A few years ago, Prof. Dr. Jan Lagendijk from UMC Utrecht described the movement that happens in most body parts and how it can compromise the accuracy of treatment. Imaging at the time of treatment can eliminate this problem and also allow the radiologist to better customize the dose being administered, he explains in the following video.


UMC completed installation of the MR-linac in 2014 for non-clinical testing, which included performance evaluation of MR pulse sequences, establishing quality assurance techniques and workflows, and testing different delivery methods.

HCB News reported at that time that the cost of the system is estimated at roughly four times that of Elekta's current high-end linear accelerator, Versa HD, but the manufacturers and partnering researchers are optimistic that the benefits will prove to justify the expense.

MD Anderson Cancer Center completed installation of its MR-guided linear accelerator in fall of 2015, making it the first system in the U.S. To allow for the system, the facility had to renovate its existing radiotherapy vault before Elekta could start delivering and installing the components. The final step of installing the system involved rising the MR magnet up to its operational field strength.

Elekta has yet to announce the name of the system. Brown said it will introduce the name closer to commercialization of the product. At the time of the UMC installation he told HCB News that "Atlantic" was a working name for the system. The company expects CE mark during 2017, followed by FDA approval.
Back to HCB News

Business Affairs Homepage