OREANDA-NEWS. Hitachi, Ltd. has announced it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for commercial supply of the new PROBEAT-V system, which it designed and developed for Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Treatments began in late June and the first patient treatment was completed in August 2015.

The PROBEAT-V is a state-of-the-art proton beam therapy system used to deliver Hitachi's Discrete Spot Scanning capability to each treatment room. The 190 degree half gantries provide efficient yet spacious treatment room environments. Hitachi's smallest treatment spot size to date enables the system to achieve highly precise treatments. In addition, installation and commissioning activities are already underway at a second Mayo facility in Phoenix, AZ, with treatments scheduled to start in the spring of 2016.

Mayo Clinic treats more than 1.3 million patients annually from all 50 states and 143 countries. Mayo Clinic has maintained its position as one of the top hospitals in U.S. News & World Report rankings for more than 20 years.

Given the growing demand for technical and clinical advancements in the treatment of cancer, interest in proton therapy is on the rise, with more and more hospitals and cancer treatment facilities venturing into this area. Hitachi will continue to globally expand the healthcare business where proton therapy is its flagship solution, and contribute to cancer treatment around the world.