On March 16, Hefei CAS Ion Medical and Technical Devices Co., Ltd. superconducting cyclotron proton therapy system realize 200MeV energy beam-out from the treatment room, which marks the successful development of the world's most compact superconducting proton therapy system.

Fig.1 Layout of the compact Superconducting Proton Therapy System

Proton therapy, as a new type of radiotherapy technology with high efficiency, low side effects and fast recovery of patients, is an internationally advanced method of treating tumors. Due to the high cost of introducing proton equipment and operation and maintenance costs, the key technology is monopolized by foreign countries. The development of domestic proton therapy equipment with independent intellectual property rights has a wide range of prospects for application.

Fig2. The Compact Superconducting Cyclotron Developed in China

After five years of research and development,  HFCIM has made breakthroughs in the development of components, integration and assembly, system testing and other key nodes of the necklace technology, successfully developed this compact superconducting proton therapy system with a beam current of 200 MeV. The cyclotron achieves the highest field strength of 3.0T; the diameter is reduced by 25%, only 2.2 meters, and the total weight is less than 50 tons. After several months of system commission, HFCIM has successfully realized the beam flow introduction in the treatment room, solved the problem of compatibility between high-precision beam flow transmission and precise conformal treatment, and mastered the technology of high-precision control and precise positioning. 

Fig.3 Beam Out Data Map

In addition, HFCIM has completed the research and development of the first supercritical helium-cooled superconducting diode iron system in China and the design of a miniaturized superconducting rotating system, which has significantly reduced the development and construction costs.