News
- Titlee2v modulators help treat 300 cancer patients a day
- Date13 June 2005
e2v technologies' compact modulators are enabling radiotherapy treatment for over 300 cancer patients each day. Incorporated into TomoTherapy's progressive Hi-Art System®, the solid-state modulators generate the prime energy for the system's accelerator, which delivers the X-rays used in the imaging and treatment of tumours. Visitors to the IEEE Pulsed Power Conference in Monterey, USA, are invited to Booth #3 to view this, amongst other, switching technology solutions from e2v.
The MPT5838 modulator is e2v's latest offering to the radiotherapy market. It is a high voltage, direct switching unit that has been designed for use in linear accelerators. Combined with a magnetron, electro-magnet and a microwave launching section, e2v supplies complete RF power systems to TomoTherapy that are capable of delivering the required 3MW of peak microwave power to their Hi-Art System®. e2v's technology solution was developed in close partnership with TomoTherapy, in order to fit the confined space available and to meet other technical requirements.
Bob Evensen, Director of Manufacturing at TomoTherapy, comments: 'We have been working with e2v for almost three years, having selected the Company on the merits of its forward thinking technology. e2v's modulator is highly compact in design, making it ideal for our system use. Early results showed the solid-state modulator to be more stable than line-type modulators. Furthermore, its computer-controlled and detailed diagnostics capability is a significant advantage for rapid diagnostics, something that could potentially be managed remotely in the future. It fits our requirements precisely!'
e2v currently delivers four systems each month to TomoTherapy. The company today has over 30 'clinical sites', meaning they have been fully tested and are currently being used for patient treatment. As a result, over 300 cancer patients per day are now receiving complex radiotherapy treatments from TomoTherapy's Hi-Art System®s.
Bob Evensen reflects: 'Being able to provide so many patients with highly conformal, image-guided, intensity-modulated radiotherapy treatment truly reflects the progress that TomoTherapy and e2v technologies have made to date. Our relationship is truly a partnership in all aspects of reliability, quality, features and cost.'
e2v's modulator also finds other areas of application. BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies, for example, have adopted the technology for use in radar transmitters on the Sea Wolf system, which is supplied to the UK Ministry of Defence for naval warships. Here, e2v designed a highly reliable and compact magnetron-based transmitter, which incorporated the solid-state modulator system and other microwave components and was made to fit BAE Systems' existing mechanical outline. The technology used within the transmitter has been designed to specifically meet the high reliability needs of the programme. The components offer the Royal Navy longer operating lifetimes, reduced cost of ownership and downtime, as well as improved product availability.
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