Varian Medical Systems has unveiled a radiotherapy platform designed to offer clinics an affordable option for implementing advanced image-guided radiotherapy.
Varian’s VitalBeam system is a new cost-effective technology package for offering high-quality, high-throughput radiation therapy, and for expanding clinical capabilities over time.
"VitalBeam leverages the best of our technology, incorporating many of the innovations we developed for our popular TrueBeam radiosurgery system to enhance precision, safety, and speed of treatment," said Kolleen Kennedy, president of Varian’s Oncology Systems business.
"It is a flexible and upgradeable system that affordably meets the clinical needs of our customers today and as they grow in the future."
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 on-board kV X-ray system capable of cone-beam CT 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.
"Customers can configure the system the way that they want it," said Tim Clark, head of European marketing for Varian’s Oncology Systems business.
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.