World’s First Superconducting Synchrocyclotron Designed for Proton Therapy

A new proton therapy system combines a patented, gantry-mounted proton source with highly integrated, image-based workflow and robotic patient-positioning, making proton therapy a practical clinical experience.

Mevion Medical Systems (Littleton, MA, USA) announced it has delivered the world’s first superconducting synchrocyclotron to the S. Lee Kling Center for Proton Therapy at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine (St. Louis, MO, USA). This shipment marks the last phase of the manufacturing of the first Mevion S250 proton accelerator module and the first of many of this revolutionary cancer therapy device.

“It was a very rewarding day to see our first system leave our factory knowing that what we have achieved may affect and improve the lives of cancer patients,” stated Joseph K. Jachinowski, chief executive officer of Mevion Medical Systems. “The innovative design of the Mevion S250 makes adding proton therapy remarkably easier for our hospital partners than what was previously available.”

Powered by a triniobium core, the high-energy proton source of the Mevion S250 preserves all of the treatment benefits of conventional proton treatment systems while removing the obstacles of size, cost, and complexity that have limited the wide implementation of this promising cancer treatment modality.

Similar to conventional radiation therapy systems in terms of footprint, workflow, and throughput, the system will easily incorporate within existing radiation therapy departments to deliver innovative cancer care in a very conventional way. “Barnes Jewish Hospital prides itself in providing the most advanced technologies to its patients. We are delighted to add this latest development in radiation therapy to our cancer-fighting arsenal,” said Jeff Bradley, MD, director of the S. Lee Kling Center for Proton Therapy at Siteman Cancer Center.

This installation of the Mevion S250 at Barnes Jewish Hospital is to be completed early in 2012. Two additional facilities are also in the midst of installation; Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (New Brunswick, NJ, USA) and Oklahoma University (Oklahoma City, OK, USA). Both of these installations are also to be completed in 2012.

Mevion Medical Systems, Inc. (formerly Still River Systems, Inc.) is a radiation therapy company focused on advancing the treatment of cancer. The US Food and Drug Administration have not cleared the Mevion S250 proton therapy system for clinical use.

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