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Approach to Development of Heavy-Ion Radiotherapy Systems for Cancer Treatment Toward Dissemination of Patient-Friendly Heavy-Ion Radiotherapy for Cancer Treatment OKAMURA Kiyoshi Toshiba's Advanced Technologies Contributing to Heavy-Ion Radiotherapy for Cancer Treatment IIKURA Takahiko Toshiba has been focusing efforts on cancer treatment in the healthcare field, which is likely to continue to expand in the future. Our objective is to offer healthcare processes from early detection by means of regular cancer examinations, through to precise diagnosis, treatment ensuring the quality of life (QOL) appropriate to individual patients, and aftercare. In particular, we are promoting the development of heavy-ion radiotherapy systems incorporating our range of technologies for particle accelerators, irradiation devices, superconducting magnets, and information processing and networks. By offering healthcare processes with advanced heavy-ion radiotherapy systems as a core, our approach is expected to contribute to high-quality cancer treatment. Application of Toshiba's Advanced Technologies to Heavy-Ion Radiotherapy Facilities ONO Michitaka / HIRATA Yutaka / YAZAWA Takashi With the increase in cancer patients due to the growth of the elderly population and improvements in diagnostic technologies in recent years, attention is being increasingly focused on heavy-ion radiotherapy and the number of treatment facilities is also increasing. Toshiba is promoting the development of heavy-ion radiotherapy equipment based on its proprietary technologies cultivated through its experience in the development of accelerator technologies. We have been participating in the development of heavy-ion radiotherapy facilities for the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), and have developed three core technologies for next-generation heavy-ion radiotherapy systems: a three-dimensional (3D) scanning irradiation system, a patient handling system using a robot arm-type treatment table, and a treatment information system. In addition to these, we are developing other new technologies including a rotating gantry technology. We have also received orders for equipment for a heavy-ion radiotherapy facility at the Kanagawa Cancer Center called i-ROCK (Ion-beam Radiation Oncology Center in Kanagawa), and have been developing equipment for that facility. Toshiba's Accelerator Technology and Approach toward Higher Performance and Downsizing for Heavy-Ion Radiotherapy SATO Kohsuke / SATO Kiyokazu / TASAKI Kenji Toshiba has developed various systems and components for particle beam accelerators, and delivered a number of accelerator systems including for SPring-8, which is the world's largest-class synchrotron radiation facility, as well as for the Central Japan Synchrotron Radiation Facility (provisional name). Combining our proprietary technologies cultivated through our experience in the development of particle beam accelerators, we are promoting the development of an accelerator for heavy-ion radiotherapy. Toward the higher performance and downsizing of its accelerator, we are also focusing on the research and development of both an ion source applying laser beam technologies, and a superconducting deflecting magnet for accelerators. Toward Realizing High-Efficiency and High-Accuracy Irradiation System for Heavy-Ion Radiotherapy and Reducing Burden on Patients ISEKI Yasushi / HANAWA Katsushi / KURUSU Tsutomu Toshiba has developed a high-speed scanning irradiation system as a next-generation irradiation system for heavy-ion radiotherapy equipment, equipped with both multistage energy control of the accelerator and beam-position feedback control in order to perform more highly precise irradiation. This system makes it possible to deliver radiation conforming to the three-dimensional shape of the target area affected by cancer, and shortens the treatment time by eliminating the need to manufacture and install treatment implements. We are also developing a rotating gantry that can irradiate from many directions by rotating in a 360° circle. By realizing miniaturization of the gantry using a superconducting electromagnet in the beamline, we expect heavy-ion radiotherapy equipment incorporating this system to be introduced in private-sector hospitals in the near future. Advanced Medical Systems Realizing Smooth Operation of Heavy-Ion Radiotherapy KASAI Shigeru / MIURA Yukio In order to treat more cancer patients using heavy-ion radiotherapy systems, Toshiba has developed the following advanced medical systems: (1) a patient handling system consisting of a selectively compliant articulated robot arm (SCARA) type treatment table, a top plate, and a cart, which makes it possible to increase the number of treatments per treatment room by accurately and rapidly determining the beam-irradiation position; and (2) a treatment information system that collects the treatment information in conjunction with the medical information systems used at each step from reception to irradiation, facilitating sharing of the information among the staff involved in the treatment and ensuring smooth operation of the heavy-ion radiotherapy system. Medical Equipment and Design Approach Contributing to Evolution of Heavy-Ion Radiotherapy KUWAHARA Takayuki / OTOHA Shigeru As part of the efforts being made to realize high-quality cancer treatment, the Toshiba Group is striving to offer healthcare processes with the advanced heavy-ion radiotherapy system as the core. In addition to key technologies including ion accelerators and irradiation devices developed by Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation has developed an image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) technology for rapid and highly accurate determination of the beam irradiation position using computer tomography (CT) images taken by an AquilionTM X-ray CT scanner installed in the same treatment room. Moreover, in the area of design, Toshiba has employed a comprehensive approach that considers both optimal operations for the medical personnel and psychological care for the patient in each medical workflow, regarding the various items of equipment as a whole treatment system. In order to realize smooth communication between medical personnel and patients, Toshiba has also applied a design that provides efficiency and comfort appropriate to the treatment status to the displays of the treatment information system. Toshiba's Approach toward Technological Innovations in Equipment for Future Cancer Therapy OZAKI Akira / YOSHIYUKI Takeshi With the expanding use of heavy-ion radiotherapy as a result of continuing technological innovations, the number of applicable cancer patients is expected to further increase in the future. Future facilities will be equipped with a compact accelerator and rotating gantry using high-temperature superconducting magnets, and will feature high-speed and high-precision irradiation technology applying advanced tracking technologies. Furthermore, the early detection of cancer and the dissemination of advanced treatment will be accelerated through the progress of medical information coordination using advanced diagnosis technologies and cloud systems. Toshiba is continuously realizing innovations in treatment equipment and is making efforts to provide integrated system solutions, including for community collaboration and whole hospital systems, in cooperation with Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, medical information system companies, and facility constructors. By promoting advancement of the health care processes from cancer detection, diagnosis, and therapy to aftercare, our aim is to contribute to the early realization of a society providing a more comfortable medical environment for the largest possible number of people. |