Proton accelerator for cancer treatment shipped: National Laboratory/University Medical Center/Industrial Cooperation

Late in 1989, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) completed the operational checkout and testing of the first proton accelerator built specifically for the treatment of cancer. After checkout, the new accelerator was disassembled and shipped to California. Shipment of the proton therapy accelerator was one of the last important tasks under a 1986 agreement between LLUMC and Fermilab to develop and build the device. LLUMC had a new facility designed and built specifically to house the accelerator and the clinical facilities required for the treatment of patients. Included in these facilities are four treatment rooms - three with gantries to bring the proton beam to the disease site from any desired angle, and one specifically equipped for treatment of tumors in the head and neck. The new treatment facility at LLUMC has been designed to serve up to 100 patients per 10-hour day, and can treat more patients if a longer shift is used. For some tumors, proton treatment times will be shorter than conventional treatment times