22 September 2013 – Recent tests of unique superconducting magnet elements, being developed by ProNova Solutions, LLC, have resulted in achieving full field for the new 230MeV compact proton therapy system. The ProNova SC360 utilizes patent pending superconducting achromats to enable rapid energy changes without rapid ramping of the superconducting elements.
“These test results are very exciting,” said Joe Matteo, President of ProNova R&D, “this breakthrough will allow us to push forward with finalizing the manufacturing design of the SC360 and help lower the overwhelming cost of proton therapy.”
ProNova’s light weight superconducting magnet design enables enhanced features in their compact gantry such as 360 degrees of treatment rotation, unprecedented patient access during setup and the ability to add advanced imaging in all treatment positions without moving the patient.
ProNova is working together with Cryomagnetics, Inc in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to finalize this development of a compact energy efficient superconducting achromat. Superconducting magnets are the key enabling technology that allows ProNova to design and manufacture a significantly lighter gantry with additional features not possible with other more limited systems. The gantry will weigh in at a total of 25 tons, one-third the weight of today’s full-featured proton therapy gantries. The total power consumption will peak at 115 kW, about half of the power consumption of next generation competitive systems. ProNova plans to treat patients on the first ever superconducting proton therapy gantry in 2015.
In addition to the superconducting achromat development, ProNova continues to conduct beam scanning tests of their Compact Combined Function Scanning Magnet at Indiana University. In an earlier announcement by the company, ProNova has a collaborative agreement with Indiana University to develop and test their proton therapy scanning system. The scanning magnet, power, and control system have been installed and the system is currently undergoing optimization for both Uniform Beam Scanning and Pencil Beam Scanning.
In parallel to the scanning system, the full energy selection system and micro-stepping degrader are also fully operational at Indiana University (IU). This relationship has proven to be invaluable, allowing ProNova to quickly develop, test, and bring to market this advanced beam delivery system and IU has the opportunity to use their many years of proton experience to influence ProNova’s next generation system.
Over the next several months, ProNova will integrate the beam delivery system with the gantry and cyclotron at the Provision Center for Proton Therapy in Knoxville, Tennessee. Data will then be collected for FDA clearance with a planned clearance and first patient treatment in 2015.
About ProNova
ProNova is committed to making proton therapy accessible to a greater number of patients and physicians worldwide. Founded by the leaders of CTI Molecular Imaging, ProNova’s team brought positron emission tomography (PET) technology out of the laboratory and made it a clinical reality for millions of cancer patients. Our team's early work revolutionized cancer diagnostics and helped to develop an industry with over 350 cyclotrons, more than 3,000 PET & PET/CT systems and 160 PET radiopharmaceutical distribution centers installed around the world today. The same team will redefine cancer treatment once again with the introduction of the SC360 proton therapy system.
©
