Barnes Jewish Hospital Receives World’s First Superconducting Synchrocyclotron for Proton Therapy

November 2, 2011 — Mevion Medical Systems 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 in St. Louis, Mo. This inaugural shipment marks the last phase of the manufacturing of the first Mevion S250 proton accelerator module. The synchrocyclotron was delivered after a 1,200 mile, four-day trip from Mevion's headquarters in Littleton, Mass. to St. Louis.

Powered by a TriNiobium Core, the high-energy proton source of the Mevion S250 will preserve all of the benefits of conventional proton treatment systems while removing the obstacles of size, cost and complexity that have limited its wide adoption.

The system combines a patented, gantry-mounted proton source with a highly integrated, image-based workflow and robotic patient positioning. Similar to traditional radiation therapy systems in terms of footprint, workflow, and throughput, the device will easily integrate within existing radiation therapy departments.

"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," says Jeff Bradley, M.D., director of the S. Lee Kling Center for Proton Therapy at Siteman Cancer Center.

System installation is to be completed early next year. Two additional facilities are also in the midst of installation; Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J. and Oklahoma University in Oklahoma City, Okla. Both of these installations are also to be completed in 2012.

For more information: www.mevion.com