Accuray Incorporated announced that CyberKnife Center of Chicago at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst has installed the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System in one of the hospital’s existing radiation therapy vaults. This marks the first installation of this new CyberKnife configuration option, which can save hospitals time.
“We are excited about the new CyberKnife configuration and its ability to fit into an existing vault, because it requires significantly less modification and has allowed us to get the System up and running more quickly so we can begin treating patients,” said Greg Spurlock, chief operating officer of US Radiosurgery, the managing partner of CyberKnife Center of Chicago.
Because radiation therapy systems are gantry-based machines, meaning they only rotate in a single rotational plane, radiation therapy vaults are typically smaller and require less shielding than a standard CyberKnife vault. Since a key factor in the CyberKnife System’s precise treatment delivery is its ability to move in virtually any direction, it wasn’t previously possible to install a CyberKnife System within a radiation therapy vault. Recognizing that this was an obstacle for many hospitals, Accuray used advanced optimization techniques to reconfigure a new layout that made this type of installation possible with minimal-to-no additional shielding.
The new footprint helps hospitals to save on construction and shielding costs, and enables an accelerated go-live schedule, allowing sites to start patient treatments within a significantly shorter period of time. This is particularly beneficial for sites that are interested in securing a CyberKnife System to replace an aging gantry-based radiation therapy system, but are faced with space constraints in their existing facilities or are unable to build a new facility.
The new CyberKnife configuration made this vault modification and installation possible in just five weeks,” said Chris Raanes, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Accuray. “Now hospitals can go-live with their CyberKnife program very quickly and for a fraction of the cost.”
With feature nearly identical to the standard CyberKnife vault layout, the gantry LINAC vault layout requires 34 percent less vault space and reduces the equipment room footprint, giving customers more flexibility in where they can place a CyberKnife System. The vault modifications at this center were done by one of Accuray’s installation preferred partners, NELCO. Vendors in this program have the expertise and resources to efficiently support customers with any required construction and modifications.