Integrated Proton Therapy System Features Pencil-Beam Scanning Technology

A new proton therapy platform incorporates imaging, gating, robotic patient positioning, treatment planning, and oncology information software to enhance treatment quality for patients and workflow efficiency for clinicians.

Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, CA, USA) introduced the fully integrated ProBeam proton therapy system at the 2010 Particle Therapy Cooperative Group (PT-COG) meeting held in Gunma, Japan, in May 2010. "ProBeam is the result of decades of leadership in proton therapy research and development and it has been designed from the ground-up to meet the needs of clinicians and patients alike,” said Moataz Karmalawy, head of Varian's particle therapy group. "This fully integrated system can be used for all forms of advanced proton therapy including image-guided proton therapy and intensity-modulated proton therapy.”

The ProBeam system incorporates Dynamic Peak integrated scanning technology, which paints a precise radiation dose on the target volume, enabling true intensity-modulated proton therapy. The system also incorporates proprietary pencil-beam scanning technology, which allows for precise dose distribution.

Utilizing the proven technology of Varian's 250 MeV superconducting cyclotron and features, the ProBeam system includes a streamlined treatment console with a modern, graphical, easy-to-use interface that consolidates all controls for imaging, treatment, and motion management. Treatment process and workflows are simplified and easy to learn, with a ‘follow the light' guidance system that is designed to enhance usability and promote safety by guiding therapists through the steps of even the most complicated treatments.

The ProBeam interface has the same revolutionary design as Varian's recently announced TrueBeam system for radiation therapy and TrueBeam STx system for radiosurgery. "It's structured and organized the way oncology clinics work every day,” added Mr. Karmalawy.

"ProBeam simplifies the proton therapy treatment process for clinicians and patients alike,” remarked Lester Boeh, head of Varian's emerging businesses group. "Varian is bringing the same integrated, automated, and versatile approach to proton therapy as it has for many years of leadership in radiation therapy.”

Varian Medical Systems is a world-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.

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