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World's largest radiation oncology meeting to draw 11,000 attendees, reinforcing therapeutic radiation's role as critical cancer treatment.

At the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO 2011) 53rd Annual Meeting, October 2-6 in Miami Beach, Fla., Elekta will highlight its broad spectrum of solutions designed to simplify the complex processes involved in radiation therapy, inspiring confidence in healthcare professionals who use Elekta technology.

"Radiotherapy techniques are becoming increasingly sophisticated, requiring more time and skill to ensure safe, clinically effective delivery," says Elekta President and CEO, Tomas Puusepp. "By simplifying the variables in planning, verification, setup and treatment delivery, Elekta strives to give clinicians greater confidence in the treatment of their patients."

During the meeting, Elekta will feature two solutions in particular that exemplify its focus on managing complexity: Clarity® with Autoscan* real-time soft tissue tracking and Identify™* radiofrequency identification (RFID) based solution.

Clarity with Autoscan uses non-ionizing ultrasound technology to continuously track prostate anatomy during simulation and treatment without requiring additional non-therapeutic radiation dose. Unlike other technologies, Clarity does not require invasive implants and images are acquired by placing a probe against the patient's perineum, minimizing any interference or collision risks with the treatment machine. Clarity enables clear visualization of target and critical structure location at any time during treatment delivery and facilitates the highest precision treatments. As an automated, user-independent imaging technique, Clarity with Autoscan provides real-time soft tissue tracking without negative impact on treatment times or clinical workflow.

Identify is designed to ensure patient safety in the clinic and increase staff confidence in the reliability of patient identification and accessories. Identify employs advanced radiofrequency identification technology to ensure the right patient is being treated at the right location and with the correct set up and equipment. Identify is integrated with Elekta's MOSAIQ® Oncology Information System, enabling patient queuing, automatic opening of patient charts and treatment tracking at the EMR, optimizing workflow and safety.

Other meeting highlights

• The Elekta exhibit will feature a live theater at which speakers will give hourly presentations on Elekta solutions, including Identify and Clarity with Autoscan. Presentations are scheduled to run October 2-4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The 20th Annual Elekta Oncology Users Meeting (EOUM) convenes October 1 at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach hotel. Customers using any Elekta solution are welcome to attend and take advantage of this free educational opportunity. This year, the Medical Oncology Summit will be held in conjunction with the Elekta Oncology User Meeting.
• The annual Elekta Charity Bash, benefiting the Sandy B. Muller Breast Cancer Foundation, will be held at the Ice Palace in Miami on October 1 at 7:30 p.m. Shuttle service will be provided from primary ASTRO, ASRT and SROA hotels. Please join us as we help to make a difference in the community.
• Elekta welcomes Nucletron. The acquisition agreement between Elekta and brachytherapy world leader, Nucletron, broadens Elekta's product offering for patients with cervical, prostate, breast and rectal cancers. The resulting combination of products is particularly important as the combination of brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy treatments continues to emerge as a common therapy for certain diseases.

Source: Elekta