Installation of Next Generation Proton Therapy System Progressing Rapidly

LITTLETON, Mass., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Still River Systems' groundbreaking proton therapy system is entering the final phase of installation at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive Cancer Center. The precision of proton therapy makes it an important treatment option for patients with cancer, as it spares the healthy tissue and results in far fewer short- and long-term treatment complications. This unique device houses a revolutionary proton source based on the world's first superconducting synchrocyclotron and provides a significant reduction in the size, cost and complexity of developing and operating a proton therapy center.

This next generation proton therapy system is installed in three simple phases, in a radiation therapy room comparable in surface to that of conventional radiotherapy systems. Phase 1 consists of rigging and mounting the accelerator gantry, which holds and positions the proton source with sub-millimeter accuracy.  Phase 2 includes assembling and installing the clinical environment which comprises the 6D robotic couch, the high-accuracy treatment gantry and its applicators, the 2D/3D imaging and positioning systems and the clinical software interfaces.  The third and final phase consists of the installation of the accelerator module.   "The execution of phases 1 and 2 of the first installation went very smoothly and we are targeting 2 months to complete them in future installations," explains Bill Alvord, Vice President of Operations.

The production accelerator is now undergoing clinical commissioning, and all clinical parameters have exceeded performance expectations.  "The innovative design of our proton therapy system is simple and modular thus ensuring a lean and fast production line followed by a quick and efficient system installation," states CEO Joseph Jachinowski. "With our first system produced and its installation nearing completion, we are now reaping the benefits of its unique design by finalizing a complete process that can be replicated to meet the growing proton therapy demand."

Still River Systems will be exhibiting at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology in San Diego California on October 31st through November 3rd.  

ABOUT STILL RIVER SYSTEMS

Still River Systems, Inc., based in Littleton, Massachusetts, is dedicated to providing physicians, and their patients, access to high quality, cost-effective proton therapy solutions. Still River Systems is developing the Monarch250, an affordable, precise and compact proton therapy system for cancer treatment.

The Monarch250 has not been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration for distribution or clinical use. For more information on Still River Systems and the Monarch250 Proton Therapy System, please call 978-540-1500 or visit www.stillriversystems.com

SOURCE Still River Systems