Toshiba Heavy-Ion Therapy System Awarded by Yonsei University Health System

March 28, 2018

The first heavy-ion Therapy System in Korea
Toshiba’s first overseas contract for heavy-ion therapy system
The world’s first facility with two rotating gantry rooms

KAWASAKI, Japan–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS), a world
leader in heavy-ion therapy system, in collaboration as a consortium
with DK Medical Solutions, a Korean leading global medical company, is
awarded a contract to supply a heavy-ion therapy system to Yonsei
University Health System (YUHS), one of the leading providers of medical
services in Korea. This is the first overseas contract of a heavy-ion
therapy system for Toshiba ESS.

YUHS was founded in 1885 as the first modernized hospital in Korea.
Being one of the most prominent hospitals in Seoul, it has been taking
in various kinds of the latest and the best medical technologies. YUHS
has more than 9,000 outpatients and the radiation oncology department of
Yonsei Cancer Center treats more than 350 patients in a day.

The awarded heavy-ion therapy system will be equipped with one
horizontally-fixed beam treatment room and two rotating gantry treatment
rooms. Toshiba’s sophisticated leading-edge technologies such as
high-speed scanning irradiation devices and superconducting magnets will
be incorporated in the system. The heavy-ion therapy facility with two
rotating gantry treatment rooms will be the first in the world. The
treatment will start in 2022.

Heavy-ion therapy uses particles such as carbon ions to generate a
high-energy beam that irradiates cancerous tissues—the system
accelerates carbon-ion beam to up to 70% of the speed of light and
delivers a concentrated dose of radiation to the targeted part. In
addition to being fast and non-invasive, it ensures pinpoint and lethal
irradiation to cancerous tissues efficiently, with minimum damage to
surrounding healthy tissues, and with fewer fractions compared to other
radiotherapies.

Toshiba ESS has been developing heavy-ion therapy systems in
collaboration with National Institute for Quantum and Radiological
Science and Technology (QST/NIRS) for decades and has made contributions
to several heavy-ion facilities in Japan. Highly-advanced technologies
such as quick-and-accurate patient positioning, 3D high-speed scanning
irradiation, respiratory gating and rotating gantry, have been already
utilized in the facilities. Especially, the downsized rotating gantry
owing to superconducting magnets and an advanced irradiation nozzle is
the key differentiator of Toshiba ESS technology. These front-line
achievements have been highly evaluated by Yonsei University Severance
Hospital, which has led to the award.

Commenting on the contract with YUHS, Mamoru Hatazawa, vice president of
Toshiba ESS said, “Toshiba ESS is highly proud of this contract with
Yonsei University Health System, which is the most prestigious hospital
in Korea. Our technologies have been developed in collaboration with
QST/NIRS and I am quite confident that our state-of-the-art heavy ion
therapy system will contribute to the advanced radiotherapy in YUHS
cancer center.”

Do-Heum Yoon, president & CEO of YUHS said, “Heavy-ion therapy, known as
the most advanced cancer treatment in the world, will deliver the
promise of patient-centered care in an era of incurable cancer and
super-aging society.
Through the introduction of Toshiba’s
heavy-ion therapy system, YUHS hopes to bring breakthrough innovations
in cancer therapy as we did when we opened nation’s first cancer center
more than five decades ago.”

Toshiba ESS will use the world-leading performance of the system to
expand business in the global market.

Yonsei University Health System
https://www.youtube.com/embed/eTPrK-30uss?rel=0

About Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation:
Toshiba
Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation is a leading supplier of
integrated energy solutions. With its long experience and expertise in
wide range of power generating and transmitting systems and energy
management technology, the company delivers innovative, reliable and
efficient energy solutions across the globe. Split off from Toshiba
Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) in October 2017.
https://www.toshiba-energy.com/en/index.htm

Contacts

Press Contact:
Toshiba Corporation Energy Systems &
Solutions Company
Yuu Takase / Tomoyuki Kaku, +81-44-331-7200