OREANDA-NEWS. Particle therapy systems generally offer one irradiation nozzle in one treatment room. In the past, Mitsubishi Electric has integrated its conventional systems with either a double-function nozzle for broad-beam and layer-stacking irradiation, or a single-function nozzle for scanning. In Mitsubishi Electric's conventional system for broad-beam and layer-stacking irradiation, the scanning magnet was used to irradiate a beam along with a prescribed circle orbit and enlarge the beam size. MLC was used to adjust the geometry to produce a beam that conforms to the tumor's shape, and to block the beam from striking any area not requiring irradiation.

Conventionally, the high-speed scanning magnet has been used to create an illumination field by scanning a pencil beam over the tumor shape without using a MLC. Mitsubishi Electric's new multi-function nozzle makes it possible to use a MLC for scanning to outline the irradiation field more distinctly. As a result, the nozzle can achieve accurate beam irradiation for complicated shapes near vital organs.

Currently, 13 medical institutions in Japan are utilizing particle therapy systems for treatment and clinical research. Mitsubishi Electric has supplied such systems to eight of these facilities, and they have been used to treat some 20,000 people. The medical facilities have requested Mitsubishi Electric's assistance in helping to realize faster and more effective treatments, as well as the ability to switch irradiation method flexibly depending on tumor shapes or locations. In response, the company has now developed its new multi-function irradiation nozzle.