Radiation Therapy Enhanced with Image-Guided US

The inclusion of image-guided ultrasound technology with a digital radiation delivery system will provide clinicians with the ability to more aggressively treat cancer while avoiding damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Elekta (Atlanta, GA, USA) will begin including ultrasound targeting technology with its linear accelerator platforms based upon an agreement between Elekta and North American Scientific (Chatsworth, CA, USA). The inclusion of the BAT SXi image-guided ultrasound technology provides fast ultrasound localization of a treatment target on a daily basis. Currently, the combination is most commonly used for treating prostate cancer. Combining ultrasound with a three-dimensional tracking system and a touch screen-based treatment room with interface, ultrasound noninvasively pinpoints tumor targets rapidly and accurately at the time of radiation therapy.

The system's ImageSync technology provides a continuous stream of ultrasound images that can be utilized in real time. Clinicians are able to dynamically align and move structure sets with the touch of a finger. The optimal camera and multi-application tracking provide the ability to track objects or apparatus connected to the patient or the treatment table and can be utilized to locate soft tissue targets anywhere in the body.

"With this combination, we are providing advanced technologies that enhance the clinical community's ability to treat cancer more aggressively. This worldwide distribution agreement will enable hospitals and clinicians in the United States, as well as those internationally, to offer their patients advanced solutions as part of their cancer treatment arsenal,” said John W. Manzetti, president of the NOMOS Radiation Oncology Division of North American Scientific.




Related Links:
Elekta
North American Scientific