Artificial intelligence (AI) entering clinical use to aid with contouring, creating and optimizing treatment plans and creating adaptive plans on the fly were among the biggest topics at the annual meeting. This is a a machine learning created treatment plan for pancreatic cancer radiation therapy displayed by Raysearch on the expo floor at the ASTRO 2019 meeting. Watch the related VIDEO: Use of Machine Learning to Automate Radiotherapy Treatment.
Varian unveiled the Ethos radiotherapy treatment system at ASTRO19. It uses an artificial intelligence-powered system designed to deliver adaptive therapy treatment options from the onboard cone-beam CT-system in a typical 15-minute timeslot. Read the article "Varian Unveils Ethos Solution for Adaptive Radiation Therapy.
This is the BioZorb breast cancer lumpectomy cavity fiducial marker system from Hologic. It was displayed on the expo floor at the 2019 ASTRO radiation oncology meeting. It comes in different sizes and shapes and consists of a bioresorbable PLA hard plastic frame with embedded radio opaque markers to show the location of the cancer on future mammograms and imaging scans. The frame dissolves and leaves behind the markers that become encased in the scar tissue that forms in the cavity.
The entrance onto the ASTRO 2019 expo floor.
This the multi-leaf collimator for the Accuray Radixact tomotherapy system on display at ASTRO 2019. The vendor released its Synchrony technology for the Radixact system, which allows real time tumor tracking that can move the beam with respiratory as gastrointestinal movement.
This is the Reflexion positron-emission tomography, computed tomography (PET-CT) system combined with a radiotherapy linac in a single gantry. The system offers a new approach to real-time adaptive therapy. The vendor has 12 sites doing research on this technology and the first operational system for first-in-human use will be shipped in the first part of 2020. The technology may eliminate the need for respiratory gating, treatment margins and allow better tumor targeting. The PET imaging allows real-time tracking of the tumor position based on triangulation from the PET radiotracer emissions inside the tumor. Watch a VIDEO about this system.
This is the Reflexion positron-emission tomography, computed tomography (PET-CT) system combined with a radiotherapy linac in a single gantry. The system offers a new approach to real-time adaptive therapy. The vendor has 12 sites doing research on this technology and the first operational system for first-in-human use will be shipped in the first part of 2020. The technology may eliminate the need for respiratory gating, treatment margins and allow better tumor targeting. The PET imaging allows real-time tracking of the tumor position based on triangulation from the PET radiotracer emissions inside the tumor. Watch a VIDEO about this system.
Anne Hubbard, MBA, director of health policy for ASTRO, explains the details and purpose of the proposed Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model (RO Model) in a session at the ASTRO 2019 meeting. Watch an interview with her in the VIDEO: Understanding the Radiation Oncology Alternative Payment Model.
This is an example of the real-time MRI imaging of radiation therapy beam delivery on a liver tumor demonstrated with the Elekta Unity MRI-guided RT system at ASTRO 2019. It shows how real-time imaging can show organ/tumor motion due to respiration. Currently the radiation therapist can turn the beam off if the tumor moves out of tolerance, but the company is working toward automated beam off/on features to account for motion.
he Elekta Unity MRI-guided RT system at ASTRO 2019. The system is the second MRI-guided radiation therapy systems to gain U.S. FDA clearance.
Siemens unveil two new CT scanners for radiotherapy at the ASTRO 2019 meeting. The Go.Sim offers a workhorse RT system with a 64-slice scanner. The Go.Open Pro is a 128-slice system for higher acquisition speeds and more advanced software options. The Go series of CT systems use tablet computers hung on either side of the scan to allow easy, wireless access by the tech to make all necessary adjustments to the scanner. This also allows them to spend more time at the patient’s side rather than in a control room. The scanner can be triggered from the tablet.
Philips was displaying how its RT planning optimized MRI system can be used to enhance radiotherapy care.
The Accuray CyberKnife robotic arm radiation therapy treatment system on display on the expo floor of ASTRO 2019 this week. The counter looking area has various aperture collimators to shape the size of the photon beams.
An example of the image quality from a Fujifilm FCT Embrace dedicated radiotherapy planning computed tomography system. It offers an 85 mm bore with either a 64 or 128 slice configuration. Read more about this system.
An example of motion tracking for a lung cancer tumor radiotherapy using the new Synchrony for Radixact, motion tracking and correction technology. This image shows how the system locks onto the fiducial markers in the onboard CT imaging and tracks them in three dimensions.
Ice cream being made using liquid nitrogen in the Vision RT booth.
This is the Xoft electric brachytherapy system for breast cavity irradiation following breast surgery. Watch a VIDEO interview on how this technology works and a recent clinical study with A. M. Niser Syed, M.D., medical director, radiation oncology and endocurietherapy, MemorialCare Cancer Institute, Long Beach, Calif.
This is the BioZorb breast cancer lumpectomy cavity fiducial marker system from Hologic. It was displayed on the expo floor at the 2019 ASTRO radiation oncology meeting. It comes in different sizes and shapes and consists of a bioresorbable PLA hard plastic frame with embedded radio opaque markers to show the location of the cancer on future mammograms and imaging scans. The frame dissolves and leaves behind the markers that become encased in the scar tissue that forms in the cavity.
The DynR SDX motion tracking system can help control respiratory motion for lung cancer radiotherapy. The system monitors the air inhaled and exhaled and matches the tumor position to the position on the treatment plan. The radiotherapist can use the technology to tell the patient when to hold their breath to maintain optimal positioning.
The DynR SDX motion tracking system can help control respiratory motion for lung cancer radiotherapy. The system monitors the air inhaled and exhaled and matches the tumor position to the position on the treatment plan. The radiotherapist can use the technology to tell the patient when to hold their breath to maintain optimal positioning.
The entrance banner to the ASTRO 2019 expo floor.
This is a real time video camera that can show radiation therapy delivery (simulated here by a laser shining on the breast) and patient motion. The Dose Optics C-Dose TV shows dose accumulation based of a sensitive camera that can show the Cherenkov radiation glow. This can help show if the beam is on target and the approximate dose delivered. It also shows if patient respiratory motion pushes the target out of the beam line, where the radiation therapist can turn it off until the patient is back in tolerance.
ITN Editor Dave Fornell covering the 2019 ASTRO radiation oncology conference in Chicago.
This is a comparison of a machine learning and human created treatment plans for pancreatic cancer radiation therapy displayed by Raysearch on the expo floor at the ASTRO 2019 meeting today. The vendor received FDA approval for this machine learning technology and auto segmentation for both MRI and CT. Watch the related VIDEO: Use of Machine Learning to Automate Radiotherapy Treatment.
There was heavy fog from Lake Michigan a couple days of the conference, creating an eerie effect along the coast of the lake.
Brachytherapy seed catheter applicators and positioning devices on display by Liberty Medical.
A machine learning created treatment plan for a lung tumor shown by Raysearch at the ASTRO 2019 meeting. Watch the related VIDEO: Use of Machine Learning to Automate Radiotherapy Treatment.
The sharp tip of a brachytherapy seed delivery catheter in the Elekta Booth.
Brachytherapy catheters and positioning devices in the Elekta Booth.
Kristin Higgins, M.D., medical director of radiation oncology at the Emory Clinic at the Winship Cancer Institute, and associate professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, speaks in a session about reirradiation of radiation oncology patients. This was a hot topic at the 2019 ASTRO meeting. Watch an interview with her in the VIDEO: Clinical and Physics Aspects of Re-irradiation of Previously Treated Radiotherapy Tumor Sites.
Example of a radiation therapy patient tracking software system showing the status of each patient in a timeline format to make it easier to track.
This is a model of Hitachi's combined heavy ion and proton therapy system. The company said its has installed its first system in Asia.
This is the Fujifilm FCT Embrace dedicated radiotherapy planning computed tomography system. It offers an 85 mm bore with either a 64 or 128 slice configuration. Read more about this system.
This is an example of the real-time MRI imaging of radiation therapy beam delivery demonstrated with the Elekta Unity MRI-guided RT system at ASTRO 2019. It shows how real-time imaging can show organ/tumor motion due to respiration. Currently the radiation therapist can turn the beam off if the tumor moves out of tolerance, but the company is working toward automated beam off/on features to account for motion.
Siemens Somatom go.Sim CT system designed for dedicated use for treatment planning. It is a new system that was released at ASTRO 2019.
An example of motion tracking for a lung cancer tumor radiotherapy using the new Synchrony for Radixact, motion tracking and correction technology.
Closeup of a radiotherapy treatment plan dose details in a machine learning created plan.
These are brachytherapy seed applicators on display at the ASTRO 2019 meeting by the company Liberty Medical. The catheters have caps on the end to protect the sharp points required to push them I to the soft tissue of a prostate or other organs. The photo with the red tips has one can removed to show the sharpened end.
A standing room only crowd showing the level of interest interest in the new therapy concept of flash proton therapy. The idea is to deliver very high dose proton therapy in one dose so the patient does not have to return for additional fractions, which would enable better throughput and offer a convenience to the patient.
ITN Editor Dave Fornell with Carri Glide-Hurst, Ph.D., director of translational research, radiation oncology at Henry Ford Health System, ran Into ITN Editor Dave Fornell at #ASTRO19. See videos and read more about her work.
ITN Editor Dave Fornell (left) with David Sjostrom, Ph.D., shared the first clinical experience treating cancer patients with the Varian Ethos radiation therapy system in an interview. You can hear more about his process in this video.
An Elekta brachytherapy seed afterloader system at ASTRO 2019.
Closeup of a radiotherapy treatment plan dose details in a machine learning created plan.
Below are photos from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2019 meeting September 2019 in Chicago. The annual conference has about 12,000 attendees. It is a showcase of the latest advances in radiation oncology technologies. Below are images of some of these radiation therapy technologies from the ASTRO expo floor with captions explaining them.
Late-breaking radiation oncology research and videos at ASTRO 2019
