The AQURE accelerator is a modern device designed for intraoperative cancer therapy. The accelerator has just begun the medical certification process conducted by the Polish Centre for Testing and Certification. Passing this process is necessary for the device to be approved for use in oncology hospitals and formally recognised as a medical device compliant with European standards.

AQURE was developed thanks to the cooperation between the Department of Nuclear Equipment HITEC at the National Centre for Nuclear Research and the Wielkopolska Cancer Centre, as a result of many years of research and innovative development work. Its main purpose is to enable highly precise radiotherapy directly during surgery, at the site of the removed tumour. This allows patients to benefit from more effective treatment and a faster recovery.

The device is uniquely mobile – the therapeutic head is mounted on an arm, allowing the clinician to freely adjust the direction of the radiation beam and tailor it to each individual clinical case. The entire system is installed on a mobile platform, allowing the device to be moved between operating rooms. The accelerator uses electron beams with energies ranging from 4 to 12 MeV, which allows for effective irradiation of tissues to a depth of approximately 4 cm. In addition, the very high dose rate – up to 10 Gy/min – means that the entire irradiation procedure is very short, often less than two minutes, while maintaining complete safety and effectiveness of radiation delivery. The automatic beam control system also allows for intuitive operation of the accelerator and precise control of the irradiation process parameters.

The accelerator has undergone a series of positive measurements and tests at the Wielkopolska Cancer Centre. In addition, the Warsaw University of Technology, the Wrocław University of Technology and the Military Institute of Armament Technology have conducted electromagnetic compatibility tests, confirming that it meets the stringent requirements for medical devices.

The introduction of AQURE into hospitals represents a real opportunity to raise the standards of cancer treatment, apply the latest technologies, improve patient comfort and increase the efficiency of medical teams. It is a milestone in the development of Polish intraoperative radiotherapy and an opportunity for faster access to innovative therapies for patients throughout the country.

More information about AQURE: https://www.ncbj.gov.pl/en/project/aqure.