BayCare Health System launches upright proton therapy treatment

BayCare Health System in Florida has begun treating patients using an upright proton therapy platform, utilizing Mevion’s S250-FIT system paired with Leo Cancer Care’s Marie positioning and imaging technology. The facility represents the second installation of this equipment, which seeks to refine the precision of radiation delivery by keeping patients in an upright, seated position rather than traditional supine setups.

Technological integration at the site includes RaySearch’s treatment planning software, which coordinates the proton beam delivery with the patient's seated orientation. This approach is intended to provide clinicians with alternative positioning options for specific tumor locations, potentially simplifying the patient setup process.

The deployment at BayCare follows a broader trend in oncology to explore vertical patient positioning to mitigate internal organ movement during radiation therapy. The facility expects this technology to become a component of its regional cancer treatment strategy as it assesses long-term operational efficiency and patient clinical outcomes.