Scientists at Tomsk Polytechnic University and Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems will create in 2022 the first sample of serial medical betatrons — devices for accelerating electrons, the radiation of which makes it possible in 92% of cases to avoid the reappearance of a tumor after surgery, the press service of the university told reporters.
Earlier, the director of Tomsk Polytechnic University’s engineering school of non-destructive testing Dmitry Sednev told TASS that the university and Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems plan to launch the first serial production of medical betatrons by 2025. Now such devices are produced piece by piece under the order of a particular medical institution.
«Specialists of Tomsk Polytechnic University and JSC Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems will create a line of medical complexes for radiation anticancer therapy based on the smallest particle accelerator — the betatron. It is planned that the software for such complexes will be created at Tomsk Polytechnic University by the summer of 2022,» the message reads.
Betatrons can be used directly during the operation — the electron beam emitted by the device, in 92% of cases after surgery, allows to avoid the reappearance of the tumor. In addition, just a minute of exposure to betatron replaces the 5-week radiation therapy required for patients after surgery.
After the transfer of the medical betatron to the industrial partner of the university, the ISS specialists will modify the complex from the point of view of mechanics and ergonomics, so that it is convenient for doctors to use it. The final complex will be transferred to one of the Russian medical institutions for certification tests. Then two more pre-production devices will be created.
JSC Information Satellite Systems is the largest Russian company that creates spacecraft for communication, television broadcasting, relaying, navigation, and geodesy. Currently, two-thirds of Russia’s orbital constellation are satellites, produced and developed by Information Satellite Systems.
