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Software solutions for radiation therapy designed to meet customer and patient needs

Siemens Healthcare continues its fast and focused approach to fighting cancer at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), July 18-22, in Philadelphia. At AAPM 2010, Siemens (booth #130) will demonstrate integrated software solutions designed to support the customers’ and patients’ needs from diagnosis to follow-up for efficient, safe and accurate treatment delivery.

“Successful radiation therapy is about speed and precision,” said Holger Schmidt, CEO, Oncology Care Systems, Siemens Healthcare. “That’s why Siemens ’ radiation therapy solutions aim to incorporate the optimum of both, an intelligent balance of speed and precision – to help you fight cancer fast and focused. With Siemens, you can add powerful means to your medical expertise: our experience: the commitment, and innovation power that is backed by Siemens Healthcare’s extensive R&D efforts.”

Innovation in Action
The Siemens ’ booth will feature Siemens latest technologies used to enhance the user experience in radiation therapy planning and treatment. Siemens personnel will be on hand to give first-hand demonstrations of software solutions.

syngo RT Therapist* 4.1 is a single integrated system that enables the therapist to perform patient setup, imaging, verification, and treatment delivery with one fast, highly efficient workflow. The system also offers connectivity with major oncology information systems. Clinics preferring to perform treatment and image data preparation and review away from ARTISTE Solution can work from an independent syngo RT Therapist workspace that offers tools identical to the one used for treatment.

A dedicated Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) workplace, syngo RT Dosimetrist 2.7 supports an array of innovative applications for segmentation, virtual simulation, plan management, and dose calculation to help master even the most complex cases. Advanced Segmentation is easy and intuitive and enables users to achieve accurate contours – even with rough mouse movements – speeding up OAR segmentation to three minutes. Fast editing tools help adapt the contour shapes to specific needs and, along with Virtual Simulation, make it easy to set up reference points and isocenter and to control beams with Beam’s-Eye-View (BEV) and Room’s-Eye-View (REV) display of the RT image (DRR).

syngo Oncology Engine with TrueD supports the entire cancer management workflow – from initial diagnosis to staging, therapy planning, and follow-up. syngo TrueD enhances the ability to compare patient scans over time and on one screen, by allowing the user to simultaneously display three studies, such as baseline and two follow-up exams. The system was designed specifically for the oncology workflow, including diagnosis, staging and assessment of cancer treatment response.

ARTISTE Solution is a linear accelerator that provides a comprehensive portfolio of image-guided and advanced treatment delivery tools enabling clinicians to choose the appropriate radiation therapy treatment technique for each patient, make critical adjustments instantly, and deliver Adaptive Radiation Therapy (ART) according to each patient’s needs.

The technological flexibility of Siemens Linear Accelerator systems enables large and small clinics throughout the world to treat patients with greater precision and confidence. Clinicians can select the optimal Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) application for the preferred treatment approach, such as 3D megavoltage cone beam imaging (MVision) and In-room CT – diagnostic CT imaging in the treatment room (CTVision).

With a small, 5 mm leaf thickness over the full field, 160 MLC Multileaf Collimator provides better conformity to the actual tumor shape for homogeneous dose coverage independent of tumor size. 160 MLC’s high leaf speed and extremely low leakage optimize treatment delivery by reducing patient on-table time and dose to normal tissue.

The 550 TxT Treatment Table is engineered to improve patient positioning to new standards while providing a unique lifting mechanism and exceptional mechanical strength that allow for a load capacity of 550 pounds (250 kg).The user interface provides ergonomic controls with tactile feedback, allowing the user to control the treatment table with a choice of manual or motorized movements.

Presentations and Honors
In addition to the technologies on display, Siemens will also feature a theatre presentation in the booth, highlighting various innovations in oncology. Times and topics will be posted at the booth’s reception desk.

On July 19, Siemens will host the Siemens Healthcare Satellite Symposium at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia Mutter Museum. Featured presenters include: Jonathan Maltz, PhD, presenting his white paper on multiple-source X-ray systems for intrafractional motion management using carbon nanotube cold cathode technology; and Ali-Bani Hashemi, PhD, discussing new concepts in rotational IMRT. Attendees can also learn about real-life experiences utilizing PET-CT in radiation therapy planning. Presentations and panel discussions will start at 8:00 p.m., followed by a reception and opportunity to view museum exhibits at 9 p.m. (Please note: Due to Siemens’ compliance rules, which are consistent with industry organization ethical rules of conduct, there will be a $10 charge to view the exhibit.) To pre-register for the Symposium, please visit www.creativegroupinc.com/AAPM symposium. Registration can also be completed just prior to the event from 7:30 p.m.-8 p.m. (Note: These topics address investigational device and other research developments.)

On Monday, July 19 at 6 p.m. in Ballroom B of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Jonathan Maltz will be honored with the AAPM Sylvia Sorkin Greenfield Award for the best paper published in Medical Physics in 2009 for his work titled “Multiple source x-ray system for intrafractional motion management using carbon nanotube cold cathode technology.” Maltz, a scientist and adjunct assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley, is also principal key expert with Siemens Oncology Care Systems in Concord, Calif. At the presentation, Maltz will discuss the rationale for the design of the system, explain the underlying technology and explore clinical applications. He will also present images of phantoms acquired using the system and show how it has been integrated with the ARTISTE platform.

Combining Efforts for Portfolio Innovations
Throughout the Siemens booth, conference attendees can share in Siemens’ vision of innovation through strategic alliances, and how these commitments result in enhancing healthcare for both the clinician and the patient. Siemens and Accuray recently announced a strategic alliance, in which Siemens receives the right to sell Accuray ’s CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System globally as part of its portfolio of healthcare products. Accuray will continue to sell and distribute the CyberKnife System directly and through its existing distribution network. The companies will also create a research-and-development alliance to explore synergies between the complementary skill sets and technological capabilities of both companies. Additionally, Siemens will purchase and incorporate elements of Accuray’s technology in its linear accelerator products.

*COHERENCE Suite for Oncology is currently being rebranded to syngo Suite for Oncology. All workspaces mentioned may currently be purchased under the COHERENCE brand name.

Source: Siemens Healthcare