MD Anderson Cancer Center to Acquire Latest in Elekta Radiotherapy Systems

MD Anderson Cancer Center to Acquire Latest in Elekta Radiotherapy Systems

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has signed a contract with Elekta to acquire Elekta Infinity linear accelerators and brachytherapy afterloaders, as well as software and services. Elekta, which specializes in tools and systems to treat cancer and brain disorders, claims that its innovations are behind most of the critical technological advances in radiation oncology over the last 30 years.

According to the company, Elekta Infinity with advanced arc therapy technique (VMAT) is a comprehensive, 3-D imaging treatment delivery system, allowing clinicians to tailor treatment plans that optimize and “wrap” the dose around a tumor. Elekta Infinity achieves helical-like target coverage with better sparing of surrounding healthy tissue, and can optimize the accuracy and speed of delivery by simultaneously manipulating the gantry position, gantry speed, MLC leaves, dose rate and collimator angle.

“As a world-renowned cancer center, MD Anderson has been a technology leader in managing the disease. In addition to being one of the first U.S. medical centers to acquire Elekta’s new Leksell Gamma Knife® Icon™ brain radiosurgery system, MD Anderson is also part of the consortium to develop the world’s first high-field MR-guided linear accelerator. We are proud that it has chosen us again in the expansion of its facilities in Texas,” Bill Yaeger, Elekta’s executive vice president, Region North America, said in a recent news release. “Both organizations share a commitment to quality and the best care possible for patients.”

MD Anderson has ordered four Infinity treatment systems, as well as Elekta’s high-resolution beam shaping solution and the Agility 160-leaf multi-leaf collimator. Agility, a next-generation radiotherapy system, combines high resolution beam shaping and rapid leaf speeds to allow higher dose rates to be used for more effective modulation.

The arrangement also includes four high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy afterloaders and Oncentra Brachy treatment planning, which offers a series of useful tools that simplify many repetitive tasks, such as contouring and reconstruction; MOSAIQ Oncology integrated Information System (OIS); and Active Breathing Coordinator units, which provide non-invasive, internal immobilization of anatomies affected by respiratory motion, such as the breast and lung.

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