April 29, 2015 — Varian Medical Systems last week unveiled a radiotherapy platform designed to offer clinics an affordable option for implementing advanced image-guided radiotherapy. Varian's VitalBeam system is a cost-effective technology package for offering high-quality, high-throughput radiation therapy, and for expanding clinical capabilities over time.
VitalBeam will be available in a basic package with an 80-leaf collimator for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), low-dose megavoltage (MV) imaging using the accelerator beam for image guidance and respiratory gating for motion management. Clinics can add RapidArc radiotherapy for faster IMRT, higher dose delivery rates, an onboard kV X-ray system capable of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging and a higher-resolution 120-leaf collimator. All VitalBeam configurations offer up to three photon and six electron energy levels for flexibility in treatment.
VitalBeam incorporates Varian's next-generation system architecture, originally developed for the TrueBeam platform, which dynamically synchronizes imaging, patient positioning, motion management, beam shaping and dose delivery, performing accuracy checks every ten milliseconds.
Other VitalBeam features include:
- A streamlined treatment console with a modern, easy-to-use, graphical interface that consolidates controls for imaging, treatment and motion management in one place.
- A "follow the light" guidance system, with prompts and messages that enhances safety by guiding therapists through the steps of even the most complex treatments.
- "Intelligent" automation that saves time by reducing the number of steps needed for imaging, positioning and treating patients.
Varian introduced the VitalBeam platform at the 2015 European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) annual meeting.
For more information: www.varian.com
