How Proton Therapy Technology Works
At the New York Proton Center in New York City, every proton therapy treatment begins inside the cyclotron — a 90-ton particle accelerator. The cyclotron separates protons from hydrogen gas and accelerates the proton particles to roughly two-thirds the speed of light. This machine is housed behind the treatment rooms and is not visible to patients.
After acceleration, the proton beam travels through a vacuum beamline from the cyclotron to the treatment rooms. High-precision magnets continuously shape, focus, and steer the beam to a nozzle in each treatment room.
The New York Proton Center uses both a fixed horizontal proton beam and a 360-degree rotational gantry to deliver radiation. Only one room receives the beam at a time, and the energy and dose are individualized according to each patient’s treatment plan.
Each 360-degree proton therapy gantry measures nearly 39 feet in diameter and weighs about 200 tons. The front of these rotating gantries is visible in Treatment Rooms 1, 2, and 3. The gantry rotates fully around the patient to deliver proton radiation with sub-millimeter accuracy directly to the tumor.
Treatment Room 4 at the New York Proton Center is a fixed-beam room where the gantry does not rotate. In this room, the treatment table moves instead to position the patient for precise proton beam delivery.
What to Expect with Proton Therapy and the Cyclotron Machine
When you receive proton therapy at the New York Proton Center, your treatment begins inside a machine called a cyclotron. This 90-ton device separates protons from hydrogen gas and speeds them up to almost the speed of light. You will not see this machine, it sits behind the treatment rooms.
How the Proton Beam Gets From the Cyclotron to You
- Protons are accelerated inside the cyclotron
- The proton beam travels through a vacuum beamline to the treatment area
- Magnets guide and shape the beam so it stays on the exact path to your tumor
- The beam enters the room through a nozzle that delivers your customized dose
- Only one room receives the beam at a time, and the settings are adjusted for each individual patient
How the Beam Is Delivered in the Treatment Room
- Some rooms use a 360-degree rotating gantry that moves around you to reach the tumor from different angles
- Other rooms use a fixed horizontal beam, and the treatment table moves instead of the gantry
- The gantries are extremely large — nearly 39 feet wide and weighing about 200 tons — but you only see the front part during treatment
- The system delivers the proton beam with sub-millimeter accuracy, protecting healthy tissue while treating the tumor
This process allows proton therapy to target your tumor precisely while limiting radiation to nearby organs — one of the main reasons patients travel to New York Proton Center for care.
What’s the Technology Behind Proton Therapy?
Take a behind-the-scenes look and see the installation of the 90-ton cyclotron machine at the New York Proton Center, the advanced technology that delivers proton therapy treatments.
Reduced Risk of Harmful Side-Effects
Proton therapy targets the tumor and only the tumor.
Take a Virtual Tour
Learn what to expect when you receive proton therapy at the New York Proton Center.
