World’s Smallest Proton Therapy Systems Begin Operation

A leading provider of proton therapy systems has successfully installed and opened two, modular, single-room proton therapy systems, back-to-back, demonstrating the therapeutic and economic viability of the technology.

The system, which integrates with the standard radiation therapy workflow, provides a proton therapy treatment environment at a significantly lower cost, footprint and complexity, compared to conventional systems.

Mevion Medical Systems (Littleton, MA, USA) set up the MEVION S250 system at two distinct facilities, the Ackerman Cancer Center (Jacksonville, FL, USA) and the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH; New Brunswick, NJ, USA).

The MEVION S250 is the world’s smallest single-room proton therapy system, and uses 90% less energy than existing systems. This makes the system cost effective, and gives more cancer patients access to proton therapy treatment. Proton therapy is used to target cancer cells, and causes less damage to surrounding healthy tissues than photon radiation. The reduced radiation risk makes the MEVION S250 suitable for the treatment of tumors near the spine, brain, or heart, and in pediatric and adult patients.

Bruce Haffty, MD, chief of radiation oncology at RWJUH, said, “The MEVION S250 provides RWJUH with a compact, high-quality delivery system to include in our suite of patient treatment options. […] This is an important milestone in cancer therapy for patients in this region. We can now treat patients in less time with fewer side effects with a very targeted form of radiation therapy.”

Related Links:
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Mevion Medical Systems