In order to treat tumors with protons, an accelerator is required i.e., a device that increases the speed and therefore the energy of the protons. Current existing systems use two different types of accelerators – cyclotrons or synchrotrons – which nowadays are deemed as a mature technology.

Cyclotrons represent the oldest technology and are still widely used worldwide.

Synchrotrons are a more advanced type of technology, yet they have a significant bulkiness and are also expensive.  

The ERHA system on the other hand uses a p-Linac i.e., a linear acceleration system that can be easily placed in a container of about 24 m. in length and only 4 m. in width. Furthermore, the p-Linac has a more advanced technology than a cyclotron and combines many of the advantages of a synchrotron with greater cost-efficiency.

The Monte Carlo treatment plan module is able to track every single particle and reproduce every interaction with healthy tissue and cells during the path to lesion.

This is the most realistic method and allows calculating the effective dose also in difficult cases, when the calculation of dose delivered to the patient could only be carried out through the traditional way of water equivalent (pencil beam).

Both the treatment planning system for proton beams with radiobiological calculation and the full Monte Carlo technique run on MOM (Monte Carlo Optimized Mainframe).

This ensures a reasonable running time for each plan, thanks to the distributed computing and code optimization.