Bedford, Mass.-based Orbital Therapy received a patent last week for a self-shielded radiotherapy device that doesn’t require a traditional bunker for operation. And last year, the company received a patent on a device with this technology to treat breast cancer patients.

By creating a radiotherapy device with an integrated shield, providers can save $1 million to $5 million that would have gone to bunker construction.

“[We] integrated both the bunker and shield required into the design,” said Jason Koshnitsky, the company’s CEO. “The device can be placed anywhere, without a heavy infrastructure.”
The technology is currently being used on an Orbital Therapy-patented breast cancer treatment device. The integrated shielding allows the rest of the patient to be placed outside of the high-radiation area, which is present in a bunker structure. Koshnitsky pointed out that this reduces overall dose of scatter radiation.

Another perk of this model, Koshnitsky explained to DOTmed News, is the ability to rotate the patient — not the 10-ton machine — which will reduce costs.

The modality will be popular in any place that treats cancer, including hospitals and free-standing clinics. Orbital Therapy also anticipates the modality will be used at women's health centers.

The company doesn’t anticipate movement toward the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for about three years.

“An old joke in engineering is: better, fast, cheaper, pick two. This is a rare instance where we are able to do all three,” said Alan Sliski, CTO of Orbital Therapy, in a statement. “This patent gives us a solid foundation for our platform technology.”

More Industry Headlines