"The TrueBeam system improves on earlier generations of technology," said Dr. Wing-Hong Kwan, MD, Director of the Department of Radiotherapy at the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital. "It offers excellent 3-D imaging capabilities so that we can target the tumor with great accuracy. Using this system, we will be able to quickly deliver high doses to the tumor while limiting exposure of the surrounding tissues and organs."
According to Dr. Kwan, two special capabilities of the TrueBeam system stand out as particularly exciting: the ability to synchronize treatment with a patient's respiratory motion, and the ability to generate real-time images during treatment. "These capabilities enable us to verify and confirm that we are accurately targeting the tumor throughout a course of treatment," he said. "They provide us with an added measure of accuracy."
About the TrueBeam System
TrueBeam was designed to treat tumors with increased speed and accuracy, including tumors that move during treatment as the patient breathes. It features several technical innovations that dynamically synchronize and integrate imaging, patient positioning, motion management, and treatment delivery during sophisticated treatments for cancer. With its High Intensity Mode, TrueBeam can accurately deliver high doses, more than twice as fast as earlier generations of technology. This makes it possible to significantly shorten treatments, potentially enabling clinics to treat more patients each day and to improve precision by leaving less time for tumor motion during dose delivery.
"The TrueBeam system is Varian's most advanced offering for dealing with tumor motion, which makes it especially well-suited for treating cancer of the lung and liver, two types that occur commonly in Asia," said Tom Duffy, head of Varian's Oncology Systems business in Asia. "We are honored to work with the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, which is very much on the leading edge of cancer care, having adopted this modern technology for the benefit of cancer patients in Hong Kong."
TrueBeam was approved for sale in China by the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) earlier this year.
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 5,700 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. The company's center in Beijing encompasses oncology equipment manufacturing operations, an educational center for radiotherapy clinical professionals, a customer service center, and X-ray Products assembly and service. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com.