FDA Clears Advanced Motion Management for Hitachi’s Proton Therapy System

Hitachi, Ltd. and Hokkaido University announced that it has obtained U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance on December 26, 2017 for the commercialization of “Real Time Image Gating System for Proton Beam Therapy Systems” (RGPT), allowing for its systems in the United States to treat patients with cutting-edge motion management together with its advanced Spot Scanning irradiation technology.
 
Proton therapy is a type of radiation used to treat cancer in which protons from a hydrogen atom are extracted and accelerated up to 60 percent the speed of light. Its energy is concentrated directly on the tumor while avoiding radiation dose to the surrounding healthy tissues. Patients experience no pain during treatment and the procedure has very few side effects compared with that of traditional radiotherapy. In most cases, patients can continue with their normal daily activities while undergoing treatment, thus maintaining their Quality of Life. For these reasons, demand for this type of cutting-edge irradiation therapy continues to grow around the world.
 
In 2010, a grant under the Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology (the “FIRST Program”) sponsored by the Japanese government was awarded to the project between Hitachi and Hokkaido University to jointly develop an advanced technology to treat moving targets with proton beam therapy. By 2014, RGPT and the advanced irradiation technology of Spot Scanning were integrated into Hitachi’s system for the first time. Conventional motion management simply tracks the surface of the patient’s body and irradiates with the proton beam based on a predetermined timing. By tracking the location of gold markers placed near the tumor with X-rays, RGPT is able to irradiate the targeted tumor while in motion and with greater accuracy with a proton beam.
 
Hitachi received clearance from Japan’s Pharmaceuticals Medical Device Administration for its Proton Beam Therapy system equipped with RGPT (patent no. 05896211) in August 2014. Jointly developed with Hokkaido University Hospital (Dr. Kiyohiro Houkin, Director) and its Clinical Research and Medical Innovation Center (Dr. Norihiro Sato, General Manager), RGPT has been used in approximately 70 percent of patients treated in the past 3 (approx.) years at the hospital. RGPT has since been highly acclaimed and has been awarded the Imperial Invention Prize of 2017 – an honor bestowed by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation for the most outstanding inventions.
 
Dr. Hiroki Shirato, Director of Hokkaido University Hospital’s Research Group with which Hitachi conducted the joint development, stated, “Hokkaido University has been developing motion tracking technology in the field of X-ray therapy. By combining this technology with Spot Scanning technology, the accurate irradiation of tumors, including those attached to large organs in motion which are difficult to irradiate with X-rays, will be possible and will lead to greater adaptation. I am very pleased that this innovation for highly precise irradiation will become broadly available around the world.”
 
With this FDA clearance, Hitachi will move forward with plans to install RGPT at facilities under construction in the United States.
 
Hitachi provides superior proton therapy systems to world-class hospitals in Japan, the United States and around the world. With more than 16,000 patients treated with its systems, Hitachi has earned a reputation for high reliability and achievements. With its cutting-edge R&D, Hitachi will focus on the growing global demand for single room treatment facilities within the expanding market.
 
Hitachi and Hokkaido University will continue to accelerate innovation in particle therapy in order to contribute to cancer treatment around the world.
 
Overview of Real Time Image Gating System for Proton Beam Therapy Systems (RGPT)
Real Time Image Gating Proton Beam Therapy is a technology used to track and irradiate tumors in motion. This is accomplished by positioning a gold marker 2mm in diameter, close to the tumor and establishing its location as a reference via CT. A dual-axis, orthogonal X-ray system is used with pattern recognition software to determine the spatial location of the marker due to respiration. Irradiation during treatment is performed only when the gold marker moves to within millimeters of the planned irradiation location. This process, when repeated, can be synchronized to the respiratory motion of the patient. As a result, the harmful impact of irradiation to healthy tissue can be significantly reduced.
 
Overview of Spot Scanning Technology
Spot Scanning irradiation technology does not scatter proton beams as with conventional proton beam therapy. Rather, it repeatedly turns a narrow proton beam on and off at high speed as it progressively changes location to irradiate entire tumor volumes. Protons can be aimed with high precision according to the targeted tumors, even those with complex shapes, while minimizing the impact on nearby healthy tissue.