Nation's First 360° Ion Therapy Chair: A Groundbreaking Gift for the New Year

Nation's First 360° Heavy Ion Therapy Chair: A Groundbreaking Milestone in Cancer Treatment

On January 26, China's first 360° Heavy Ion therapy chair made its debut at the Science and Innovation Exhibition Hall of the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center. This groundbreaking equipment was jointly developed by the Medical Engineering Transformation Center of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital and Wuwei Boruiling Medical Equipment Co., Ltd.

Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital is the birthplace of domestically produced heavy ion technology, hailed by the industry as the "Jinggang Mountain" of ion radiotherapy. The first domestically developed heavy ion system was officially commissioned for clinical use on March 26, 2020. On November 15, 2024, the second domestically produced heavy ion system was deployed for clinical application, operated under the trusteeship of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital. As of now, the Wuwei Heavy Ion Center and the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Center have collectively completed treatment for over 1,800 patients.

Currently, most heavy ion therapy terminals worldwide employ relatively fixed irradiation angles parallel, vertical, or 45° limiting clinical applications due to the complexity of tumor locations within the body. The successful development of the 360° ion radiotherapy chair has revolutionized traditional tumor ion therapy, enabling a critical shift from static treatment to dynamic 360° omnidirectional therapy. This breakthrough marks China's entry into a new era of precise and patient-friendly cancer treatment.

The 360° heavy ion radiotherapy chair enables omnidirectional targeting of tumor lesions from any angle, flexibly adjusting irradiation angles while allowing patients to maintain natural breathing during heavy ion therapy. This not only effectively reduces psychological stress but also significantly improves treatment compliance, enhancing patient comfort and cooperation. Particularly for specific tumors in the head, neck, chest, abdomen, and breast, the upright radiotherapy position offers unique advantages. Leveraging gravity and the natural sagging of organs, it optimizes internal organ distribution, ensuring better exposure of the tumor target area. This enables precise tumor focus during treatment while drastically reducing unnecessary radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

Moving forward, Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital (Wuwei Academy of Medical Sciences) will remain committed in its commitment to pioneering scientific research. It will continue to develop cutting-edge global medical technologies and independently innovate top-tier equipment, injecting tremendous momentum into the advancement of China's cancer treatment endeavors. By reigniting the flame of life for more patients, the hospital will etch an indelible mark of excellence on the enduring journey to safeguard the health and lives of the nation.