News Releases

Sapporo, Japan, October 23, 2014 --- Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501) and development partner, Hokkaido University today announced the launch of PROBEAT-RT, a new Single-Room Compact 360 degree Gantry Proton Beam Therapy System. Hitachi completed the installation of their first Compact Single-Room “PROBEAT-RT Proton Beam Therapy System,” at the Hokkaido University Hospital facility on schedule, and patient treatment with spot scanning beam commenced in March 2014.

The new Hitachi PROBEAT-RT technology system advancements developed with Hokkaido University includes:

• Compact 220 MeV "energy efficient" Synchrotron accelerator
• Full 360 degree Compact Gantry with rotating floor
• Real-time Tumor-tracking for motion management of sites affected by respiration
• Gantry Mounted Cone-Beam CT IGRT image guidance (Pending MLHW/PMDA)

The development of advanced Real-time Tumor-tracking, will continue with incorporation of Molecular Imaging, with the goal of dramatically reducing radiation dose to normal tissue from the imaging process. Hokkaido University's "Advanced Radiation Therapy Project Real-time Tumor-tracking with Molecular Imaging Technique" project was the only application accepted in the field of Radiation Therapy, by the Japanese Government FIRST (Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology) research program. The proposed system has gained worldwide attention as a potential driving force behind the advancement of radiation treatment and cancer therapy.

Hitachi has recently obtained Japan MLHW/PMDA approval for manufacture and sales of the spot scanning PROBEAT-RT Proton Beam Therapy treatment system with Real-time Tumor-tracking.

By merging Hitachi’s technologies with Hokkaido University expertise, Hitachi using it's proven dedicated spot scanning technology, has reduced the size of the Gantry, the Nozzle, and the Accelerator, in a new, easy-to-use, compact treatment system. In comparison to the industry leading PROBEAT Proton Beam Therapy System, the first FDA cleared spot scanning system in the US, released previously by Hitachi, the circumference of the new compact accelerator has been reduced from 23 feet to 16 feet. The Gantry of the PROBEAT has also been reduced in size, resulting in a 30 percent reduction in overall footprint.

Hitachi is currently installing three new compact Synchrotron accelerators in the US, where they will be used in a multi-room configuration, with Compact 190 degree Gantries, pending FDA clearance. Hitachi designed the new Compact system to meet the demands of today with the ability to support future growth, offering a choice of either 190 or 360 degree compact Gantries, and to expand to multiple treatment rooms from a single treatment room at a later point in time, if desired.

"Hokkaido University and Hitachi combined their respective outstanding technologies, knowledge, and experience in the medical and engineering fields, to create this cutting-edge proton beam therapy cancer treatment system, to maintain excellent quality of life (QOL) for patients. We are very pleased to introduce PROBEAT-RT to the US market, in conjunction with the first inaugural PTCOG-NA scientific meeting, hosted by the University of Texas MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center." Hitachi's Executive General Manager, Particle Therapy Division, Fumito Nakamura, said in a statement.