FDA Approves Updated Varian Radiation Therapy System

Varian Medical Systems’ updated ProBeam™ proton therapy system can now be marketed in the United States. The system was previously cleared for the European market and has been at work in the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center in Germany, which has now treated over 1,500 patients. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a 510(k) clearance for the system, which delivers radiation doses more precisely in order to minimize harm to non-cancerous tissue and reduce proton therapy treatment side effects. According to Varian, the technology in the new system allows for more accurate intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) by modulating dose levels on a spot-by-spot basis throughout the treatment area. In addition, the updated scanning beam technology also eliminates the need to manually insert separate shaping accessories for each beam angle in order to match the beam to the shape of the tumor. This may save treatment centers time.