Все 10 облучённых пучком ускорителя самцов с привитой в нижней части туловища опухолью не только выжили, но и сохранили свои репродуктивные свойства, более того – их потомство развивалось и прожило отпущенный природой срок нормально. Собственно, об этом и говорит одна из приведенных выше цитат. Но…

Но у приведённого выше документа есть и продолжение, которое входит в явное противоречие с оптимистическим его началом:

«…Однако, по данным экспертов, в настоящее время существует только опытный образец протонного ускорителя, проведение технических и медицинских испытаний которого не представляется возможным ввиду того, что авторами проекта не решен ряд существенных вопросов: позиционирование пациента, верификация мишени облучения, дозиметрический контроль пучка, расчет дозиметрического плана облучения.

В качестве отрицательных сторон проекта следует также отметить:

- отсутствие сведений о закреплении прав на результаты интеллектуальной

собственности по тематике проекта;

- отсутствие финансово-экономического обоснования реализации проекта;

- отсутствие отзывов ведущих специалистов по направлению.

Эксперты также ставят под сомнение сроки завершения проекта, учитывая

масштабность задач, заявленных авторами.

Минздравсоцразвития России считает, что проект «Протонный терапевтический комплекс» (ЗАО «ПРОТОМ») требует существенной доработки с учетом представленных замечаний».

Подписал этот документ в середине декабря 2011 года заместитель директора Департамента химико-технологического комплекса и биоинженерных технологий Министерство промышленности и торговли Российской Федерации С.В. Разумов. Разумеется, это не его личное мнение, а некая «точка зрения», выработанная неназванными экспертами из не представленных в документе инстанций или организаций. А ведь это очень важно – эксперт может представлять организацию, не заинтересованную в появлении в отечественной медицинской физике нового конкурента, тем более - предлагающего прорывное направление. Отсюда – и появление поверхностных, а то и недостоверных отрицательных экспертных оценок проекта, авторы которого действительно ставят перед собой масштабную задачу – сделать протонную терапию доступной для населения. Лежащие в основе физических принципов работы ускорителя Балакина инновационные предложения (ноу-хау) на самом деле защищены десятками патентов, а также демонстрацией его работы любым авторитетным экспертным комиссиям, в том числе уже состоявшимся - с участием главного онколога Минздрава России академика РАМН В.И. Чиссова, вице-президента РАН академика Г.А. Месяца, и других.

В нашей беседе Владимир Егорович не только опроверг вышеприведённые «экспертные сомнения», но и повторил фразу, уже не раз звучавшую в схожих ситуациях, связанных с внедрением в нашей стране прогрессивных, а самое главное - импортозамещающих инновационных технологий:

«Знакомясь с деталями нашего проекта, мне в разных инстанциях вначале всегда говорят, что это очень здорово, но едва узнав, что он будет стоить гораздо дешевле, чем по импорту - сразу теряли интерес. Почему-то главным соображением является чудовищное желание привлечь во много раз более крупные средства на сопоставимый, а то и устаревший зарубежный проект».

Вот здесь самое время назвать цифры затрат. Расходы на изготовленныйсилами ЗАО «ПРОТОМ» комплекс медицинского протонного ускорителя, включающего пятиметровый синхротрон и всю необходимую инфраструктуру, составляют около 12 млн. долларов США (в среднем по опыту создания пяти таких комплексов). Создающийся в США медицинский центр на основе ускорителя Балакина в Мичигане будет стоить около 50 млн. долларов – но с учётом весьма развитой медицинской инфраструктуры, включающей две сложных системы «гантри», которые обеспечивают ротацию пучка вокруг пациента.

А вот, к примеру, обсуждаемый сейчас в Москве чешский инвестиционный проект по строительству столичного Центра протонной терапии на основе бельгийского циклотрона фирмы IBA «тянет» уже на 150 млн. евро. Такого же порядка расходы заложены и в реализуемый c недавних пор в Димитровограде проект (также с использованием циклотрона от IBA). Как с горечью заметил В.Е. Балакин, «за эти деньги можно было бы сделать для страны несколько десятков медицинских синхротронов».

А ведь протонные медицинские центры нужны, по сути, в каждом из регионов Российской Федерации. Пока же об этом можно только мечтать. И привычно ругать Америку, которая фактически оплачивает исследования и разработки команды Балакина, ведущиеся для появления качественной противораковой медицинской техники сначала в Протвино и Пущино, а затем - во всей России…

Опубликовано: "Протвинский курьер", 15 февраля 2012 г., Агентство Новостей Подмосковья
©

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Selects Hitachi to Supply and Install Proton Beam Therapy System

Tokyo, February 21, 2012 — Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501/NYSE:HIT) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to provide its proton beam therapy (PBT) system. This next-generation technology has spot scanning capability for treating certain forms of cancer. The agreement includes PBT system maintenance for 10 years following completion of the systems’ installation.

The system will be installed at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. There will be three treatment rooms, two with rotating gantry systems and one with a fixed horizontal beam. The installed PBT system will be a compact design with a foot print that is approximately 40 percent smaller than that of conventional systems. Construction for facilities has already begun and treatment using the proton therapy system is expected to be offered in the fall of 2015.

Dr. William Evans, Chief Executive Officer of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, said “By bringing the technology to our campus, we will become the first center in the country offering this cutting-edge therapy solely for the purpose of treating children with brain tumors and other pediatric cancers. Currently, we ensure our patients needing this therapy receive it through collaboration with other institutions, but having the technology available here at St. Jude will enable a new level of service and convenience for our patients. In addition, it takes advantage of recent advances in the technology and will allow integration with our cutting-edge research programs.”

Tatsuro Ishizuka, Vice President and Executive Officer, President & CEO of Power Systems Company, Hitachi, Ltd. said, "It is an honor to have our technology recognized and to be selected to provide our PBT system. We are especially proud of the fact that our system has been selected by the premier pediatric oncology hospital and will be dedicated to the treatment of children. Hitachi pioneered proton beam therapy technology in Japan and devoted research and development resources to improve this technology over the past 20 years. Hitachi’s expertise in accelerators, irradiation and control systems played a key role in the development and refinement of the PBT system. Hitachi will continue to contribute to improving treatment outcomes for people with cancer by promoting PBT business globally.”

PBT is an advanced type of radiation therapy used to treat adults and children with cancer. Protons, the atomic nucleus of hydrogen, are accelerated to high speeds and focused to deposit their energy in tumors. PBT has been shown to improve the quality of life for cancer patients since patients experience less radiation exposure to normal tissues and fewer side effects. In most cases, adults and children can continue with their normal daily activities while undergoing out-patient treatment.

The spot scanning technology designed for the St. Jude facility became feasible by advancing the uniform quality beam extraction and control technology from the accelerator which includes three primary benefits: (1) more accurate irradiation which can reduce the side effects to the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor compared with conventional double scattering irradiation; (2) patient-specific collimators and boluses are not necessary; and (3) proton beam usage factor is high, reducing unnecessary secondary radiation.

Since the 1990’s, interest in proton beam therapy as a form of cancer treatment has been rapidly increasing in the U.S. Given the growing demand for more advanced and less detrimental treatment modalities, interest in proton therapy is on the rise, with more and more hospitals and cancer treatment facilities venturing into this area. In December 2007, for the first time in the U.S., Hitachi cleared the FDA Premarket Notification Special 510(k) for spot scanning irradiation technology.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Since opening 50 years ago, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting www.stjude.org or following us on www.facebook.com/stjude. Follow us on Twitter @StJudeResearch.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 360,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2010 (ended March 31, 2011) consolidated revenues totaled 9,315 billion yen ($112.2 billion). Hitachi will focus more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes information and telecommunication systems, power systems, environmental, industrial and transportation systems, and social and urban systems, as well as the sophisticated materials and key devices that support them. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at www.hitachi.com.

Press Contacts
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Judith Black

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Best Theratronics to manufacture cyclotrons for medical isotope production

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1 March 2012 – Best Theratronics Ltd [BTL] plans to address the worldwide medical isotope shortage by manufacturing a range of cyclotrons for the production of diagnostic and therapeutic medical isotopes. BTL will enter into partnerships with hospitals, clinics, medical and research institutions and distributors to supply isotopes as needed and at a reasonable cost.

Drawing on more than 50 years in medical equipment manufacturing, this innovative new product line offers a cost-effective alternative to both short- and long-lived medical isotopes.

A cyclotron uses a combination of magnets and radio frequency electric fields to accelerate ions to velocities high enough to create isotopes. BTL has a unique cost-effective technology to manufacture five types of cyclotrons: 14 MeV (B14), 25 MeV (B25), 25 MeV upgradable to 35 MeV (B25u), 35 MeV (B35) and 70MeV (B70). These cyclotrons will focus on isotopes used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Therapy by virtue of their respective energies.

CYCLOTRONS FOR SPECIFIC NEEDS
Systems for Technetium-99m (Tc99m) Direct Production

B14 for Tc99m Radioisotopes – Tc99m is an important radiochemical that is used in more than 90% of radiodiagnostic procedures. TeamBest has developed a cyclotron based production system for the delivery of Tc99m . The B14 can produce Tc99m using a TeamBest target and processing system. The high intensity of the cyclotron (400 micro-amperes) allows production runs to supply large urban centers with an adequate supply of Tc99m .

B14 for PET Isotopes – The B14 Cyclotron is designed for local and regional use to generate radioisotopes with short half lives. Its energy is selected to be optimum for PET radioisotopes such as Fluorine-18 (for FDG), Nitrogen-13 (for Ammonia), and Carbon-11 (for Raclopride and other neuroreceptor agents). The energy of the B14 allows the generation of other PET agents such as Copper-64 and Iodine-124.

B25/B35 for SPECT and Generator Radioisotopes – The B25 and B35 Cyclotrons are designed for the production of single photon emitting radioisotopes used in SPECT such as Iodine-123, and Thallium-201. The selection of the cyclotron within this energy region and beam intensity is dependent upon the user’s needs. In particular, a user may start with a B25 configuration and upgrade the accelerator and facility to a B35 when the need arises. This provides a low startup cost and the option for future enhancements as the required throughput demand increases.The B35 is capable of creating generator systems for both PET radioisotopes, such as Gallium-68, and radio therapeutic isotopes, such as Cesium-131. The B35 is a high intensity cyclotron whose radioisotope production capability can meet the demand on a national and international scale.

B70 for Generator and Therapy Radioisotopes – The B70 Cyclotron is designed to produce generator radioisotopes for PET, such as Strontium-82, and large quantities of therapeutic isotopes, such as Copper-67. The combination of high energy and high intensity provides adequate quantities of medical radioisotopes that can only be produced at 70 MeV.

NEW RADIOISOTOPE PROCESSING SYSTEMS

High Yield and Purity PET Production – A full suite of PET targets and processing systems have been developed by TeamBest. Fluorine-18 targets for the TeamBest Systems are designed for maximum power use, with chemical passivation of surfaces to eliminate contamination arising from the harsh conditions during production. Carbon-11 targets are designed to eliminate any source of naturally occurring carbon that would degrade the diagnostic capability of the radioisotope. Nitrogen-13 targets are designed to deliver labeled Ammonia in a streamlined process, making the imaging compound more suitable for diagnostic cardiology procedures.

DIRECT PRODUCTION OF Tc99m SYSTEMS

This unique processing system, available from TeamBest, can be used with Best Theratronics’ B14 and B25 Cyclotrons or other suppliers’ cyclotrons to produce enough Tc99m to adequately meet the clinical needs of large urban centers. The long term supply of Tc99m for nuclear medicine is no longer dependent on reactor supplied material. The TeamBest system can use the existing, yet small, cyclotron infrastructure or with new cyclotron sites, all for a much lower incremental cost compared to alternative systems and other isotope production technologies.
About Best Theratronics Ltd

Best Theratronics Ltd. has been manufacturing, marketing, selling and servicing cobalt-based cancer therapy systems for more than 50 years. It began as a division of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. The company is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and its 160 employees cover expertise in manufacturing, engineering, design, radiation physics, dosimetry, worldwide logistics, sales, marketing and service. Find out more at www.theratronics.com.
About Best Medical International

Best Medical International has served the medical community with the highest quality products and unparalleled customer service for more than 35 years. Best Medical International, headquartered in Springfield, Virginia, USA, encompasses a family of medical companies known as TeamBest, with a proven track record of innovation, quality and service. Find out more at www.teambest.com.
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Future prospects for proton therapy

"Don't treat tomorrow's patients with yesterday's proton therapy technology." This was the opening observation from Marco Schippers, speaking at last week's ICTR-PHE meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. Schippers, from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland, emphasized the necessity of developing novel proton therapy techniques, citing a wish list of "five highs": higher quality, higher accuracy, higher flexibility, higher intensity and higher energy. He also listed one low: lower equipment costs – generally achieved via a reduction in the size of the accelerator system.

To increase the quality of dose delivery, Schippers recommended that "in future, everyone should move to pencil-beam scanning". Currently, this technique – in which a narrow pencil beam is magnetically deflected to paint the dose throughout the target – is only used by PSI and a small number of other sites. Meanwhile, every other proton therapy centre in the world still employs passive scattering.

Pencil-beam scanning is more efficient than beam delivery via scattering, and also offers the highest flexibility for shaping the dose distribution. However, it is inherently more sensitive to organ motion during treatment. Interplay effects between the motion of the target and the proton beam can lead to hot and cold spots in the target volume. So how can the accuracy of proton dose delivery be improved?

Schippers detailed several potential approaches: gating, in which the beam is only applied at certain points in the breathing cycle; adaptive scanning, in which the pencil beam is moved to track the organ motion (although this is only in the research stage and not used yet); and fast rescanning, where the target volume is painted multiple times to average out motion effects. This latter approach requires high scanning speeds, which can be achieved by PSI's state-of-the-art Gantry 2. PSI is also investigating fast 3D scanning, in which the beam intensity is also rapidly modulated during the beam sweep.

One other option for increasing the beam delivery accuracy is integrating MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) guidance with proton therapy – such as is being developed for photon-based treatments. "I think that this is one of the things that we should go for in the future," Schippers said.
Future-proof

The third item in Schippers' wish-list was high flexibility - both in the treatment dynamics and in the equipment itself, which represents a huge investment that must be future-proof and upgradeable. "A cyclotron is the ideal accelerator for maximum flexibility," he told delegates, citing benefits including a continuous beam, high reliability and rapidly adjustable beam intensity. The 250 MeV cyclotron at PSI, for example, can modify beam intensity with 3% accuracy in just 50 μs.

The disadvantage of the cyclotron is that, in contrast to a synchrotron, it produces a beam at a single energy. Altering the beam energy requires external regulation by a degrader. The PSI system can be adjusted between 238–70 MeV, with 1% field changes (or 5 mm change in penetration depth) in 50–80 ms. Increasing the beam intensity, meanwhile, to 1–1.5 µA, would enable splitting of the beam between multiple treatment rooms. This would allow more than one gantry to be used at one time, greatly increasing patient throughput.

Schippers went on to discuss the issue of higher proton energy, and why one would actually need this. One key application is proton radiography, as protons with an energy of 350&nbp;MeV will travel straight through the patient. "The best way to measure the range of protons in a patient is by measuring the energy loss of protons in a patient," he explained.

Increasing the proton energy will also sharpen the edge of the dose distribution, as the beam spreads less, which could prove beneficial in the treatment of very small lesions. PSI is currently working to develop such a high-energy system, by adding a linac based on a design of the TERA Foundation (Italy) to the existing beam transport system in order to boost proton energy from 250 to 350 MeV (the ImPulse project).
The one low

Finally, Schippers took a look at proton therapy's inescapable need to lower costs. Ultimately, this will be achieved via the development of smaller accelerators that can fit into a single treatment room.

The size of a cyclotron can be reduced by increasing the magnetic field. However, at very strong fields, the field weakens towards the cyclotron's outside edge. To mitigate this effect, synchrocyclotron systems in which the frequency of the driving field is adapted with radius are being investigated. This arrangement is exploited in Mevion's S250 system and IBA's Proteus ONE, both of whom announced first installations of their systems towards the end of last year. Around this time, installation also commenced of ProTom's Radiance 330, a compact synchrotron system.

Looking further ahead, there's the dielectric-wall accelerator, which could be small enough to be mounted on a rotating gantry. And at the very end of Schippers' usability time scale of "now, up until mañana", sits the fixed-field alternating gradient accelerator (FFAG), the laser-driven accelerator and the plasma wakefield accelerator.

Schippers ended his presentation with a note of caution. "Smaller is better; but can we achieve the same quality as we can with the current bigger system?" he asked. "I'm not saying don't do it, but just be very careful."

About the author
Tami Freeman is editor of medicalphysicsweb.
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Varian books $77m order for proton therapy in Saudi Arabia

Jan 27, 2012

PALO ALTO, CA, 26 January 2012 – Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) today announced it has booked a $77 million order with Saudi Particle Therapy Centre LLC to equip a new proton therapy facility at the King Fahd Medical Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Varian will equip the new center with a ProBeam™ system for five treatment rooms as well as two TrueBeam™ medical linear accelerators. Equipment delivery and installation is expected to commence in spring 2013 and patient treatments are scheduled to begin in late 2014. The agreement will also include a multi-year service contract that should commence as the installation is completed.

"We are honored to have been selected to supply our equipment and software for this prestigious new facility, which will make life-saving proton therapy treatments available for the first time to cancer patients in this region," says Tim Guertin, Varian's chief executive officer. "This is an exciting step forward for our Varian Particle Therapy business."

Proton therapy makes it possible to treat certain types of cancer more precisely and with potentially fewer side effects than with conventional radiation therapy. With proton therapy, the risk of damage to healthy tissues is reduced. The method can be applied for many of the most common types of cancer and offers advantages when treating tumors close to radiosensitive tissues. In pediatric patients the risk of developing a new, radiation-induced cancer later in life can be reduced.

"We believe that more and more proton centers will want to employ the full suite of Varian products and technology for radiotherapy and radiosurgery as well as particle therapy for world-class cancer treatments," said Guertin. "The combination of these technologies based on 60 years of innovation puts Varian in a unique position to help advance clinical care for patients around the world."

Varian is currently installing and commissioning its ProBeam system at the Scripps Proton Center near San Diego. The company has also been selected to provide equipment for new proton therapy centers at the University of Maryland and in Mestre, Italy. It has been identified as the preferred provider for a new center at Emory University near Atlanta.

About Varian Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 5,700 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com or follow us on Twitter.
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Mevion Medical Systems receives $45 million investment

LITTLETON, MA, 24 January 2012 – Mevion Medical Systems announced today that it has closed a $45 Million investment from ProQuest Investments and its existing investors, including Caxton Heath Life Sciences, Venrock and CHL Medical Partners. Mevion is the manufacturer of the MEVION S250 Proton Therapy System. The capital will be used to accelerate the manufacturing and worldwide deployment of the MEVION S250.

Proton beam radiation therapy permits more precise dose targeting by complete proton absorption at predictable tissue depth, allowing the treatment of target volumes adjacent to critical structures without inadvertent dose to sensitive structures. The availability of proton therapy has remained very limited however, due to the enormous cost, large footprint, and technical complexity of traditional proton systems. Powered by a TriNiobium Core™, the MEVION S250 significantly reduces the cost, size and complexity to levels similar to other modern X-ray radiation therapy devices, and brings accessibility, affordability and practicality to proton therapy.

“We welcome the new endorsement by ProQuest Investments and the continuing support of our existing financial partners”, said Joseph K. Jachinowski, Chief Executive Officer of Mevion Medical Systems. “With delivery of our first system complete and with two additional systems now under installation, this investment will support the growing demand for our innovative technology. We are also pleased to welcome Mr. Jay Moorin of ProQuest Investments onto the Mevion Medical Systems’ Board of Directors,” stated Jachinowski.

The MEVION S250 Proton Therapy System has not yet been cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration for clinical use.
About ProQuest Investments

ProQuest is a healthcare venture capital firm with offices in Princeton, San Diego and Montreal. ProQuest invests in healthcare companies seeking financings from seed to late-stage. ProQuest’s portfolio reflects the rich diversity of the healthcare industry and exemplifies our commitment to fostering the growth of exceptional businesses. For more information, please visit ProQuest’s website at www.proquestvc.com.
About Venrock

Venrock is a premier venture capital firm with offices in Palo Alto, New York, Cambridge, MA, and Israel. Originally established as the venture capital arm of the Rockefeller family, Venrock continues a seven-decade tradition of partnering with entrepreneurs to establish successful, enduring companies. For more information, please visit Venrock's website at www.venrock.com.
About CHL Medical Partners

CHL Medical Partners is a premier venture capital firm dedicated to partnering with entrepreneurs and inventors to create and finance innovative biotechnology, molecular diagnostic, healthcare service and medical device companies. For more information, visit www.chlmedical.com.
About Mevion Medical Systems

Mevion Medical Systems, Inc. (formerly Still River Systems, Inc.) is a radiation therapy company dedicated to advancing the treatment of cancer. As the pioneering developer of modern proton therapy systems, Mevion provides innovative, safe, and effective solutions by transforming advances in medical technology and science into practical clinical reality.

Mevion’s flagship product, the MEVION S250 Proton Therapy System, is designed to preserve all of the treatment benefits of traditional proton therapy systems while removing the obstacles of size, cost, and complexity. Realizing this vision, Mevion has forever changed the economics and accessibility of proton therapy worldwide.

Founded in 2004, Mevion is a privately held company headquartered in the Boston metropolitan area with international offices in the United Kingdom and Japan.

Visit us at: www.mevion.com
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