Sep 15 2014
ProNova Solutions and medPhoton announced today that they have agreed to form an exclusive partnership that will merge leading edge pencil beam IMPT and innovative integrated imaging into a unique next generation offering for the proton therapy market.
ProNova will integrate the medPhoton ImagingRing system into the SC360 proton therapy solution. The resulting system will include Fast Scanning IMPT technology with integrated 3D imaging. This unique solution merges leading edge pencil beam delivery, innovative dual-energy 3D imaging capability and precision positioning to aid physicians and therapists in minimizing collateral damage to healthy tissue and maximizing dose to the tumor. The ProNova compact superconducting gantry design allows for 360 degrees of patient treatment angle and improved workflow, resulting in faster treatment times and higher productivity.
medPhoton´s newly developed ImagingRing system is a slim, couch based, in-room CBCT device, capable of large field of view, low dose, single source dual energy 3D volumetric and 2D planar image acquisitions. It supports smooth workflows and highest precision in inter- and intrafractional image guided radiotherapy.
“medPhoton is glad that our hard research and development work over the last years will now have a real impact on the field. After having installed our first unit at the carbon beam facility MedAustron, we will now integrate our slim imaging ring system with ProNova’s cutting edge small footprint proton therapy equipment. In combination of both systems, precise beam adaptation and tracking of moving targets will be possible in the near future. A series of joint installations, research and clinical, has been ordered,” says Heinz Deutschmann, chief executive officer and founder of medPhoton.
“ProNova is proud to partner with an innovative company like medPhoton,” said Joe Matteo, Division President of ProNova Solutions, R&D and manufacturing. “Together we feel that this unique solution will enable clinicians to develop advanced proton therapy protocols for Adaptive Therapy.”
The new ProNova SC360 system will be on display in Booth #637 at ASTRO’s 56th Annual Meeting being held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA. This year’s meeting will highlight many of the advances in proton therapy, including the need for continued innovation in imaging capability and positioning accuracy.
About Proton Therapy
Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that uses a single beam of high-energy protons to treat various forms of cancer. Just as with conventional radiation therapy, proton treats tumors by directing radiation into the tumor site where doses of radiation destroy cancerous cells. However, unlike conventional radiation therapy, in which x-ray beams deposit their energy into the healthy tissue before and after the tumor site, physicians can control the timing and dosage of energy from protons, which allows the maximum energy deposited directly into the tumor, reducing damage to nearby healthy tissue and thus limiting negative side effects.
About medPhoton
medPhoton is an Austrian startup company, a spin-off of the radART institute of the Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, with a strong clinical background and planned installations also in combination with linear accelerators. The firm is committed to research and development for progress in robotic imaging and aims to redefine capabilities in image guided radiation therapy and medical interventions. A highly motivated and young team of experts in the fields of medical physics, software engineering, mechatronics, mechanical engineering and medicine (physicians and RTTs) works with the unique mission to set new benchmarks in imaging for cancer treatment to help patients around the world.
About ProNova Solutions, LLC
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.