SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- At the American Epilepsy Society’s 64th Annual Meeting, December 3-7 in San Antonio, Elekta will demonstrate its latest generation magnetoencephalography (MEG) platform for investigating human brain activity, particularly in patients with epilepsy. Raising functional mapping to the next level, Elekta Neuromag® TRIUX* addresses key MEG requirements that are critical for robust functional mapping studies. Benefits of the system include higher tolerance for magnetic interferences, new user interface features and patient comfort enhancements.
“In many clinical research studies, MEG has shown value in the detection of epileptic activity for pre-surgical evaluation,” says Stephen Otto, Chairman of Elekta’s Neuromag Business. “MEG provides a non-invasive method to accurately pinpoint the origin of seizure activity by measuring spikes between seizures. It is well tolerated by patients and has been shown to be more sensitive than the functional imaging modalities of PET and SPECT.”
Growing body of clinical evidence
Although MEG was initially used for fundamental brain research, an increasing number of hospitals are using the technology for variety of applications, including epilepsy. Current estimates indicate that up to 25 percent or more of patients with epilepsy are refractory to all forms of medical therapy. These patients are candidates for surgical treatment in an attempt to achieve better seizure control. The goal of surgical epilepsy treatment is to remove an abnormal area of cortex from which seizures originate, while minimizing functional impairment caused by the operation. MEG is used to locate the exact regions of the brain responsible for various functions and to determine the best surgical route to keep these functions intact.
“One of the most exciting innovations in neuroscience today, Elekta’s history of instrumentation and software development within MEG spans more than 20 years from early prototypes to today’s multi-channel system covering the entire head,” Otto says. “Perhaps the most convincing recommendation for the quality of our offering is the fact that as of November 2010, 917 research articles featuring Elekta Neuromag have been listed in PubMed, a service of the US National Library of Medicine that includes citations from MEDLINE, life science journals and online books.”
Worldwide there are 60 Elekta Neuromag installations in 16 countries.
Next generation MEG system
Designed to operate in virtually any clinical environmentan advance welcomed by the growing number of Elekta Neuromag clinical and research facilities worldwideElekta Neuromag TRIUX is the definitive platform from which to launch MEG programs now and far into the future.
Implementing a MEG program will be more practical for most clinical environments with the Elekta Neuromag TRIUX system’s dynamic range, which has been increased three-fold, in addition to built-in active shielding, which protects its ultrasensitive sensor array from magnetic interference. These improvements make Elekta Neuromag TRIUX suitable for siting in even the busiest hospitals and research centers, and further demonstrate Elekta’s commitment to helping centers adopt this innovative technology.
Elekta Neuromag TRIUX also provides several features designed to simplify day-to-day use of the system and enhance patient experience. These include a new connector panelwith easy to access connectorsand a gantry that allows clinicians and researchers to conduct MEG measurements with the patient in a more comfortable upright position.
To learn more, stop by Elekta booth 531 during AES or visit www.elekta.com/MEG.
*Elekta Neuromag® TRIUX is a works in progress. Specifications and product details subject to change without notice.
About Elekta
Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.
Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives, making the future possible today.
Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 5,000 hospitals globally, and every day more than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up with the help of a solution from the Elekta Group.
Elekta employs around 2,500 employees globally. The corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. For more information about Elekta, please visit www.elekta.com.
SOURCE Elekta
