From the October 2021 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine


The image quality was so good, customers had trouble telling the difference between ClearRT helical kVCT and planning images, Lawson said.

Accuray is also planning to introduce VOLO Ultra, a new way of treatment planning on the Radixact radiation therapy system.


The technology, which is 510(k) pending as of press time, accelerates planning and treatment delivery, making it up to 60% faster, according to Lawson. It’s also backward compatible to previous TomoTherapy Systems and can be used across a broad range of cases.

“For users who have never planned for Radixact or TomoTherapy before, it simplifies and automates processes that were previously manual,” Lawson said.

Another new planning technology, RayStation planning for CyberKnife, is another new release that was 510(k) pending as of press time. It takes attributes of RaySearch’s Raystation software and brings them to CyberKnife.

“The goal is really to continue providing our customers with best-in-class options,” Lawson said.

Akesis
In March, Akesis received FDA clearance for its Akesis Galaxy RTi, an advanced gamma stereotactic radiosurgery system for neurosurgery.

The rotating gamma system has real-time, in-line CBCT + kV/kV imaging that allows for mid-treatment position verification.

“This is one of the only dedicated SRS devices where you can image during treatment,” said Tim Prosser, director of global product marketing and management for Akesis. “When doing a mask-based treatment, the system can track the positioning.”

The system also comes with a single drawer with 30 gamma sources, versus other systems with close to 200 individual sources, so when it’s time to replace the Cobalt-60, it takes only a week to change instead of a month, reducing downtime, Prosser said.

“Normally, you place sources all around patient,” Prosser said. “This is in one drawer, and it rotates around patient. It means easier handling from loading to delivery. It’s a good safety innovation because nobody has to handle an individual source.”

Brainlab
This fall, Brainlab will be introducing a Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) workflow for ExacTrac Dynamic, the latest version of its ExacTrac Patient Positioning and Monitoring system, which incorporates surface, thermal and x-ray monitoring at any couch position.

“This new technology will go beyond surface tracking alone to allow a combination of surface, thermal, and X-Ray monitoring of the internal anatomy at the breath-hold level,” said Patrick Murphy, director of the oncology portfolio at Brainlab. “We will provide more reassurance to the user that they’re avoiding critical structures like the heart.”

October 2021 Magazine

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