Tomotherapy Aims to Improve Radiation Treatment with TomoDirect

TomoTherapy Inc. has added to the TomoTherapy Hi·Art treatment system the TomoDirect discrete-angle delivery model.

This new technology allows Hi·Art system users to quickly plan and deliver advanced TomoTherapy radiation treatments with a series of linear beam paths, rather than the existing helical path, said the manufacturer. With TomoDirect, clinicians can choose several discrete angles and the optimal modulation level required for delivery, based on specific patient therapy goals.

TomoDirect was developed as a complement to helical TomoTherapy, with both utilizing the same binary multi-leaf collimator and CT-style gantry technology. The choice of which modality to use for a given case will depend on the nature of the tumor volume and surrounding organs at risk. TomoDirect is expected to provide time savings in both the planning and delivery phases for several clinical scenarios, including whole breast irradiation and palliative treatments.

In addition to the added capabilities offered by TomoDirect, the Hi·Art system’s treatment modes are being expanded to include a 3D conformal option, thereby meeting the full range of options needed for all clinical cases.

TomoTherapy is planning to make TomoDirect available to radiation clinics in summer 2009. As a product pending FDA 510(k) clearance, TomoDirect is not yet available for sale in the U.S.