Ion Beam Applications (IBA) has received FDA approval for its pencil-beam scanning modality for proton therapy, a technology developed in collaboration with the staff of Massachusetts General Hospital at the Francis H Burr Proton Therapy Center in Boston.

Pencil-beam scanning is a beam-delivery system in which a proton beam is scanned throughout the target tumor volume. During a treatment, the transverse beam position, longitudinal beam range and dose are precisely controlled and adjusted to deliver the prescribed dose in the target, the Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium-based company said.

IBA said that pencil-beam scanning provides 3D conformity to the target.