MINNEAPOLIS — St. Paul, Minn. - A $1.8- million linear accelerator for treatment of cancer patients is expected to be ready for use this summer at the Veterinary Medical Center in the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine.

The new device will replace cobalt-radiation equipment used to treat cancer patients for nearly 25 years. Considered state of the art, it will enable university oncologists to map tumors three-dimensionally and focus radiation on lesions without impacting healthy tissue. It is identical to linear accelerators used for human radiation treatment.