B dot Medical is highlighting the successful performance of a superconducting bending magnet that could be used as part of a compact proton cancer therapy system.
In a cooling and conducting energization test, the magnet generated a high magnetic field, the company said. Its use could make proton cancer therapy systems smaller and less expensive, according to the firm.
Conventional proton therapy systems are extremely large because they use normal-conducting electromagnets for the gantry, according to the company. This generates a strong magnetic field that bends the proton beam inside the magnet, rotating it around the patient.
But B dot Medical has designed a compact proton therapy system with a nonrotating gantry -- a feat made possible by bending the proton beam.
B dot Medical next plans a pattern operation test to control the magnetic field generated by the superconducting magnet and a proton beam test; it will then apply for Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.