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Advanced Oncotherapy (AIM: AVO), the developer of next-generation proton therapy systems for cancer treatment, announces further notable progress in the manufacture of its first LIGHT system.

Patient Positioning System

Multiple components of the treatment room have been manufactured, inspected and tested by the Company’s partner P-Cure Ltd., ahead of their integration to form a complete patient treatment system.

The patient positioning subsystem, which includes the patient treatment chair and robotic arm which moves the chair and patient, is complete and has been designed to leverage LIGHT’s next-generation features. As other subsystems are completed, such as imaging and treatment management software, they will be integrated to form the whole Patient Positioning System, which remains on track to be fully developed by the end of 2017.

Beam firing through RFQ

As indicated in the Investor presentation and update of 6 March 2017, the proton beam was fired through the Radio Frequency Quadrupole, at its maximum expected energy, in February 2017. Subsequent work has focused on enhancing the proton source that feeds the RFQ; repeatability of beam firing, intensive usage to facilitate high patient throughput and maximising safety controls are all key elements of LIGHT.

Ionisation chamber

In addition, the Company announces it has received delivery of the LIGHT system’s ionisation chamber, from its partner Pyramid Technical Consultants Inc., to its Geneva testing facility. The ionisation chamber is a critical element of the LIGHT system’s overall safety system, monitoring beam position, spot size and dosage and is situated at the delivery end of the system after the main accelerating modules.

The novel design of the chamber is matched to the unique properties of LIGHT and performs a precise measurement of the position (in horizontal and vertical axes) of the proton beam, with respect to its desired location, and is a critical element of the LIGHT system’s Patient Treatment System. It also accurately monitors the dose (number of protons) delivered to the target. The properties of the LIGHT ionisation chamber allow these measurements to be taken, on a pulse by pulse basis, ensuring accuracy and safety throughout treatment, to a level that cannot be matched by older proton therapy technologies.

Commenting, Nicolas Serandour, CEO of Advanced Oncotherapy, said: “As I outlined in my update to shareholders in March, the Company remains focused on delivering the technical development of our first LIGHT machine and its ultimate installation at Harley Street, and I am very pleased with the progress we are making. We will continue to update the market with newsflow on the integration of the LIGHT system’s components, with developments on the CCL units, addition of the SCDTLs to the RFQ and on the Patient Positioning System anticipated in the coming weeks and months.”