Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in Slovenia and worldwide, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Combined with another common cause of death - cardiovascular diseases, it was responsible for 70 % of all deaths around the globe in 2013. Additionally, cancer is a stressful, frightening experience that completely changes life.
Technological advances and increased availability of advanced technology have importantly improved treatment and increased survival rates. For example, proton therapy is an efficient and most advanced type of radiation therapy in which a high energy beam of protons is used to deliver a dose of radiation therapy to people with cancer by destroying cancer cells. In proton therapy, the doctors can decide exactly when and where the proton releases most of its energy. This makes it possible to inflict maximum damage to cancer cells and minimum harm to nearby healthy tissue. Proton therapy appears to be safer and more effective than conventional radiation therapy as it carries a lower risk of undesirable side effects, and reduces the risk of complications usually associated with radiation therapy. Proton therapy is useful for treating childhood cancers, because it can target the cancer cells without damaging other cells in a growing body.
The goal of the project APTACS, which received EUR 481,479.70 in ERDF and national funding, is to develop an innovative technological solution ‘’Advanced control system for medical accelerators for cancer treatment by proton therapy’’. Compared with other products in the market, the developed product is expected to be more accurate, reliable, precise, coherent and faster and should significantly improve cancer treatment. This competitive advantage should facilitate the shift to the next generation of proton therapy for cancer treatment.
The project aims to develop:
- MMF – Medical middleware framework;
- System for archiving information about the operation of the medical accelerator and its components;
- Time synchronization system to execute synchronous action of individual components of the medical accelerator;
- Security system for the medical accelerator;
- Advanced control system for the medical accelerator.
The project should result in the first advanced precise universal control system specifically developed for proton therapy catering to the specific needs of proton therapy and complying with the requirements for the operation of such systems.
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Beneficiary: COSYLAB D.D. |
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Programme: Operational Programme for the Implementation of the EU Cohesion Policy in the Period 2014-2020 |
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Fund: European Regional Development Fund |
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Project funding: EUR 481,479.70 |
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EU contribution: EUR 385,183.76 |