MEDIA RELEASE PR41958
Varian Medical Systems to Exhibit TrueBeam(TM) System for Image-Guided Cancer Treatments and New
Software Capabilities at ASTRO Meeting in San Diego
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Company will showcase new capabilities designed to make
radiotherapy and radiosurgery faster, easier, more accurate, and cost
effective
ASTRO Booth # 201 -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) will highlight
its new TrueBeam(TM) system for fast, powerful and efficient cancer
treatments at the 52nd annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation
Oncology (ASTRO) meeting in San Diego next week. Varian will also showcase
Gated RapidArc(R), as well as new software capabilities designed to make
cancer treatments faster, easier, and more accurate while lowering the cost
per treatment.
The TrueBeam System for Image-Guided Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery
The new TrueBeam system delivers high-precision image-guided radiotherapy
and radiosurgery, treating a moving tumor with unprecedented speed and
accuracy. It uses a completely re-engineered control system and a multitude
of technical innovations to dynamically synchronize imaging, patient
positioning, motion management, and treatment delivery. Designed to be a
best-in-class and versatile platform, TrueBeam can be used for all forms of
external beam image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery.
Gated RapidArc
Varian will also showcase Gated RapidArc radiotherapy, which is available
on the company's TrueBeam, Trilogy(R), and Clinac(R) iX linear accelerators.
Gated RapidArc compensates for tumor motion while quickly delivering dose
during a continuous rotation around the patient. This development enables the
use of RapidArc to target lung tumors with greater precision by "gating" the
beam-turning it on and off-in response to tumor motion.
Faster Treatment Planning
Also on display will be the 2010 release of the Eclipse(TM) treatment
planning system, including the new Acuros(R) XB algorithm, which reduces the
amount of time it takes to calculate a treatment plan for external beam
radiotherapy. (See related press release, Varian Medical Systems Receives
510(k) Clearance for Acuros(R) XB Advanced Dose Calculation Algorithm).
Other enhancements in the new Eclipse release include:
- Tools that make it easier to generate RapidArc(R) plans for
treating large tumor volumes using multiple arcs.
- A new arc geometry tool that gives planners a "leg up" by
offering a starting point for RapidArc plans, reducing the amount of
time spent in "trial and error" mode before arriving at the final plan.
- A PRO3 algorithm that optimizes RapidArc plans more quickly by a
factor of two or more.
- Portal dosimetry for RapidArc, which enables clinicians to check
the quality of treatments without using phantoms or film, which is more
time consuming.
- A new workspace that allows for better integration of
multimodality imaging in the treatment planning process and makes it
easier to use PET scans for contouring.
- A SmartAdapt tool that helps clinicians made adaptations if a
treatment plan should be changed due to tumor shrinkage, weight loss,
or any other process affecting anatomy during a multiple-week course of
treatment.
The ARIA(R) Oncology Information System: Meeting Certification Criteria
Enhancements to the ARIA(R) oncology information system for 2010 take
important steps toward compliance with requirements that the federal
government has established for certifying electronic health records under the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). New capabilities this
year include a web-based patient portal giving cancer patients access to
their personal health information via the Internet. A new drug database for
use in radiation oncology departments has also been added, along with a lab
orders workspace for electronic ordering and tracking of tests and test
results. "We have also added a feature that allows the clinical staff to
capture information unrelated to cancer treatment, such as advanced
directives and infectious diseases," said Charmaine Lawrence, marketing
manager.
"In addition to the TrueBeam system, software enhancements have been a
major focus for Varian this year, and this will be reflected in our exhibit
at the ASTRO meeting," said Karla Donohoe, senior director of marketing. "We
are committed to providing clinicians with powerful tools for targeting
cancer and minimizing undesirable side effects, and to making those tools
faster and easier to use so that more people can benefit."
ABOUT VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's
leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and
other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and
brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing
comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology
practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for
X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also
supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial
inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 5,100 people who are
located at manufacturing sites in North America, China, and Europe and in its
79 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Meryl Ginsberg, (650) 424-6444
meryl.ginsberg@varian.com
SOURCE: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
CONTACT: Meryl Ginsberg of Varian Medical Systems, Inc., +1-650-424-6444,
meryl.ginsberg@varian.com
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