August 1, 2011 – Siemens will publicly introduce three new additions to its radiation oncology product portfolio at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)/Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP). The event will be held July 31-Aug. 3 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
The new In-Line kView megavoltage cone beam computed tomography (CT) solution has been added to the Artiste line of linear accelerators, providing improved image quality and dose performance for Siemens’ MVision product. Also added to the Artiste is the Multiple-X option, which allows users to choose up to four unflattened beams with dose rates up to 2,000 monitor units (MU) per minute for potentially greater efficacy and shortened treatment times.
Additionally, the Definition AS Open CT system provides diagnostic image quality with 20 or 64 slices, a tool set required for advanced CT simulation, and a comprehensive set of dose-reduction innovations.
The Artiste Linear Accelerator?
The Artiste linear accelerator’s digitally controlled design provides the ability to customize a system to the needs of specific patient treatment techniques or workflows. This enables clinicians to make critical adjustments quickly, making adaptive radiation therapy (ART) a reality. It features a max/min measured central axis treatment circle of 0.7 mm/0.3 mm. The 160 MLC multileaf collimator provides high tumor conformity by combining fast leaf movement of 4 cm per second with a leaf accuracy of 0.5 mm and the lowest leakage for sparing of healthy surrounding tissue.
Multiple-X ?
Combined with Multiple-X, the Artiste provides a dose rate of up to 2,000 MU per minute, enabling the user to decrease treatment time. Users can select from four selectable flattening-filter-free (FFF) beams at nominal energies: 7 megavolts (MV), 11 MV, 14 MV and 17 MV.
In-Line kView
?In-Line kView offers Artiste users kV-like images while balancing imaging dose, image quality and speed with limited artifacts. The system compares images with the planning CT for efficient and accurate table adjustments. A carbon target generates a broader spectrum of kV energies in the MV imaging beam. Combined with a more sensitive flat panel detector, it can increase the contrast-to-noise ratio up to three times or reduce dose by up to two thirds compared to conventional MV cone-beam imaging. Additionally, the imaging dose can be included in the treatment plan.
Definition AS Open ?
A slightly modified version of Siemens’ highly successful diagnostic CT family, the Somatom Definition AS Open delivers diagnostic image quality (0.4 mm isotropic resolution) at low dose (~1 Centi Gray), enabling precise contouring for planning while minimizing patient exposure. The system offers a diagnostic scan field of view (FOV), a 65 cm reconstructed FOV with high-accuracy CT numbers for planning purposes if needed, and an 80 cm reconstructed FOV (which is also the full bore size) for scanning the entire patient.
Another unique feature is that it can be upgraded from its standard 20-slice configurations to 64 slices for greater operational flexibility, patient comfort or advanced future applications. The device also features the company’s Straton Tube, which avoids tube cooling thanks to a design focused on dissipation rate rather than heat loading for long respiratory gating runs with very short pitch rates down to 0.09.
In addition, the CT simulator system has dose-sparing features, as well as a tabletop for simulation that deflects less than 2 mm and can support patients weighing up to 500 pounds. Siemens offers gating capabilities that track amplitude, phase and/or time, and allows editing of the waveform at the console for a more optimal data set for treatment planning. Simulation features include advanced segmentation and model-based contouring, iso-center calculation, automatic laser alignment, and beam line and aperture settings.
For more information: www.siemens.com/healthcare
May 02, 2024 
