September 29, 2013

ProNova installs first SC360 gantry in Provision Center for Proton Therapy

MedicalPhysicsWeb

23 September 2013 – During the last week of August, multiple components of the ProNova SC360 superconducting light weight gantry were lowered into the fourth vault of the Provision Center for Proton Therapy, located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Designed to be rapidly assembled and shipped using standard shipping methods, the SC360 gantry was installed in record time. Full rotational testing was started less than two weeks after delivery on September 6.

The ProNova SC360 gantry is a full functional gantry with 360 degrees of rotation and the lightest proton gantry on the market. The patent pending gantry bearing enables the treatment isocenter to be cantilevered into the treatment room and accessible by both staff and auxiliary imaging. The gantry and magnet assembly is one-third the weight of other 360 degree capable gantries and operates at one-half the power. The ProNova SC360 gantry is designed to accuracies of ± .5mm at isocenter.

“We are happy to see that our unique system designs are delivering,” said Joe Matteo, ProNova President of R&D. “From paper to reality in 12 months, this further demonstrates ProNova’s capabilities and aggressive desire to lower the cost and size barriers to proton therapy for many more providers.”

Recently the Workshop on Ion Beam Therapy sponsored by NIH, NCI and the Department of Energy released a report describing the need for superconducting technology that would allow the advancement of proton therapy and the development of the next generation of Particle Therapy. ‘Superconducting magnet technology could greatly reduce the size of gantries, and is expected to play a role in the next generation of gantry designs. There is an opportunity for R&D, including prototyping, to explore the possibility that one or more of these gantry concepts could lead to a more functional and less expensive ion beam therapy facility.’ The ProNova SC360 uses patent pending superconducting magnet technology in the first full-function superconducting particle therapy gantry to lower the weight and shrink the depth of the gantry and is fully designed and manufactured in the USA. ProNova will apply for FDA clearance for the SC360 and expects first patient treatments to commence 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.
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