Toshiba will install the system of therapy by heavy ions in hospital of Seoul National University

2020: Announcement of system implementation of radiation therapy by heavy ions

On September 10, 2020 Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions company (further in the text of Toshiba ESS) which earlier in 2020 signed with the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation the memorandum of implementation of the systems of therapy by heavy ions, announced that it received the contract for installation of a similar system in Hospital of Seoul National University (SNUH).

According to the company, the agreement with hospital, the supplier of medical services in the Republic of Korea, Toshiba ESS signed as a part of consortium with global medical company DK Medical Solutions. For Toshiba ESS it is already the second contract for installation of a system of therapy by heavy ions in South Korea. The system of therapy by heavy ions will consist of the procedural room with the rotating installation and rooms with horizontally fixed radiator. A system will also be equipped with modern technology for measurement of doses of large volumes and work with large affected areas of fabrics.

In therapy heavy ions use, in particular, carbon ions. With their help the power beam which is directed to the struck fabrics is generated. A system accelerates a bunch of ions of carbon to 70% of light speed and delivers the concentrated radiation dose in target section. It is fast and minimum invasive method of treatment which provides radiation of affected areas of fabrics, point and fatal to cancer cells, with the minimum damage of surrounding healthy fabrics. In addition, it allows to reduce quantity of particles in comparison with other types of radiotheraphy.

Toshiba ESS for several decades develops the systems of therapy by heavy ions in cooperation with the Japanese National Institute of quantum and radiological researches and technologies (QST/NIRS). The company for September, 2020 made the contribution to building of several installations for therapy by heavy ions in Japan. In them modern technologies, including fast and exact positioning of the patient, high-speed 3D - scanning, control of breath of the patient at influence of a bunch of ions, the system of rotational radiation of the lying patient are used. The sizes of this system managed to be reduced thanks to magnets that along with use of the advanced radiator is key difference of Toshiba ESS technology. Opportunities were estimated in Hospital of Seoul National University thanks to what the company and won the construction contract of installation. Earlier in 2020 Toshiba ESS signed the general framework agreement with NMITs of radiology of the Russian Ministry of Health on construction of a similar system of therapy by heavy ions in Russia.

The platform on which it is going to construct the system of radiation therapy by heavy ions is in Busan, separately from the main department of SNUH in Seoul. The Busan division specializes in treatment by heavy ions.