Successful Usability Evaluation of the In-Room CT Workflow on the ProBeam® System at Holland Particle Therapy Centre

 
User-focused design is a corner stone of Varian’s product realization process to ensure that our products not just effectively meet users’ needs but delight our users.

Varian measures user experience by the following characteristics:

Effectiveness – how well does the system enable users to accomplish tasks and goals

Safety – how free an environment is from danger, risk, and injury (given that our environment includes multiple hardware and software subsystems, facilities, people, etc.)

Efficiency – how much effort and time it takes to accomplish tasks and goals

Satisfaction – the users’ perceptions and subjective reactions towards accomplishing tasks and goals

Recently, the workflow for the in-room CT solution on the ProBeam system was subjected to user evaluations by multiple users at Holland Particle Therapy Centre (HollandPTC).  HollandPTC collaborated intensively with Varian on the integration of the in-room CT with the ProBeam system. Specifically, three medical physicists and three radiation therapists employed at HollandPTC rendered their feedback on the in-room CT workflow from patient selections, image matching, user interface feedback, interface labeling, and several use-related hazards specific to the in-room CT workflow. 

The environment utilized during this formative usability session included the following elements:

ARIA® v13.7
ProBeam treatment table
ProBeam treatment and imaging applications
Siemens SOMATOM Confidence® RT Pro CT

Varian’s in-room CT solution on the ProBeam system will complement our current imaging offerings for the gantry and fixed beam rooms.

Nienke Hoffmans-Holtzer, medical physicist at HollandPTC, highlighted the need for rapid soft tissue imaging, not only for position verification, but also for adaptive treatment planning. “We will start our research on online and offline adaptive treatment planning by analyzing treatment sessions retrospectively to understand how the dose would have changed with adaptive planning,” said Nienke Hoffmans-Holtzer (sitting behind the computer in the photograph above).

Joel Rumley, product manager and user experience designer of the Varian Particle Therapy Division, stated that the participants offered very positive feedback on the effectiveness and the quality of the implemented workflow.  Furthermore, the clinical team at HollandPTC has openly embraced the usability evaluation experience as a means not only to learn about our system but more importantly to impart their clinical experiences and needs to the development team, who are steadfast and diligently working on the in-room CT workflow on the ProBeam system to be released in late 2017.

©

Mevion and medPhoton Bring Advanced Cone Beam CT Imaging to Proton Therapy

 

May 4, 2017 — Mevion Medical Systems announced a strategic agreement with medPhoton GmbH to integrate ImagingRing, an innovative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)system for volumetric image guidance, with the Mevion S250i with Hyperscan, Mevion’s pencil-beam scanning proton therapy system. The new CBCT offering will debut at the 36th annual meeting of the European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO), May 5-9 in Vienna, Austria.

By adding fully integrated cone beam imaging to Mevion’s suite of in-room image guidance capabilities, Mevion and medPhoton provide simplicity of workflow and more precise and efficient treatment delivery.

CBCT imaging is an important capability in the treatment room to precisely position patients for pencil beam proton therapy. In-room CBCT, when integrated to Mevion’s Verity image-guided patient positioning system, will enable users to treat patients with the latest image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)technology and deliver high-precision positioning and adaptive proton therapy in a simple workflow. Clinicians will be able to track anatomical changes throughout the course of treatment and adapt the treatment plan as needed to ensure accurate proton dose delivery.

ImagingRing will be fully integrated into optimized workflows with the Mevion S250 Series and Verity Patient Positioning System. Together with Mevion’s 6D robotic treatment couch, it enables detailed imaging of the tumor and organs at risk with the patient positioned at the treatment isocenter.

The Mevion S250i proton therapy system is not yet U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared.

For more information: www.mevion.com, www.medphoton.at©

IBA and Philips step up collaboration in Brazilian proton therapy market

SAO PAULO, 14 June 2017 – Building on their collaborative achievements since 2014 to provide advanced diagnostic and therapeutic oncology solutions, IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.), the world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions, and Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG AEX: PHIA), a leader in health technology, today announced that they are stepping up their combined efforts for proton therapy in Brazil.

Both companies agree to step up joint sales and marketing activities in Brazil, for the promotion of Philips's imaging and clinical informatics solutions in oncology, and IBA's proton therapy solutions. By merging their respective expertise in image guidance and therapy, Philips and IBA continue to co-innovate in diagnostic and therapeutic oncology solutions, with the ultimate objective of enabling more effective and personalized cancer care.

The Brazilian market for superior medical imaging solutions and advanced forms of radiotherapy treatment such as proton therapy is a key focus for both partners. The commercial collaboration between Philips and IBA has already led to the successful execution of proton therapy contracts in Europe, Asia and the Middle-East.

“There is a strong willingness to strengthen and accelerate the strategic partnership between our companies, and focus our efforts to rapidly expand markets such as Brazil,” said Mauro Ferreira, Vice President of Sales LATAM at IBA. “During the last three years our achievements have clearly demonstrated the benefit of the relationship between our two organizations; keeping us at the forefront of innovation in cancer treatment.”

“Our aim in oncology is to improve patient outcomes and enhance quality of life, combined with the best possible patient experience” said Renato Garcia Carvalho, Country Leader at Philips Brazil. “With our combined technologies and services for informed and confident decision making, imaging, precision planning and targeted patient-specific therapy; IBA and Philips enable many possibilities. We are delighted with the progress we have made in bringing advanced proton therapy to more people. We look forward to continuing our joint innovative efforts, to make a real difference in cancer care.”

IBA and Philips offer unique integrated solutions for proton therapy and molecular imaging centers. They are currently installing state-of-the-art proton therapy solutions at three compact proton therapy centers in the UK, one compact center in the Middle East, and one large proton therapy center in India. Depending on the proton therapy center, the installed solution can include IBA’s proton therapy systems, such as; the Proteus®ONE* and Proteus®PLUS, and Philips’ imaging and clinical informatics solutions, such as Philips’ Big Bore CT and PET CT systems and Philips’ Pinnacle3** Treatment Planning System.

;copy&;

IBA hosts groundbreaking ceremony for state-of-the-art production facility

LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, BELGIUM, 19 June 2017 – IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., EURONEXT), the world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, today announces it is holding a groundbreaking ceremony for its new International Logistics and Manufacturing Headquarters (the “facility”) at the site in Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium today. The previously announced EUR 16 million investment is part of IBA’s “scale up” program to increase production capacity to meet the growing demand for proton therapy solutions around the world.

Upon completion, the new building will include a state-of-the-art assembly line for the new superconducting synchrocyclotron, used for IBA’s single-room compact proton therapy system, Proteus®ONE*, with the capacity to produce 20 to 30 proton accelerators per year which is an increase from the current eight to ten accelerators per year. The Proteus®ONE* assembly line should be operational in the first quarter of 2018 and the rest of the center, including new offices and customer center will follow in the same year.

The new building will cover a total of 9,000 sq. meters and will include a dedicated visitor center and augmented reality product showcases. The high quality, environmentally friendly facility will combine user comfort, energy efficiency, responsible water management and biodiversity development. The zero-energy building will make use of innovative elements including heat recovery from the particle accelerators testing process, green roofs, passive type insulation and solar panels to reduce the impact on the environment.

Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA, commented: “There is a growing demand for proton therapy solutions globally, driven by the lower cost of therapy, technology advances and greater clinical validation. IBA has a clear growth strategy to capitalize on these trends and our new International Logistics and Manufacturing Headquarters will ensure we have the capacity to meet this demand.”

About Proteus®ONE

Proteus®ONE is the compact intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) solution from IBA. It benefits from the latest technologies developed with renowned clinical institutions. Proteus®ONE is smaller, more affordable, easier to install and to operate. It is ultimately easier to finance, making this advanced radiation therapy modality available to more institutions and patients worldwide.

*Proteus®ONE is a brand name of Proteus 235

©

Advanced Oncotherapy reports progress in manufacture of LIGHT proton therapy system

12 June 2017 – Advanced Oncotherapy (AIM: AVO), the developer of next-generation proton therapy systems for cancer treatment, announces further notable progress in the manufacture of its first LIGHT system. 

Patient Positioning System

Multiple components of the treatment room have been manufactured, inspected and tested by the Company's partner P-Cure Ltd. ("P-Cure"), ahead of their integration to form a complete patient treatment system. 

The patient positioning subsystem, which includes the patient treatment chair and robotic arm which moves the chair and patient, is complete and has been designed to leverage LIGHT's next-generation features. As other subsystems are completed, such as imaging and treatment management software, they will be integrated to form the whole Patient Positioning System, which remains on track to be fully developed by the end of 2017.

Beam firing through RFQ

As indicated in the Investor presentation and update of 6 March 2017, the proton beam was fired through the Radio Frequency Quadrupole ("RFQ"), at its maximum expected energy, in February 2017. Subsequent work has focused on enhancing the proton source that feeds the RFQ; repeatability of beam firing, intensive usage to facilitate high patient throughput and maximising safety controls are all key elements of LIGHT.

Ionisation chamber

In addition, the Company announces it has received delivery of the LIGHT system's ionisation chamber, from its partner Pyramid Technical Consultants Inc., to its Geneva testing facility. The ionisation chamber is a critical element of the LIGHT system's overall safety system, monitoring beam position, spot size and dosage and is situated at the delivery end of the system after the main accelerating modules.

The novel design of the chamber is matched to the unique properties of LIGHT and performs a precise measurement of the position (in horizontal and vertical axes) of the proton beam, with respect to its desired location, and is a critical element of the LIGHT system's Patient Treatment System. It also accurately monitors the dose (number of protons) delivered to the target. The properties of the LIGHT ionisation chamber allow these measurements to be taken, on a pulse by pulse basis, ensuring accuracy and safety throughout treatment, to a level that cannot be matched by older proton therapy technologies.

Commenting, Nicolas Serandour, CEO of Advanced Oncotherapy, said: "As I outlined in my update to shareholders in March, the Company remains focused on delivering the technical development of our first LIGHT machine and its ultimate installation at Harley Street, and I am very pleased with the progress we are making. 

"We will continue to update the market with newsflow on the integration of the LIGHT system's components, with developments on the CCL units, addition of the SCDTLs to the RFQ and on the Patient Positioning System anticipated in the coming weeks and months."

©