November 5, 2010 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given 510(k) clearance for an advanced dose calculation algorithm. The Acuros XB, by Varian Medical Systems, can complete a RapidArc treatment plan two to three times faster than conventional algorithms.
The algorithm is incorporated into the company’s Eclipse treatment planning system, and was on display the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) meeting in San Diego, Calif.
It is designed for planning complex cases quickly and easily. It is particularly good for planning sophisticated treatments in areas like the lungs or sinuses, where tissue density varies. It is also ideal for planning treatments that require many beam angles.
"Acuros XB can reduce the time it takes to compute a typical RapidArc plan for head and neck cancer by up to 60 percent," says Corey Zankowski, Ph.D., senior director of product management at Varian. "A savings of 60 percent in treatment planning time can have a positive impact on the workflow of a busy cancer center."
For more information: www.varian.com
