PALO ALTO, Calif., July 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Varian Medical Systems will showcase a new “smart” radiotherapy treatment planning tool that will enable clinicians to significantly reduce the amount of time needed to create sophisticated treatment plans for advanced treatments like intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). The new Smart Segmentation(TM) automatic contouring feature* is the first fully automatic tool that uses intelligent software to identify and outline, within diagnostic images, organs and other structures to be irradiated or protected during treatment.”
“Contouring is an important first step in creating a radiotherapy treatment plan,” said Jeff Amacker, business manager for treatment planning systems. “In the past, it has been one of the most time-consuming tasks in the radiotherapy treatment planning process. Now, with Smart Segmentation, we’ll be able to decrease the amount of time spent creating the average treatment plan by about 25-30%.”
The first version of the Smart Segmentation tool performs automatic contouring of tumors and surrounding anatomy in the thorax and in the male pelvis. Additional anatomical sites will be added in the near future.
In addition to the Smart Segmentation tool, Varian will also exhibit other new software products and features at the 2007 meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) from July 22-26 in Minneapolis, MN. Among the other innovations:
-- Beam Angle Optimization - a treatment planning tool that automates the process of choosing the beam angles to use when administering radiation from different directions to converge on the targeted tumor. The best treatment plans maximize the dose going to the tumor while protecting surrounding healthy tissue and organs. Beam angle optimization uses sophisticated algorithms to analyze anatomical images and calculate the optimal number and combination of angles for achieving the desired radiation dose distribution in and around the tumor. -- Enhancements to the ARIA(TM) Oncology Information System that improve the integration between medical and radiation oncology treatment information and support more flexible data gathering. The electronic medical record (EMR) has been modified so that medical and radiation oncology treatment information appears on the same assessment screens, providing clinicians with a more comprehensive look at a patient’s complete treatment history. Also, new customizable data collection forms enable treatment centers to capture and aggregate data about treatments and side effects in order to identify trends and continually improve treatment quality. Varian Sponsored Events at AAPM
In addition to its exhibit on the trade show floor, Varian Medical Systems will sponsor the following two special events:
-- Saturday, July 21, 7:30 a.m. - 4:05 p.m.: Users meeting focusing on the latest advances with the Eclipse(TM) treatment planning system and Dynamic Targeting(R) image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT). Topics include: evaluating results when using automatic segmentation, beam angle optimization, implementing motion management in an IGRT program, and planning for stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiosurgery. -- Monday, July 23, 11:45 am to 1:30 pm: “Emerging Technologies Symposium” at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis. Presentations will cover such topics as managing advanced radiotherapy treatments, implementing dynamic adaptive treatment approaches, and using biological tumor evaluation tools to adapt cancer treatment.
For more information about these events, visit http://www.varian.com/aapm2007.
* Pending FDA 510(k) clearance.
ABOUT VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world’s leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 4,300 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America and Europe and in its 56 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com/.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this press release regarding future business, events, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, and other similar matters, including, but not limited to, statements using the terms “can” and “will” constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, the risks described in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed from time to time by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements because of new information, future events, or otherwise.
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Meryl Ginsberg, 650-424-6444
meryl.ginsberg@varian.com
Varian Medical Systems
CONTACT: Meryl Ginsberg of Varian Medical Systems, +1-650-424-6444,meryl.ginsberg@varian.com
Web site: http://www.varian.com/
