It is a malignant tumor radiation therapy technology.
There are three main treatments for malignant tumors at present: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy; proton heavy ion therapy is one of the subdivided types of radiation therapy, which is more effective than ordinary radiation therapy.
Subdivided further, proton heavy ion radiotherapy is two different kinds of radiotherapy, namely proton radiotherapy and heavy ion radiotherapy.
Protons, i.e., positively charged particles of hydrogen atoms stripped of their electrons; heavy ions, i.e., nuclei or ions with large atomic weights such as carbon and silicon; proton heavy ion radiotherapy is the use of proton or heavy ion rays to treat tumors.
Brief history of the development of proton heavy ion therapy
Representing the highest technology and future trend of radiotherapy compared with the traditional radiotherapy that has been carried out for more than a century, proton heavy ion therapy has been carried out only in a few countries, such as Germany, Japan, and the United States, due to the technical and price factors, and only a few dozens of particle devices have been used for medical purposes around the globe.
Technical principle
Protons or carbon ions are accelerated to about 70% of the speed of light by a synchrotron, and these ion rays are ejected into the human body. Before reaching the tumor lesion, not much energy is released from the rays but after reaching the lesion, the rays release a lot of energy instantly, forming a trajectory of energy release called the "Bragg peak". The whole treatment process is like a "three-dimensional directional blasting" for the tumor, which can provide strong irradiation to the tumor lesion while avoiding irradiating the normal tissues to maximize the therapeutic effect.
Technical features
The internationally recognized and most advanced radiotherapy technology is the proton heavy ion therapy technology. When it "strikes" solid tumors with radiation, it can provide powerful irradiation to the tumor foci while avoiding normal tissue irradiation to maximize the therapeutic effect.
The above content refers to? Baidu Encyclopedia-Proton Heavy Ion Therapy Technology